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Assembly Bill 257 for Franchisee Workers

If passed, Assembly Bill 257 would give the 725,000 franchise fast food employees real bargaining power. The Service Employees International Union is pushing this bill, which would give unions a foothold into the low wage, no benefits industry where unionization has long been elusive. California has been a proving ground for the unions’ efforts to advocate for low wage, no benefit workers. Los Angeles adopted a $15 an hour minimum wage in 2015, and the state followed suit in 2016. There has been some success as these workers wake up to the fact that they hold the true power in their jobs, without them, the franchise holders have nothing. At Starbucks, the employees are voting on unionizing at more and more stores across the country. The difference is, Starbucks is owned by one corporation that does not have franchises. The Assembly Bill covers franchised workers and gives these employees a direct voice with their employers. does have to answer to the National Labor Relations Board. This Bill would create an eleven-member council composed of business, labor and state representatives. It would set across the board standards for fast food chains with thirty or more locations, franchised or not. This would be a blanket legislation for the entire state. The state has done this for farm workers. It is legislation like this that levels the playing field for workers and helps to make our state one of the best, if not the best in the nation. In other union news, the AFL/CIO mobilized resources in solidarity with Ukraine unions, AFSCME, UAW, AFT Teachers, and the United Food and Commercial Workers, and many other unions. If you’re interested in helping the Ukraine unions, ask your local union how you can be of help.
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