California fast food workers may soon see another pay increase, potentially adding 70 cents to their hourly wage, if a cost-of-living adjustment motion is approved. The California Fast Food Council has moved to consider the increase, which would bring the minimum wage for these workers to $20.70 per hour.
Currently, fast food workers in California earn a minimum of $20 per hour, a substantial increase from $16 per hour last April. The council, comprised of fast-food workers, restaurant owners, and state officials, will further discuss the potential 70-cent increase at their next meeting, scheduled for April or May. However, a vote on the matter will not take place at that meeting.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) had previously requested the $20.70 wage in a memo, citing the need to keep pace with the state’s rising cost of living. California’s law grants the council the authority to regulate wages and working conditions for fast-food chains with over 60 locations nationwide, allowing for annual wage increases tied to either 3.5% or the consumer price index.
This potential increase would be the first adjustment since the council’s creation last year. The debate highlights ongoing efforts to improve wages for fast food workers in California amid rising inflation.
