(CALIFORNIA GLOBE) – California is bleeding businesses to lower tax, lower regulatory, more business-friendly states. Yet the SEIU is pushing a bill to create a “fast food council” responsible for setting wages, working hours and other health and safety standards for the entire industry. Assembly Bill 257 by Assemblyman Chris Holden (D-Los Angeles), just passed the Senate Appropriations Committee.
To gin up the SEIU latest union-member recruitment, fast food workers will be protesting wages, hours and safety at the State Capitol today. SEIU created “Fast Food Justice Hora” claims “California’s half a million fast food workers faced an industry rife with wage theft, sexual harassment, discrimination, violence in the workplace and health and safety issues.”
AB 257 creates a statewide Fast-Food Sector Council within the Department of Industrial Relations to set minimum health, safety and employment standards across the California fast food industry, according to the SEIU – even though every business in California operates under health, safety and employment standards set by state and local laws.
This is where it appears AB 257 actually appears to be targeting the corporate parent companies: AB 257 “requires fast-food giants to ensure all their restaurants have the necessary resources to operate safely.”
The California Restaurant Association clearly opposes AB 257:
“AB 257 does nothing to help hard-working California families struggling with these costs, in fact it would only serve to hit their wallets even harder. also harms tens of thousands of counter service restaurants. It would impose increased employee costs and onerous new workplace rules at a time when many are still struggling to get back on their feet after the devastating impacts of the government mandated COVID closures. Many restaurants are struggling with labor shortages and increased costs for food and supply chain delays – all while trying desperately to stay afloat. We should be helping this vital sector of our state’s economy keep their doors open, not actively pursuing measures that would kick them closed.”
According to Senate bill analysis:
- The fast-food council will “promulgate minimum fast food restaurant employment standards on wages, working conditions and training that are necessary or appropriate to protect and ensure the welfare, well-being and security of fast food restaurant workers.”
- Appoints the Secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency chairperson of the council.
- Authorizes a county or city with a population greater than 200,000 to establish a Local Fast Food Sector Council, as specified, to provide direction to, and coordinate with, local agencies regarding the fast food sector work conditions within the applicable local jurisdiction, and shall periodically hold public hearings and provide the state Council with written recommendations.
- Authorizes the franchisee to file an action against its franchisor for monetary or injunctive relief necessary to ensure compliance over the cost of compliance with employment and health and safety laws.
