DC Council pauses next step in Initiative 82 minimum wage increase

The Council of the District of Columbia voted 8-4 on Tuesday to pause the next scheduled wage increase for tipped workers, temporarily halting the implementation of Initiative 82.

The initiative, overwhelmingly approved by 74% of voters in 2022, aims to gradually raise the base pay of tipped workers to match the citywide minimum wage by 2027, with the delay coming just weeks before the next scheduled wage hike, from $10 to $12 per hour, was set to take effect on July 1. This is the second time the council has delayed implementation of the measure.