In the wake of California's recent legislation requiring restaurants to pay their employees a minimum wage of $20 per hour, fast food workers are now advocating for an additional increase.
The California Fast Food Workers Union is proposing a $0.70 hourly rate hike, slated to take effect in January, a move that could further burden the state's already beleaguered restaurants.
According to the Gateway Pundit, the union released a memo on Thursday stating, As Californias fast-food industry grows, cooks and cashiers are doubling down on their fight across the state to win safe and healthy stores, stable hours, pay that keeps up with inflation and training to understand their rights on the job. The memo further noted that the industry has seen job growth and that the higher wage is attracting better job candidates, thus reducing turnover.
However, while minimum wage increases may assist fast food workers in coping with California's exorbitant cost of living, the burden of these costs is inevitably transferred to the consumer. The wage requirements have rendered many restaurants' operations economically unviable, leading to closures or layoffs.
Raul, a fast food restaurant owner in Long Beach, expressed his frustration to the Globe, stating, Its obvious that the fast food union and the SEIU dont know much about how fast food restaurants actually operate. He added, I mean the $20 minimum wage. That should stay in place, static at the same price, for years while everyone else catches up. Wed all prefer it go down, but if it is staying, then we dont have any more raises on top of that for years. We all hate it because it is putting our businesses in jeopardy.
A recent analysis from Kalinowski Equity Research revealed that fast-food restaurants across California have increased prices by approximately eight percent since the law was implemented in April. Concurrently, a May survey found that 80 percent of Americans now view fast food as a luxury item, highlighting the significant financial impact of inflation on everyday families.
Login