With the stroke of Governor Newsom’s pen, AB 257 tried to become law faster than the time it takes to get a Big Mac. But in a Whopper of a move, the International Franchise Association (IFA) and National Restaurant Association quickly filed a referendum seeking to overturn the new law. Qualifying the referendum would suspend the law until voters can weigh in. The legislation, if upheld, will give more than half a million fast-food workers in the state additional power in the workplace by establishing a 10-member Fast Food Council comprised of worker delegates and employer representatives. The council will have the authority to set minimum standards for wages, hours, and workplace conditions, and could result in a new $22 an hour minimum wage by the end of next year. The new law is a major victory for the Fight for $15, led by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which has been putting pressure on the fast-food industry for years. For the IFA and Restaurant Association, the law, if not stopped, could set a precedent for other states to follow. The IFA referred to the law as a “fork in the eye” to people who run restaurant franchises and said it could result in higher prices up to 20% for consumers.
Faster than a Big Mac and a Whopper of a move!
