Total agreement on the fairness. In this case, the tipping issue is that, since it's per table, busy times result in more tip money than non-busy times, which

Total agreement on the fairness. In this case, the tipping issue is that, since it's per table, busy times result in more tip money than non-busy times, which a flat per-hour wage doesn't account for. With tips, a restaurant can get someone to come in for 2-3 hours because they'll be making quite a bit more per hour (even with the unfairness of tips) than if they had a flat wage. At slower times, a shift might be 4-8 hours and not make nearly as much, but the place doesn't need as many staff then.