California’s 500,000 fast food workers received a minimum wage raise from $16.21 to $20.00 per hour that went into effect April 1, 2024. Workers in the industry will now have a voice with work conditions, minimum wage, health and safety standards, because of the Fast Food Council. California raises the minimum wage for all workers in all industries to $16.00 an hour, effective January 1, 2024. Health care workers were also included with their minimum wage being raised $25.00 per hour, effective June 1, 2024. Student Nickolas Hogan said, “I think it might be a good thing for the economy. People might just start saving instead of buying everything they see.”
The boosted pay of fast food and health care workers comes after Governor Newsom signed the approval of Assembly Bill No. 1228, on September 28, 2023. The goal of the new bill is to ensure the minimum wage can help workers stay afloat with a living wage that can support themselves, or their family. Student Isrrael Castaneda works at a taco stand, and when asked what he thinks of the new bill, Castaneda said, “I think it’s going to make everything more expensive than it already is. I don’t think raising the minimum wage will make anything better. There should be another way to make things affordable.”
The bill was offered by Assembly member Chris R. Holden (D-Pasadena), who enables the Fast Food Council to further regulate and politic fast food workers. The Fast Food Council is made up of voters by representatives with two in the fast food industry, two franchise owners, two restaurant employees, two advocates for fast food restaurant employees, and one unaffiliated member of the public. The council also includes non-voting members that consists of one representative from The Department of Industrial Relations and one representative from The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. The bill states that as of April 1, 2024, the law will be lasting until January 1, 2029.
According to the website of Assembly member Holden, he said, “We have the ability to do more for fast food employees by focusing on the relationship between franchisors and their franchisees; Let’s make it easier for franchisees to pay, support, and protect their employees.” Holden goes on to speak highly of the bill saying, “Many franchisees find themselves in a chokehold by franchisor terms, forcing them to choose between profitability and complying with employee protection regulations. Under AB 1228, franchisees have the opportunity to file action against their franchisor if abiding by the franchisor’s terms infringes on their ability to comply with employment laws.” Holden also introduced Assembly Bill 610, which exempts airports, hotels, event centers, theme parks, museums, and gambling establishments from fast food establishment raises.
Student, Dominick Mortimore said “I think it is fair for these places to be exempt. Places like airports and hotels have a lot of people, it can get dirty.” Under current California legislation a “fast food restaurant” is constituted by the following: “The law exempts from the definition of ‘fast food restaurant’ an establishment that on September 15, 2023, operates a bakery in a prescribed manner, as long as it continues to operate such a bakery.” Governor Newsom signed approval for Senate Bill 525 on October 13, 2023.
The bill’s goal is to encourage potential employees to be a part of the healthcare industry and to combat the shortage of healthcare workers.
