Their only power is to leave. I don't like sticking them either, but it's true that they are complicit.

As I said, for everyone involved it is unfortunate, but the majority of people without power still choose not to be complicit in fraud.

The server could have made sure they were aware of the policy before they ordered. Seems like the best way to make sure you get a tip to me.

If I work for a company that I've seen screw over our customers on a daily basis, and enough customers refuse to pay my company, then I don't have a leg to stand on when I don't get my full salary all of a sudden.

This is true whether I'm a developer, a ski instructor or a waiter.

The staff's pay is not the customer's responsibility, neither is whatever the other customers do.

> Yes, because as we all know, service staff have enormous power and dictate restaurant policy.

No, as we all know the service staff has no power over the restaurant policy.

They are, however, the communication agent between customer and restaurant, so they should be informing the customer about these surprise charges up front. If they don't, they are indeed complicit.