Two years after voters overwhelmingly passed Initiative 82 to phase out the subminimum wage for tipped workers, Washington’s restaurant industry is thriving. Employment has surged to record levels, tipping remains robust, and over 30 new bars and restaurants have opened in the city since January 2025.
But despite this success, Mayor Muriel Bowser is now facing sharp criticism for proposing to repeal the very policy that helped fuel the recovery.
A new report from One Fair Wage, titled “The D.C. Success Story,” outlines how Initiative 82—approved twice by District voters in 2018 and again in 2022—has strengthened worker wages and the local restaurant economy. Since the law began phasing in, restaurant employment in D.C. has reached its highest level since the pandemic, topping 30,000 workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Tipping, meanwhile, has remained strong, with D.C.’s median hourly tip rate standing 25% above the national average.
Yet, on the same day federal immigration enforcement officers reportedly entered multiple D.C. restaurants—including Millie’s, Pupatella, Chef Geoff’s, Chang Chang, and Ghostburger—Mayor Bowser doubled down on her FY26 budget proposal to repeal Initiative 82. Critics say her administration prioritizes corporate lobbyists over the safety and livelihoods of the city’s most vulnerable workers.
“Restaurant workers are under attack. And instead of standing with them, we’re seeing a well-funded campaign that is actively working against them,” said Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage. “This is a shocking abdication of responsibility.”
Advocates argue that the mayor’s proposal to dismantle a voter-approved wage increase comes at the worst possible time.
“Workers are being threatened, families are frightened, and communities are shaken. And the Mayor’s response is to side with corporate lobbyists to slash wages,” asked Jayaraman.
A spokesperson for Bowser didn’t immediately return a message from The Informer for a response.
Initiative 82 aims to ensure tipped workers earn the full minimum wage, with tips on top. It has already inspired similar efforts in other jurisdictions. Since 2020, 23 states have increased their subminimum wages for tipped employees, many following the District’s lead.
California, Oregon, Washington, and four other states requiring a full minimum wage plus tips have outpaced the rest of the country in job and wage growth in the restaurant sector.
Florida, for example, raised its tipped wage from $5.54 to $9.98 over three years while adding 63,000 restaurant jobs. Illinois increased its tipped wage from $5.50 to $9.00, and employment has remained steady throughout the state. In D.C., these increases have helped drive job growth without compromising tipping behavior, contrary to industry myths pushed by groups like the National Restaurant Association.
“The facts are clear, but it’s disappointing to see top officials echo the talking points from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington—a group aligned with national industry lobbyists who’ve fought to weaken child labor laws, wage theft protections, and basic safety standards,” said Jayaraman.
As immigration enforcement heightens and tipped workers—many of whom are immigrants and people of color—face growing threats, advocates say the mayor’s rollback effort sends the wrong message.
“D.C. restaurant workers… are being targeted by Trump’s enforcement machine, and now we are seeing the mayor prioritize a proposal to cut their wages? It’s outrageous. It’s dangerous. And it’s wrong,” Jayaraman said.
One Fair Wage said it’s on the D.C. Council to reject what it describes as a “morally indefensible” repeal effort and to stand with the workers who fuel the city’s restaurant economy.
“The choice is clear: protect the people who keep our city running—or betray them when they need you most.”
