The Save Local Restaurants coalition issued the following statements after California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 1228 (Holden), the quick-service restaurant industry agreement. The bill passed the California State Legislature September 14.
The Save Local Restaurants coalition issued the following statements after the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1228 (Holden), the quick-service restaurant industry agreement. The bill passed the Assembly on a 48-17 vote and the Senate on a 32-8 vote. Governor Newsom must still sign the bill by October 14, for it to become law.
“The Save Local Restaurants coalition today announced that a comprehensive legislative agreement has been reached regarding quick service restaurants and outstanding legislative and regulatory issues in California. The language of the agreement has been inserted in Assembly Bill 1228 (Holden) and this version of the bill must pass both houses of the state legislature by Thursday, September 14. “
“Today’s Court decision protects the rights of over one million California voters who demanded their say on this law before bearing its burden. We appreciate the Court upholding the state’s 100-year-old referendum process, as well as the well-established legal precedent that ensures California voters are able to consider the laws passed by their legislature.”
Today, the Sacramento Superior Court issued a temporary hold on AB 257, the FAST Act, which prevents the law from being implemented until the Court has a chance to decide the merits of the case. A hearing is scheduled for January 13, 2023. This pause comes on the heels of a Save Local Restaurants coalition lawsuit against state officials following a declaration that they would move forward with the law despite more than one million California voters demanding a say on its implementation.
The Save Local Restaurants coalition followed the constitutionally prescribed referendum process to ensure that voters have a say in the enactment of AB 257.
Today, the Save Local Restaurants coalition filed a lawsuit to ensure the democratic process established by the California Constitution is respected. The state’s Constitution dictates that, as part of the referendum process, laws cannot go into effect until voters have an opportunity to exercise their voice and vote on the proposed legislation. To date, more than one million California voters have asked for the opportunity to do exactly that with AB 257.
Today, the Save Local Restaurants coalition released the following statement after submitting petition signatures to give voters the opportunity to protect Californians and local business owners from the damaging impacts of AB 257, or the FAST Act:
In response to today’s union protest activity, the Save Local Restaurants coalition released the following statement:
In response to attempts to invalidate voters’ rights to have a say on AB 257 before it becomes California law, the Save Local Restaurants Coalition released the following statement:
The Save Local Restaurants coalition released the following statement on the new disclosure of its funders
Before these repercussions hit the state, it is only right that California voters have a say in whether they must shoulder the burden of higher prices and job losses, as small businesses are forced to limit opportunities, lay off employees or close altogether.
The director’s position fails to honor the People’s right to approve legislation before it becomes effective, and weakens their right to reject special-interest legislation. If the director won’t change her position, the courts should stand up for popular democracy and require her to do so.
A smarter approach would be to increase funding for agencies to enforce the state’s already strong labor laws. This could improve oversight and bolster workers’ rights without inflicting financial and regulatory burdens on small businesses.
A statewide minimum wage for a subset of workers would arbitrarily fragment California’s labor market, raise prices for consumers, and depress investment across the industry. The incentive to hire would fall and the return to automation would rise.
Restaurants will almost certainly be forced to raise prices to the extent they can to cover higher labor costs. But most fast-food customers aren’t wealthy, so some restaurants may reduce worker hours or lay off employees.
Once again, the California Legislature is forcing businesses to think twice before continuing to serve consumers in the Golden State. . . . Assembly Bill 257 (aka the “FAST Act”), would completely revamp the state’s labor rules surrounding the counter-serve “fast food” restaurant industry. Most alarmingly, the bill empowers an unelected, [11]-member fast food sector council to set labor standards industry-wide.
Ron Ross, the owner of four Wendy’s restaurants in the Los Angeles area, called the bill “a solution in search of a problem.”
“There’s just not enough of a problem that we need this type of aggressive bill that would dramatically change how we do business,” said Ross, who has been a franchise owner for 30 years.
The center’s analysis says AB 257 would effectively create a new food tax at a time when inflation is reaching record highs and could boost fast-food prices by as much as 20%.
Paid for by Save Local Restaurants, a coalition of California small business owners, restaurateurs, franchisees, employees, consumers and community-based organizations. Committee Top Funders: Chipotle Mexican Grill, In-N-Out Burgers, Chick-fil-A.
