JUDGE ACTS TO BLOCK NEW CA FAST FOOD WORKERS LAW

 By Bob Walsh

 

 

Last year the formerly great state of California established a 10-member council which was empowered by law to impose wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment for fast food workers in the state, whether the workers or employers liked it or not.  Restaurant industry groups sued.  Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Shellyanne Chang has temporarily blocked implementation of the law.  

Industry groups have filed a bid for the 2024 ballot to overturn the law.  It the attempt is certified that would automatically stop implementation until the ballot initiative is voted on.  The counties have been slow-dragging verification of the signatures.  It appears that the signature verification may be completed by the end of the month.

In the meanwhile the Department of Industrial Relations has said they intend to begin enacting their end of the law, which involves setting up the council.  Under the current law none of the rules implemented by the council could take effect until October so the Department actions will have no immediate effect on any business operations.

Assuming the ballot drive falls short and the law takes effect it will likely mean a 50% increase in wages for fast food workers in CA by the end of this calendar year.  The current minimum wage in CA is $15.50 per hours.  Most observers believe that if this pay raise goes thru it will have a large negative effect on the number of people employed in the industry and may generate a huge rise in consumer costs.  It will, however, almost certainly increase the number of robot fast food cooks used in these restaurants.