By Lauren Poteat, Special to the AFRO

On Oct. 16, the D.C. Council voted to repeal a voter-approved ballot measure that would have required tipped workers to be paid a full minimum wage—causing uproar among some local residents who do not understand the Council’s reasoning or authority to overturn the people’s vote.

“I don’t understand this,” One D.C. resident retorted after the hearing. “Why wouldn’t our law officials want to do everything they could to make living in this expensive city easier? Rent is sky high and often times to combat that, people such as myself seek outside work, or even, in some cases, full-time work, just trying to earn a decent living. I am very disappointed in the council members’ decision.”

The D.C. Council voted to repeal Initiative 77, which raised the minimum wage of tipped workers, because in the end research showed those same employees, would actually make less and it would endanger small businesses. (AP Photo)

The D.C. Council voted 8 to 5, Oct. 16, to overturn “Initiative 77,” but Council members like Trayon White, who took the side of most D.C. residents, voted against the ruling that had been twice voted on, earlier this month.

“We cannot reject the will of the voters,” White said.

D.C. voters originally passed Initiative 77 June 19, by a margin of over 8,000 votes. The measure required restaurants to annually raise the minimum wage of tipped employees by $1.50 until 2025, when the rate is set to match the $15 minimum wage for non-tipped employees.

However, earlier this month, the initiative was overturned in an emergency vote, after critics on the Council stated that the measure’s wording was misleading, and that those who voted for it probably didn’t realize they voted to cut the pay of many workers and placed an undue burden on small businesses, resulting in higher prices or layoffs to pay for what would become bigger payrolls.

“We don’t pass minimum wage bills knowing that it will hurt people,” Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said during the hearing.

The measure that officially overturned Initiative 77, also required sexual-harassment training for employees, managers, owners and operators and additionally, training regarding the District’s existing wage theft law, creating a tip line and reporting system for offenses.

The minimum wage in D.C. is currently $13.25, however tipped employees are exempt and paid only $3.33 an hour.

If tipped employees don’t earn minimum wage with the addition of their tips, employers are then required to pay the difference.

The matter now goes to Mayor Muriel Bowser for final approval, however many critics expect Bowser to side with the Council majority.