--- title: California fast-food workers could get $22/hr. - The Hustle description: A new bill could form a fast-food council to oversee wages and conditions in California. image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/792960394-HS-News-Brief_2022-08-30T230344.044Z.webp --- # California fast-food workers could get $22/hr. ![Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://53.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/53/assets/hubspot.com/web-team/WBZ/HubSpot%20Media/Blog%202021/Images/Nav/Optimized/TheHustle_Icon_Dark.svg) [Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/juliet-bennett-rylah) [Juliet Bennett Rylah Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/JBRylah) Published: August 31, 2022 Updated: October 11, 2023 California’s minimum wage is $15.50/hr., but a new bill could score some fast-food employees up to $22/hr. ![California fast-food workers could get $22/hr.](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/792960394-HS-News-Brief_2022-08-30T230344.044Z.webp?width=595&height=400&name=792960394-HS-News-Brief_2022-08-30T230344.044Z.webp) The Fast Food Accountability and Standards (FAST) Recovery Act has passed both the state Assembly and Senate, but Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign it, [per](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/30/business/dealbook/california-bill-pay-working-conditions-fast-food.html) *The New York Times*. #### **What would it do?** - Create a 10-person fast-food council with employee and restaurant reps, plus state officials. - The council would set industry-wide standards, including wages, working hours, and conditions. - Only fast-food chains with at least 100 US locations would be affected. Proponents hope the council would give fast-food employees — who [often deal with](https://www.labor.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/FastFood_Report_2021_v3_4-28-21.pdf) wage theft, harassment, and safety issues — a voice. #### **But it’s controversial** Several business groups and restaurant owners, including the California Chamber of Commerce and both the National and California Restaurant Association, are against it. They argue: - It’d raise food prices as much as 20%. - It might [deter](https://www.uschamber.com/employment-law/letter-to-california-senate-opposing-ab-257-the-fast-food-accountability-and-standards-fast-recovery-act) franchisees from operating in California. Groups representing Black, Asian, and LGBTQ+ businesses also [worry](https://www.franchise.org/media-center/press-releases/ifa-statement-on-senate-passage-of-california-fast-act) it could harm minority groups who rely on franchises as a path to entrepreneurship. **Interestingly,** if approved, the council would be similar to [sectoral bargaining](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectoral_collective_bargaining), where workers and employers negotiate across an industry. It’s common in Europe, but not the US. 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