Written by William Hekman
California watched closely as AB 1400 moved through the legislature. But last week, the bill could not pass through the Assembly despite a Democrat Supermajority. Assemblyman Ash Kalra, the author of the bill, said, “We did not have the votes necessary for passage and I decided the best course of action is to not put AB 1400 for a vote today”. While many celebrated the death of the bill, progressives and unions who backed the bill were angered. The Progressive Caucus of the California Democrat Party said they would pull endorsements for those who defected. Now, Democrats and unions are pushing a new bill that would severely harm the California economy and make matters worse.
Democrats are pushing AB 257, the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act (FAST Recovery Act) would create a government council that would allow the government to take over “labor negotiations” with fast-food businesses. It would also allow them to, “promulgate minimum fast food restaurant employment standards, including standards on wages, working conditions, and training, and to issue, amend, and repeal any other rules and regulations, as necessary to carry out its duties.” The bill is being heavily pushed by SEIU and one of the authors is now former Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez. Gonzalez resigned from the Assembly to become president of the California Labor Federation earlier this year. After Gonzalez’s resignation, Assemblyman Chris Holden took over the bill.
The union’s hope that with the passage of this bill, they will have half a million workers that will join unions and pay union dues. Republican Assemblyman Kelly Seyarto said that the bill would, “just drive entire franchises and franchise brands away from California.” California is already suffering from a mass exodus of people and companies leaving the state over regulations and taxes.
If this bill doesn’t pass it would be a massive victory. California has already suffered enough. The last thing this state needs is more regulations that will only hurt workers more.
Photo Cred: Mario Tama/Getty Images
