Hoʻomaka ka poʻe hana FAST FOOD o Kaleponi e loaʻa $20 i kēlā me kēia hola: lanakila a i ʻole ka pōʻino?
- California’s recent decision to increase the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour, starting next year, has sparked debate. The state’s Democratic leaders have endorsed this law, recognizing that these workers often serve as the main breadwinners in low-income households. From April 1 onwards, these employees will enjoy the highest base salary in their industry.
Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom signed this law at a Los Angeles event filled with jubilant workers and labor leaders. He dismissed the notion that fast food jobs are merely stepping stones for teenagers entering the workforce as a "romanticized version of a world that doesn’t exist.” He argues that this wage hike will reward their efforts and stabilize an uncertain industry.
This legislation mirrors the growing influence of labor unions in California. These unions have been rallying fast food workers to demand better wages and improved working conditions. In exchange for increased pay, unions are dropping attempts to hold fast food corporations liable for franchise operators' misconducts. The industry has also agreed not to push a worker wages-related referendum onto the 2024 ballot.
Service Employees International Union International President Mary Kay Henry stated that this law is a decade-long effort involving 450 strikes statewide over two years. However, critics question whether such significant wage hikes could potentially hurt small businesses and result in
