DC Council Weakens Equal Pay Initiative 82, Activists Fight Back
In a significant move, DC voters passed Initiative 82 in 2023, mandating equal pay for tipped and non-tipped restaurant workers on election day. However, the DC Council later watered down the initiative, allowing restaurants to pay tipped employees less until 2034. Activist groups are now fighting back against this decision.
The tipped minimum wage in the U.S. has remained stagnant at $2.13 an hour since 1996. Many states, including DC, have historically permitted tipped employees to be paid less than the general minimum wage. This disparity has led to tipped employees being more likely to live below the poverty line and rely on government benefits like SNAP.
Prominent congressional Democrats have shown solidarity with tipped employees by boycotting DC restaurants. However, the DC Council's recent decision to weaken Initiative 82 has sparked outrage. The initiative, passed by voters on election day in 2023, aimed to ensure equal pay for tipped and non-tipped workers. Now, restaurants can pay tipped employees up to 75% of the minimum wage until 2034.
Activist organizations, including local worker advocacy groups and restaurant worker unions, are pushing back against this watered-down version. They argue that tipped employees deserve fair wages and that the Council's decision undermines the will of the voters who supported the initiative on election day.
The fight for fair wages for tipped employees continues in DC. While voters passed Initiative 82 for equal pay on election day, the DC Council's decision to weaken it has led to ongoing activism. Organizations are determined to ensure tipped workers receive the wages they deserve.
