Support fair wages for all workers in Virginia
The Issue
As a resident of Fairfax, Virginia, and I am urging our community and lawmakers to support legislation that will phase out Virginia’s $2.13 tipped sub-minimum wage. It's time for the General Assembly to establish a single, fair minimum wage for all workers, regardless of their occupation.
Currently, Virginia's law allows employers to pay tipped workers as little as $2.13 per hour, under the presumption that their tips will make up the difference to the full minimum wage. However, many workers do not consistently earn enough in tips to provide a stable income. This outdated and unfair wage model affects countless families and individuals who struggle to make ends meet and are often forced to work multiple jobs just to survive.
Studies show that tip credits perpetuate income instability and poverty among workers. According to the Economic Policy Institute, tipped workers in states with lower tip credits tend to have higher poverty rates than those in states that require tipped workers to be paid the same minimum wage as non-tipped workers. Moreover, the impact is disproportionate on women and minorities, who make up a significant portion of the service industry workforce.
Virginia has made positive strides by moving toward a $15.00 minimum wage by 2028, but that promise falls short for tipped workers who still face systemic wage inequality. An estimated 130,000 tipped workers in Virginia, many of whom are main income providers for their families, deserve financial security and the dignity earned through a fair wage for their labor.
The call is clear: a unified minimum wage will create a more just and sustainable economic environment where all workers are valued and compensated fairly for their contributions. It’s not just about economic fairness; it's about social justice and recognizing the worth of every working person.
Join me in advocating for change. Sign this petition to push our state legislators to phase out the tipped sub-minimum wage and implement a fair, single minimum wage for all. Your signature can help ensure a more equitable future for Virginia’s workforce.
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The Issue
As a resident of Fairfax, Virginia, and I am urging our community and lawmakers to support legislation that will phase out Virginia’s $2.13 tipped sub-minimum wage. It's time for the General Assembly to establish a single, fair minimum wage for all workers, regardless of their occupation.
Currently, Virginia's law allows employers to pay tipped workers as little as $2.13 per hour, under the presumption that their tips will make up the difference to the full minimum wage. However, many workers do not consistently earn enough in tips to provide a stable income. This outdated and unfair wage model affects countless families and individuals who struggle to make ends meet and are often forced to work multiple jobs just to survive.
Studies show that tip credits perpetuate income instability and poverty among workers. According to the Economic Policy Institute, tipped workers in states with lower tip credits tend to have higher poverty rates than those in states that require tipped workers to be paid the same minimum wage as non-tipped workers. Moreover, the impact is disproportionate on women and minorities, who make up a significant portion of the service industry workforce.
Virginia has made positive strides by moving toward a $15.00 minimum wage by 2028, but that promise falls short for tipped workers who still face systemic wage inequality. An estimated 130,000 tipped workers in Virginia, many of whom are main income providers for their families, deserve financial security and the dignity earned through a fair wage for their labor.
The call is clear: a unified minimum wage will create a more just and sustainable economic environment where all workers are valued and compensated fairly for their contributions. It’s not just about economic fairness; it's about social justice and recognizing the worth of every working person.
Join me in advocating for change. Sign this petition to push our state legislators to phase out the tipped sub-minimum wage and implement a fair, single minimum wage for all. Your signature can help ensure a more equitable future for Virginia’s workforce.
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Petition created on November 11, 2026