This is how you kill an industry and harm the consumers. The $20 fast food minimum wage killed tens of thousands of jobs. It also raised the cost of a burgher and fries—now it is a minimum of $10 a person for a burgher, fries and a drink. A family of four will spend $40 or more—this is NOT fast food.
“Restaurant operators pleaded for the council to hold off on further increases, with many saying they have been forced to raise menu prices, eliminate positions or cut hours for their workers after the minimum wage for fast-food workers increased 25% to $20 per hour last April.
Workers, meanwhile, shared how they were struggling to keep up with inflation, citing increases in grocery prices, rent and other costs.
This may be a radical idea. Why don’t the fast food workers get some training, find themselves a better paying job?
California’s Fast Food Council to debate another minimum wage hike
Lisa Jenkins, Restaurant Business, 2/25/25 https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/workforce/californias-fast-food-council-debate-another-minimum-wage-hike
The planning subcommittee voted to put an up-to-3.5% increase in the $20 per hour wage on the agenda, but it will be a discussion-only item for now.
California’s Fast Food Council will be considering another hike in the minimum wage.
The council’s planning subcommittee voted on Wednesday to put the prospect of a cost-of-living wage increase on the agenda for the next meeting.
But the topic will be on the agenda as an informational and discussion-only item, for now. A date for the next meeting was not set, but it is expected to be in April or May.
The council was created by legislation that established a $20 per hour minimum wage for fast food workers of chain restaurants with 60 or more units. The bill, which went into effect April 1, also created the 11-member council (including two non-voting members), which has the power to develop workplace standards and regulate the fast-food industry, as well as vote for cost-of-living adjustments to the minimum wage of up to 3.5%, or the rate of inflation, annually.
A 3.5% increase in the current fast-food wage would increase it by 70 cents to $20.70.
A multitude of both restaurant operators and workers offered public comment before the subcommittee on Wednesday.
Restaurant operators pleaded for the council to hold off on further increases, with many saying they have been forced to raise menu prices, eliminate positions or cut hours for their workers after the minimum wage for fast-food workers increased 25% to $20 per hour last April.
Workers, meanwhile, shared how they were struggling to keep up with inflation, citing increases in grocery prices, rent and other costs.
Employee wages should be part of an employer’s business program. The laws of supply and demand would mandate what employers pay for employee services. Employers would set a pay standard to attract the competency level of employees necessary to perform the required employee tasks to facilitate the business’ success. To attract competent employees, an employer must be wage competitive. If an employer does not attract competent employees, the business will fail. No government entity should set a minimum wage except for their own hires.