DC Council considered changes to Initiative 82, but in the end, left the law as is for the moment.
WASHINGTON — The long running discussions over Initiative 82 aren’t over yet.
The measure gradually increases tipped workers’ base salary over a period of years, to the same amount earned by non-tipped employees.
On Monday, DC Council considered changes to the law, but in the end, it left it as is ─ for now.
In a 7-5 vote, Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George’s amendment to pull the repeal of Initiative 82 out of the budget passed.
But people who actually work and live in the District have strong opinions on the law.
“I had voted twice for Initiative 82 so I really think the D.C. government should respect the wishes of the voters,” Sally James explained.
She says she supports tipped workers earning the same minimum wage as employees who don’t get tips. But what she’s not a fan of ─ service charges that you sometimes don’t know about until you get the check, which is illegal.
“I don’t think those should be there. I think the price should reflect everything,” she said.
“Some people are telling you upfront that they’re including a tip. They shouldn’t be doing that,” James explained. “That’s only happening because we’re doing this in steps. If we do it all at once, there should be no tips. If you’re happy with the service and you want to leave a little extra money, you do. But a fair price is a fair price.”
Craig Bass used to work in the service industry. He supports what he calls reasonable service charges.
“If 100% of it is going to the service workers, then yes, I would agree to that. I think that’s OK,” he said. “If there is a way that policy makers and business owners and service workers can come together and agree to something that works for everybody, that would be best.”
James thinks the solution is simple.
“I think we need the prices to cover the full price and then if you want your server to have something extra, you leave some extra money,” she explained.
But according Mayor Muriel Bowser, a re-evaluation on the impact of Initiative 82 needs to happen.
“What the initiative has done to the restaurant industry is devastating,” she said. “We have seen a loss of jobs and we have seen workers see a reduction in pay. So I think it was really incumbent on us as policy makers to make some changes.”
In the meantime, the nonprofit group “One Fair Wage,” which represents restaurant workers responded to the vote in a statement:
In 2022, DC voters overwhelmingly approved Initiative 82 with 74% support to phase out the unjust subminimum wage system and ensure all workers are paid the full minimum wage by their employer—with tips on top. But instead of honoring the will of the voters, the Council is taking the drastic step of cutting tipped workers’ pay, caving to pressure from corporate restaurant lobbyists.
The proposal cuts the tipped wage down to $8 an hour. This is two dollars less than what Initiative 82 currently requires, and it forces workers to rely on tips to reach an arbitrary new $20 threshold, employers to comply with a more difficult three-tiered wage system, and the District of Columbia to enforce this more complicated model.
The so-called “compromise” is not a new or DC-specific proposal; the National Restaurant Association has continuously proposed this same idea in dozens of states over the last decade and has been rejected by all but one, keeps all the worst parts of the subminimum wage system. In fact, only Hawaii attempted this proposal several years ago, and it caused such a nightmare of wage theft and complicated enforcement issues, a Republican legislator in Hawaii has introduced legislation to end the subminimum wage for tipped workers altogether.
As reported by One Fair Wage, D.C.’s restaurant industry is not only surviving, it is setting records. As of April 2025, restaurant employment hit over 30,000+ jobs – the highest level ever recorded since data collection began in 1990. Each of the last three months (February, March, and April 2025) broke previous records. Tipping remains strong, and D.C. residents now spend more dining out per capita than any other state, making it the top tipping city in the country.
D.C. has become a national model, proving that fair wages and a thriving restaurant industry can go hand in hand. Twenty-three other states have followed D.C.’s lead, raising wages for tipped workers since 2020.
“Let’s be clear: this isn’t a compromise, it’s a pay cut—and the only reason they’re calling it a compromise is because they’re too ashamed to call it what it actually is,” said Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage. “This proposal adds a bureaucratic nightmare for enforcement, and still leaves workers vulnerable to wage theft, discrimination, and instability. Legislators who claim to support raising wages are now turning around and endorsing a plan that in practice will lower them. DC voters have already passed One Fair Wage, and the Council should respect the will of the voters.”
This kind of backroom maneuvering is not only harmful, it’s undemocratic. The Council’s attempt to reverse a decisive vote behind closed doors, under pressure from corporate interests, amounts to disenfranchisement of the very workers who organized and voted for change.
One Fair Wage calls on the D.C. Council to reject this corporate-driven rollback and stand with workers by upholding Initiative 82.
The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington also responded to the vote:
As the Council continues its deliberations, we remain focused on achieving a permanent, sustainable solution that supports restaurant workers, small business owners, and the future of dining in the District.
We were encouraged to hear today that a majority of Councilmembers expressed a clear desire to find a solution before the second vote on July 28. That recognition matters — and it reflects growing momentum to address the real challenges Initiative 82 has created for our industry.
As of mid-2025, 59 restaurants have already closed in the District. If this trend continues, we’re on track to see over 100 closures by year’s end — more than any year in recent memory. These closures represent lost jobs, lost opportunity, and real pressure on businesses trying to stay open.
We are grateful to Mayor Bowser for her leadership and to those Councilmembers who are working in good faith to chart a better path forward. We remain committed to partnering with all stakeholders to ensure our workers can succeed and our restaurants can thrive.
