California fast-food workers form a rare union, hoping to spark a national movement
Hot off the grill… Hundreds of fast-food workers in California have joined forces to form a union that could help turn the tables on the labor-power balance. The first-of-its-kind California Fast Food Workers Union represents staff from big chains including McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Subway. To join, they’ll have to pay a $20/month membership fee. FYI: over half a million people in California work in fast food, the most of any state.
Double-double: The union aims to raise fast-food minimum wage by 3.5% over the next three years, protect workers from unfair firings, and guarantee enough shift hours for all employees to make a living wage.
A less crusty Mr. Krabs… Union leaders want to build on years of fighting for higher pay and better conditions in the low-wage food industry. While lots of industries have powerful unions, organized labor is rare in fast food. But workers in CA have been making strides:
Golden State: A law passed last year will force fast-food chains with 60+ US locations to pay workers at least $20/hr — up from $15.50 — starting in April.
Golden Arches: While drive-thru biggies like McDonald’s appeared to support the wage hike, it could add $250K to the operating cost of each location.
Labor’s getting supersized… Workers in industries like automotive and entertainment made large gains last year during #HotStrikeSummer. But for hourly fast-food staff, wages tend to stagnate for years. A union could promote consistent pay growth and better working conditions. But gains can come at a cost: critics say higher wages could lead to even more inflated menu prices, or more automation to cut labor costs. Over half of restaurant operators have incorporated automation (picture: Chipotle’s tortilla-frying bot).