The California Assembly on Monday passed a bill that would create statewide standards for wages, working hours and work conditions of fast food employees.
If passed by the state Senate and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Bill 257 would create the Fast Food Sector Council, which would conduct a full review every three years on the adequacy of fast food restaurant health, safety, and employment standards.
The governor, speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Rules Committee would appoint the 11 members of the council, who would also establish sector-wide minimums on health, safety, wage, working hours, and employment standards.
Supporters praised AB 257, by Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, for creating more protections for California workers. An earlier version of the bill introduced by former Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez died last year.
On Monday, Assembly members passed the bill 41 to 19.
SEIU California, one of the state’s largest worker organizations, said the bill would address “long-standing issues in the fast food restaurant industry that have left more than half a million California fast food workers vulnerable to wage theft, sexual harassment, violence in the workplace, and health and safety violations.”
“Fast food workers are a lesson in courage,” said SEIU California President Bob Schoonover in a statement. “Despite threats, workplace hazards, retaliation, and profoundly exploitative work conditions, they have emerged as leading voices in the nation for equity and respect at work.”
Assemblyman Ken Cooley, D-Rancho Cordova, spoke in opposition to the bill. The council is required to submit a report to the Legislature 60 days before a standard is effective, but Cooley was concerned the council could “undermine the ability of the Legislature to honestly weigh in” on issues in the fast food industry.
He also said now is not the time to further burden fast food franchisees, who are still recovering from the pandemic.
“This liability that is being extended from the franchiser will have a chilling effect on businesses in California because, franchisers will simply not grant businesses to franchisees in California,” he said. “And you will see some of the most popular franchises grow in other areas and wonder why California doesn’t get to have those.”
Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo, D-Los Angeles, said she worked at McDonald’s in high school, and saw first-hand the struggles and abuses of fast food workers. She said she supports more protections.
“I had 39-cent cheeseburgers thrown at me because they were not at the satisfaction of the customer. I had my life threatened,” she said. “I tell you from experience that these workers are some of the hardest-working people that I have ever worked with.”