One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Voters To Decide Fate Of Fast Food Bill That Could Raise Wages For Workers
Fast-food workers and other SEIU members marched to the Capitol to deliver postcards and petitions in support of AB257 to the Governor's Office on May 31, 2022.
(
Fred Greaves for CalMatters
)
Topline:
A California law that would improve working conditions and hourly pay for fast food workers is now on hold after restaurant groups gathered over 1 million signatures in the petition process.
Why it matters: Mysheka Ronquillo works at a Long Beach Carl's Jr. She says she’s been subject to wage theft, discrimination and low pay through her 10 years working in the fast food industry. "I don’t have no pension. I don’t have no 401k…what am I working for? What happens when I die? You’re just going to replace me with someone else. They don’t care. We’re just a number.”
What's at stake for restaurant owners: The National Restaurant Association’s Mike Whatley says the bill could raise prices as high as 20% for small fast food restaurants that are independently operated. He says, “it's a misnomer that all fast food are these giant corporations. The vast majority of these locations are small business owners who may have one or two or a couple locations with really low margins.”
The backstory: Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Fast Recovery Act into law in September. It would establish a 10-member council of employers, workers and union representatives to oversee workplace conditions and set wages up to $22 an hour. But a coalition of restaurant groups immediately began the signature-collecting process to challenge the law.
What's next: Now voters will decide in Novemeber whether Assembly Bill 257 or the Fast Recovery Act will go into effect in 2024.
Go Deeper: Newsom Signs Bill To Regulate Wages For Fast Food Workers
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
