California launched a groundbreaking fast food council to improve working conditions for employees in the industry. However, this council has not met for over a year and currently lacks a chairperson.
Workers, organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), have stepped up to call on Governor Gavin Newsom to appoint a new chairperson. They argue that without leadership, their voices and concerns go unheard. Luna Mondragon, a worker at a Carl’s Jr. in Milpitas, shared her story about the physical toll her job has taken on her. She expressed the need for the council to help protect workers’ health.
The council was established following a compromise in 2023, which also set a minimum wage of $20 for fast food workers statewide. This council has the potential to regulate wages, health, and safety standards for thousands employed at major fast food chains.
Under California law, the council is required to meet at least twice a year, but it has been inactive. The chairperson, Nick Hardeman, resigned in early 2025, leaving the council without direction. Businesses have raised concerns about how the wage increase will affect prices, with conflicting studies suggesting little negative impact. A recent report indicated that California’s minimum wage hike has not led to job losses or significant price increases.
Around 630,000 fast food workers operate in California, with a majority being people of color and many being immigrants. Workers have reported intimidation from employers when they ask about work rights, highlighting a troubling dynamic in the industry.
Industry representatives, like Rich Reinis, formerly a franchise owner, emphasized the need for discussions on the impact of recent wage changes. He also pointed to the need for a focused study to understand the financial implications of these changes.
Adding to the urgency, workers recently delivered a detailed report to the governor’s office, outlining over 100 complaints related to unsafe conditions and wage theft since the council’s formation. Chris Holden, the former California assemblymember who helped create the council, stressed the importance of its work, urging the governor to act promptly in appointing a new chairperson.
As the situation unfolds, many, like Julieta Garcia, a cook at Pizza Hut, hope for a positive legacy from the governor. Workers and advocates are eager to see the council resume its vital role in advocating for fast food employees.
For more context on how the California fast food council was formed, you can read about it here.
