California Legislature Passes Bills to Raise Minimum Wage, Expand Worker Protections

California lawmakers passed bills to raise the minimum wage to $25/hr for healthcare workers and $20/hr for fast food workers.
Striking workers will be eligible for unemployment benefits starting in January.
Most other workers will get at least 5 paid sick days per year, up from 3.
Lawmakers advanced bills to provide more protections for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care and custody cases.
Climate change bills passed to require big companies to disclose emissions and how climate change affects finances.

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Relevant topic timeline:

9/11/2023

Fast-Food Industry and Unions Reach Deal to Increase Minimum Wage to $20/hr, Averting Costly Ballot Fight

Fast-food companies in California have agreed to remove a referendum from next year's ballot that aimed to reverse a worker-protections law, resulting in an increase in the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour in April and the creation of a new council to consider future pay bumps.

9/12/2023

California Groups Reach Deal to Raise Minimum Wage to $20/hr, Averting Ballot Fight

California restaurants and unions have agreed to raise the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 per hour, avoiding a potential ballot fight over a previously passed law.

9/15/2023

McDonald's franchisees fear 'devastating' costs from California fast-food bill, but compromise reached after lobbying fight

California's landmark fast-food bill, AB 1228, which includes a wage floor of $20 for California workers at fast-food chains with at least 60 locations nationwide, is facing resistance from an independent advocacy group of McDonald's owners who warn that it will be a "devastating financial blow" and cannot be absorbed by the business model.

9/17/2023

California Raises Minimum Wage for Fast Food Workers to $20/hr by 2024, Despite Industry Concerns

California Governor Gavin Newsom has pledged to sign a bill into law that will create a $20 minimum wage for fast food workers, representing a significant increase from the current rate of $15.50.

10/13/2023

Social Security To See 3.2% COLA Increase As Inflation Slows, But Housing Prices Keep Climbing and Workers Strike

### Summary Amazon's worker safety concerns are being scrutinized by regulators and the Department of Justice, as data from the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration shows high injury rates among Amazon laborers, leading to citations for failing to keep workers safe; meanwhile, California is set to increase its minimum wage to $18 per hour next year, making it one of the highest in the country.

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Posted 9/15/2023, 9:48:21 PM