2y ago

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs law to raise minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour

apnews.com

42 comments

Why not all workers?
- Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
  
  And don't let them dictate to us how much is enough
- From the article, it sounds like there's been specific legal stuff going on that influenced this:
  Newsom’s signature on Thursday reflects the power and influence of labor unions in the nation’s most populous state, which have worked to organize fast food workers in an attempt to improve their wages and working conditions.
  It also settles — for now, at least — a fight between labor and business groups over how to regulate the industry. In exchange for higher pay, labor unions have dropped their attempt to make fast food corporations liable for the misdeeds of their independent franchise operators in California, an action that could have upended the business model on which the industry is based. The industry, meanwhile, has agreed to pull a referendum related to worker wages off the 2024 ballot.
  So yeah, labor unions bringing cases that could effectively dismantle the corporate/franchisee relationship is a big, big deal to fast food companies, which are generally the most "franchised" types of businesses in the US. Agreeing to higher pay to slow unionization efforts and to outright stop cases that change how the core of their businesses function seems like a smart short-term move on their part.
  It would still be better if it was for everyone, but this particularly seems to have some history behind why it happened for just these workers.
- If you start at the bottom it will force those above to raise wages in order to compete.
- This focus is kinda weird ngl. Why is fast food entertainment being protected and promoted? Let the market crush this shit - we don't need more McDonald's garbage in this world.
  
  Welp, decades of data can tell you that "letting the market crush this shit" ain't working.
No federal limit to executive pay and incentives then? Problem not solved but I’m happy some effort was made at the state level
Finally the essential workers get something worth a damn
- No
So McDonald's is pulling out of California now, right?
- Since a living wage for fast-food workers is possible in Denmark, I'm sure it's possible in California and the rest of the US.
- Don’t be silly. The Crappy Meal probably won’t cost $10 either.
  
  It's almost already at that price for a burger fry and drink
I'm all for it, but this creates an issue for skilled labor making roughly the same wage.
Basically everyone needs like 100% more money.
- Doesn't create an issue, creates an opportunity
  "Pay me more or I'll go get a job at a fast food place" is a simple and easy argument for raises at any reasonable place
  
  Or just work a part time gig at McDonald’s for a couple 5 hour shifts a week to supplement your career job.
  Makes it pretty appealing to think about flipping some burgers for $20 an hour, $100 a day 2-3 days a week.
  Could be an extra $1,000 a month or so for people looking for something to supplement their income.
  
  It disincentivizes gaining a skill, which is bad for society.
- I don't think it's unskilled labor at all. If anything, your so-called skilled labor is underpaying you then. We shouldn't hold others down.
- Basically everyone needs like 100% more money.
  Yes. They do. If you're doing something vastly more specialized than making food quickly, you should be paid much more than $20/hour.
  And in California, $20/hour still isn't a livable wage.
  
  and of course if every makes 100% more money then the price of everything goes up 100% and we're no better off.

42 comments