California’s fast-food council, the first of its kind, was meant to be a game-changer for workers’ rights, focusing on wages and conditions. But it hasn’t met in over a year, and it’s missing a chairperson. Now, workers are stepping up, pushing Governor Gavin Newsom to appoint someone so the council can actually function.
Luna Mondragon, a Carl’s Jr. employee from Milpitas, shared her story. After five years on the job, she faced health issues and felt retaliation for speaking up about her pain. “Without our health, we can’t achieve anything,” she said, emphasizing the council’s importance.
The council was established in 2023 during a compromise that also set a $20 minimum wage for fast-food employees. It was designed to tackle issues like pay and safety, representing both workers and employers. By law, it’s supposed to meet at least twice a year, but those meetings haven’t happened.
In its first year, the council had a few meetings, but everything changed when its chair, Nick Hardeman, left for a different role. When asked about the council, he declined to comment.
In a tense battle in 2022, the state raised the minimum wage to $22, sparking pushback and strikes across California. The subsequent compromise led to the current wage of $20 and the formation of the council. This council lacks some powers traditional unions possess but aims to advocate for workers.
Spokespeople for the governor and the Labor & Workforce Development Agency confirmed that the council is inactive without a chair. Meanwhile, workers have delivered a detailed report to the Governor’s office, highlighting over 100 complaints about working conditions, including wage theft.
Angelica Hernandez, a McDonald’s employee and council member, voiced the struggle workers face. Many fear retaliation from their employers, which has made them hesitant to speak out.
Rich Reinis, a former franchise owner and current council member, expressed frustration over the council’s lack of activity. He pointed out that it should be reviewing the minimum wage impact on prices and employment. Research from UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz shows varying effects of wage increases, leaving the real impact up for debate.
Despite the hurdles, Hernandez remains optimistic. “The sky didn’t fall on the California fast food industry,” she asserts, countering claims that higher wages hurt businesses.
The council must submit a performance review every three years, a deadline that looms large without recent meetings. Once, Hardeman noted, decision-making was tough. “How are we supposed to write a report without meetings?” Reinis asked.
Chris Holden, the former assembly member who created the council, hopes Newsom recognizes the need for new leadership. Julieta Garcia, a Pizza Hut cook in Los Angeles, urged the governor to follow through on his promises to improve fast-food workers’ lives.
The governor’s office hasn’t provided a timeline for appointing a new chairperson.
For more details on workers’ rights issues related to fast food, visit CalMatters.
