Posted on 09/29/2023 5:01:23 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
Califoria Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) was exultant Thursday after signing a law to raise wages in fast food restaurants to $20 per hour and to create a new “council” that will govern the industry.
“California is home to more than 500,000 fast-food workers who – for decades – have been fighting for higher wages and better working conditions,” Newsom said in a statement. “Today, we take one step closer to fairer wages, safer and healthier working conditions, and better training by giving hardworking fast-food workers a stronger voice and seat at the table.”
The legislation, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month, was the result of months of intimidation by state Democrats against the industry. The Journal noted:
Democrats last year passed a law establishing a state council with open-ended authority to set wages, benefits and working conditions for fast-food shops. Businesses responded, as California law says they can, by qualifying a referendum for the November 2024 ballot to overturn the law.
But in mafia-like fashion, Democrats retaliated and threatened more punishment if fast-food restaurants didn’t drop the referendum. The June state budget revived a long-dormant Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) with sweeping authority to set wages, hours and working conditions across all industries, not only fast food.
…
The deal Gov. Newsom announced rescinds funding for the state Industrial Welfare Commission and drops the joint-employer liability legislation. The state fast-food council will also be replaced by a board whose authorities are nominally more limited. In return, businesses dropped the referendum.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
automation will expand now.they’ll become automats like years ago.
They will end up closing anyway as people do not have the money to spend on fast food. We have not been out to eat for over a year.
$10 Big Macs, $5 Tacos...........................
Next up: price controls.
Welcome to $20 Big Macs.
“Unfortunately, the real minimum wage is always zero, regardless of the laws, and that is the wage that many workers receive in the wake of the creation or escalation of a government-mandated minimum wage, because they lose their jobs or fail to find jobs when they enter the labor force. Making it illegal to pay less than a given amount does not make a worker’s productivity worth that amount—and, if it is not, that worker is unlikely to be employed.”
Thomas Sowell
They’ll try to make it work and it won’t go over well. Prices will rise and jobs will be cut - which, over time, will cut into sales. I’m more concerned for what this does to restaurant workers who aren’t in fast-food - if I can make $20 at McDonald’s, why am I working for less than that plus tips at the local diner?
I haven’t looked at the specifics of the bill, but this looks like food inflation across the industry.
I'm assuming that the bit chains probably have enough capital and economy of scale to make the switch to fully automated.
And of course the wages for all those former fast food workers will go to the real minimum wage ($0).
Maybe not. I recall In and out paid 15+ over ten years ago. Cost of living and thus wages are very high in CA
The return of the lunchbox.
Fast food restaurants should pay $1,000 per hour and an extra $5,000 per hour as reparations for descendants of slaves.
White people, to be hired only if no one of color is available, should be paid in left-over food not to exceed $3 per day in total value.
Everyone should get $100,000 an hour. Then, we could work one hour a year and spend the rest of our time riding ponies and eating ice cream.
Another potential scenario is one that I’m seeing more and more in the restaurant business these days: establishments staffed entirely by the owner and family members — with no W-2 employees.
I think “value meals” are already pushing $12-13, so I’m sure the $20 Big Mac meal is already on the horizon. I use the app and get a large fries for just over a buck. Pair it up with a small snack, and it’s a decently filling meal.
How about all restaurants so no more tipping?
My wife and I were out late teaching an archery class so we didn’t want to cook. We stopped for a large pizza and two bottles of water. The bill, without tip, was $30.00.
Has anybody noticed the lack of work ethic in fast food places lately? Lots of kids, acting like kids with NO COMPREHENSION of responsibility.
It’s like a big game to them.
Smart.
Just about every pizzaria and Thai restaurant here in New England.
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