ADAM BEAMMost fast food workers in California will now be paid at least $20 an hour. The new law requires fast food chains with 60 or more locations nationwide to meet that wage increase.Lost in the hubbub surrounding California's new $20-per-hour minimum wage for fast food workers is how that raise could impact public schools, forcing districts to compete with the likes of McDonald's and Wendy's for cafeteria workers amid a state budget crunch.
"They are all very worried about it. Most are saying they anticipate it will be harder and harder to hire employees," said Carrie Bogdanovich, president of the California School Nutrition Association. In Southern California, San Luis Coastal Unified doubled its food service staff to 40 people after seeing a 52% increase in the number of students eating school meals. The district prepares 8,500 meals daily for 7,600 students across 15 school sites - breakfast, lunch and even supper options for youth in after-school sports and activities.
Janson says the district is waiting to see how employees react, adding: "We just don't have the increase in revenue to be able to provide additional funding for staff."