DC Council votes on changes to Initiative 82
DC Council votes on changes to Initiative 82
The D.C. Council has voted to change the controversial Initiative 82, which changed how tipped employees were paid. Several restaurants have said the legislation forced them to close their doors, but the D.C. government has remained split on the matter.
WASHINGTON - The D.C. Council voted on changes to Initiative 82, a controversial piece of legislation that changed how tipped workers were paid.
The council vote took time, as members were embroiled in other debates.
They eventually decided to essentially water down the current version of the legislation, slowing down and capping the increase to tipped workers' wages.
What we know:
Mayor Bowser proposed repealing Initiative 82 this spring.
Supporters of I-82 say any changes would go against the wishes of voters – the measure raised the base wage for tipped workers to $17.95 an hour.
But the head restaurant association told FOX 5 say the law has confused customers with unclear service, I-82 is causing businesses to close.
Local perspective:
"In the District, we’re the highest in the country, I would add. So we’re asking council to take a look at Initiative 82 and come up with a measure that works for restaurants and workers alike," said Shawn Townsend, President and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.
"We talk to lots of tipped workers and they say their take-home pay is higher and they are making more money as a result of having a higher base wage," said Elizabeth Falcon with D.C. Jobs With Justice.
Two weeks ago, Council Chair Phil Mendelson thought he had a compromise proposal which would have scaled back I-82 but not get rid of it all together.
But in a surprise move the council voted 7-5 to reject that proposal.
Statement from Nadeau:
This is the official statement from Councilmember Brianne Nadeau:
"I could debate the merits of various provisions and the impact - positive or negative - I think they will have.
But this is the problem: the voters told us what they wanted when they voted overwhelmingly for 1-82. Twice.
And this is not it.
When the Council agreed to implement this 1-82 ballot initiative, we agreed to following the implementation schedule voters approved in 2023.
Restaurant workers, and the organizations that represent them, have been fighting this battle for wage protections for years.
They shouldn't have to keep fighting it.
And this Council should not keep on telling the voters they don't know what's best for them.
I understand the challenges that restaurants face and I am very sympathetic to them.
But a compromise that tears away at the foundational elements of 1-82 is still a slap in the face to restaurant workers and voters.
Statement from RAMW:
This is the official statement issued by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington on the restoration of the tipped wage credit:
"Mayor Bowser’s decision to embed repeal in her budget wasn’t just symbolic — it was a catalytic moment that reframed the entire debate around Initiative 82. It brought urgency, direction, and ultimately, a path forward for the Council to act. We continue to believe that full repeal was the clearest and most effective way to address the crisis facing our industry.
We thank the DC Council for voting to restore the tipped credit and for acknowledging the need to bring greater balance to a policy that has contributed to record closures and job losses. The compromise reached provides operators with more clarity and a stronger foundation to plan for the future.
To be clear, this is a win for the industry. After months of advocacy, coalition-building, and tough conversations, the Council’s vote reflects recognition that the original path forward was not sustainable. While not a full repeal, this outcome brings immediate relief to operators and demonstrates that meaningful, data-driven engagement with the industry can lead to real solutions.
Still, the economic pressures on restaurants are far from resolved — and without continued action, more neighborhood staples will be at risk. We appreciate the Council’s commitment to monitoring real-time data and expect them to remain engaged as conditions evolve.
RAMW remains ready to work with the Mayor, the Council, and our partners to ensure DC’s restaurant community — its workers, owners, and diners — doesn’t just survive, but thrives."