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DC Voters to Have Say on Whether to Eliminate the Tipped Wage…Or Will They?


Hang onto your hats because this is an interesting story.

Initiative 82 is a potential ballot measure that might go before voters in Washington, DC this coming June in which voters would be able to do away with the tipped wage in the city.  If approved, Initiative 82 would require that tipped workers (who currently receive $5.05/hour, plus tips) have their pay rate increased to $15.20/hour.  Eliminating this sort of sub minimum wage is a common fight for minimum wage advocates around the country.  

Now in order for a ballot initiative to get before voters, at least 5% of registered voters in DC must provide their signature as well as at least 5% of registered voters from five of DC’s eight wards.  Last week it was announced that the 5% requirement of registered voters in DC was met.  However, the DC Board of Elections noted that it was not yet clear whether the 5% of registered voters from five of DC’s eight wards had been satisfied.  According to reports, 122 signatures in one ward are under scrutiny.  If this particular ward is found to have fallen short of the required signatures, Initiative 82 will not make it to the June ballot.

Readers might recall that Initiative 82 sounds a lot like Initiative 77 that DC voters had approved in 2018.  Initiative 77 also sought to do away with the two tier wage system (for tipped and non tipped workers).  While voters approved Initiative 77, it was eventually sidelined by the DC Council after employers and restaurant groups pushed back against it.  Will voters get a second bite at the apple?  For starters, they at least need to get Initiative 82 on the ballot.


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