Starting Monday, most fast food workers in California will see their wages increase to at least $20 per hour as a new law goes into effect. This law, passed by Democrats in the state Legislature, aims to provide more financial security to workers in a historically low-paying profession, many of whom are adults supporting their families. Immigrants like Ingrid Vilorio, who started working at McDonald's shortly after arriving in the United States in 2019, will benefit from this wage increase, although she wishes it had come sooner. However, the law has faced pushback from franchise owners, such as Alex Johnson who owns multiple Auntie Anne's Pretzels and Cinnabon restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. Johnson has expressed concerns about the impact of the law on his business, including having to lay off staff and potentially close his restaurants due to the increased expenses.

Despite these challenges, data from the past decade has shown that previous minimum wage increases in California did not lead to job losses, according to labor economics professor Michael Reich. The $20 per hour wage increase for fast food workers reflects a compromise between the industry and labor unions, with specific exemptions for certain types of restaurants. While there were initial concerns about an exemption benefiting a wealthy campaign donor, the Newsom administration clarified that the law applies to all fast food establishments meeting the criteria.

Overall, the wage increase law represents a significant change for the fast food industry in California, with potential implications for both workers and businesses in the state.