A judge on Friday temporarily blocked the state of California from implementing a landmark new law aimed at raising wages and improving working conditions for fast food workers.
Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang's order came in response to a lawsuit by restaurant industry groups under the Save Local Restaurants coalition, which is seeking a referendum on the November 2024 ballot in a bid to overturn the law. The coalition unites major fast food chains like McDonald's, Starbucks and Chipotle as corporate brands and franchisees together raised $12.7 million in 2022 to fight AB257, aka the FAST Recovery Act.
"Above all, today’s decision by the Sacramento Superior Court protects the voices of over one million California voters who exercised their democratic right in asking to vote on a piece of legislation before bearing its burden," said the coalition in a statement Friday. "While this pause is temporary, the impact is beyond just one piece of legislation and keeps intact for the time being California’s century-old referendum process.”
The law establishes a 10-member council empowered to set minimum wages as well as standards for hours and working conditions for California's fast food workers.
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