A new bill signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom went into effect on April 1, increasing minimum wage to $20 per hour for fast food workers.
The raise affects employees of fast food chains with more than 60 locations nationwide and franchised establishments. Fast food restaurants can range from a shop that features ice cream, coffee, boba tea, pretzels or donuts, according to the bill.
In interviews with 10 students at Cosumnes River College, opinions about the increase in fast food minimum wage were split.
“I think the rise of the minimum wage will be an immediate positive and I think the negative is going to be in the long run,” said Anthony Leath, a 36-year-old undeclared major.
California has an estimated 427,270 fast food workers in the state, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor.
“I would say the wages have a positive impact but there’s like, loopholes in it,” said Janea Castro, a 20-year-old film media major.
Maya Idlbi, an 18-year-old psychology major and Baskin-Robbins employee, said she’s happy about the wage increase and hopes it makes a difference because she doesn’t get many hours.
“What’s so hard about paying people healthy and livable ways to live and survive, to feed ourselves, and have housing?” Leath said. “You’re making billions of dollars and have an issue paying people $20?”
With the wage increase, employees are being laid off and hours are being cut in half, especially within pizzerias, according to USA TODAY.
“I think that people are going to fight because you know, just because they’re paying more doesn’t mean they should cut hours,” said Ilana Holman, a 20-year-old education major and former McDonald’s employee.
The economic factors in the fast-food business are reflected in how several affected fast-food franchises have responded to the mandatory wage hike by raising menu pricing, according to Kalinowski Equity Research.
Shawn Holman, an 18-year-old informational technology major, and related to Llana Holman, said they understand the need to increase revenue to compensate for the new wages.
“So I think that it’s a deeper problem with how the system is set up, but I feel that overall, this is a step in the right direction for people,” said Llana Holman.