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.
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.
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.
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.
### 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.
