ONE BIG THING: THE HIDDEN COST OF FAST FOOD
What Happened?
In a 10-2 vote, Council approved our motion to guarantee more protections for fast food workers in Los Angeles.
LA already has a Fair Work Week Law that gives retail workers more predictability and stability on the job. Our motion would extend those same protections to fast food workers:
- Two weeks advance notice of schedules
- Extra pay for last-minute changes
- Guaranteed rest between shifts.
But labor laws only work when workers know their rights, and right now, a reported 88% of fast food workers don’t know all their workplace rights and protections.
That’s why our motion also directs City departments to develop a framework for Know-Your-Rights trainings, where outside experts can connect directly with fast food workers and educate them about the protections they have on the job.
Why it Matters
Fast food is one of the most exploitative industries in our economy. Workers face widespread labor violations, wage theft, and poverty — while corporations continue to make record profits:
91% of fast food workers are victims of some type of labor violation, according to a Harvard Study.
Fast food workers in LA lose an average of 16% of their annual income due to wage theft.
Households with fast food workers are twice as likely to fall below the federal poverty line.
This cycle of abuse is allowed to persist because the industry relies on a constant cycle of new, low-wage workers who may not know what they’re legally entitled to. The less workers know, the easier it is for employers to violate those rights without consequences.
That’s the cycle we need to break. And that’s why it’s so important for workers to know their rights.
What’s Next?
There are still a few more steps until this becomes law.
Next, the City Attorney will draft the ordinance to expand the fair work week to fast food workers, while city departments will develop the Know Your Rights training framework. Then, both will return to City Council for a final vote before these protections become law.
A special thank you to the hundreds of fast food workers and business owners who came out throughout this process to share their stories and help shape this legislation.
For more updates and information for how to get involved, follow @cafastfoodunion on social media.
One More Quick Hit!
- Unarmed Response Program Update
When someone is experiencing a public safety crisis, they deserve the response that best meets their needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Since launching in March 2024, the Unarmed Model of Crisis Response has continued to exceed expectations across Los Angeles. In just the past month, unarmed crisis responders handled more than 1,500 calls, bringing the program to 31,516 calls since launch with an average response time of 30 minutes.
The program is also diverting more and more calls from LAFD as well. Over the past year, firefighters have deferred more than 1,300 eligible calls to UMCR, allowing unarmed responders to handle nonviolent crises while keeping emergency resources available for emergencies.
Save the Date – Organizing & Civic Engagement
Wednesday, September 19th – Metro Planning and Programming Meeting
(Community meeting hosted by Metro)
Thursday, September 24th – 27th Annual Los Angeles Sales & Professional Career Fair(FREE Job and Career Fair)
Save the Date – Community Events
Saturday, September 19th – 50th Anniversary Community Celebration & Resource Fair (FREE fun, food, and live music hosted in the heart of East LA )
Tuesday, September 15th – El Grito(FREE celebration of Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month)
CD13 Pet of the Week
Meet Brownie, our pet of the week!
Now we know life happens, but brownies DEFINITELY help. This lovely boy is a Domestic Shorthair baked right up to 5 lbs. If you are searching for something warm and sweet to cuddle up with, this cutie might be just for you!
If you are interested in finding your batter-half, visit Brownie at North Central today!
