California signed legislation to effectively set a minimum wage in the industry and create new safety and non-discrimination rules to regulate fast food restaurants after Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. We plan to enact a radical new approach.
Amid pushback from fast food companies, the state legislature last week introduced legislation to create a 10-member council made up of worker and employer representatives to oversee the industry’s labor practices in California. approved.
The city council could raise the industry minimum to $22 an hour next year. By contrast, the rest of the state has a $15.50 minimum. The minimum amount is then adjusted for inflation. The council can also issue new labor standards.
“Today’s actions give hardworking fast food workers a stronger voice and seat in setting fair wages and important health and safety standards across the industry,” Newsom said in a statement. Stated.
Industry groups complained the bill would raise costs restaurants pass on to consumers at a time when prices are rising rapidly. He claimed that he already had the authority to improve the terms.
“This bill represents a watershed moment for franchise owners and customers at a time of greatest hurt,” said Matthew Haller, president of the International Franchise Association, in a statement.
But labor groups argued that legislation was needed to improve conditions for vulnerable worker groups. However, it is dependent on workers’ willingness to pursue claims against employers.
“There are generally a lot of workers who are less likely to complain, which means the government has to play a bigger role than it otherwise would,” under President Barack Obama.
Nonetheless, Weill expressed concern that the bill could draw resources from enforcing regulations in other industries where workers are vulnerable, such as cleaning, home care and agriculture.
The bill is a big step toward so-called sectoral bargaining, where workers and employers negotiate wages and conditions across industries. This is in contrast to the standard approach in the United States of individual companies for each location.
The International Service Workers Union, which has about 2 million members and is a major proponent of the bill, argued that a sectoral approach was needed. Leverage to force an employer’s hand.