How California's new wage law creates problem for low-paid workers

Schools in California are concerned as the state passed a law setting a minimum wage of $20 per hour for fast-food chain employees, forcing public education institutions to compete with large cafeterias.

The law does not include food workers in schools — the lowest-paid job in public education.

California offers free meals to students and the demand this year is expected to increase by up to 70 million extra meals compared to 2018, the state’s Department of Education maintained.

The employees for school food services are hard to find and the current law has made the hunt even harder.

Carrie Bogdanovich, president of the California School Nutrition Association, said: "They are all very worried about it. Most are saying they anticipate it will be harder and harder to hire employees."

Some districts have been anticipating such laws such as the Sacramento Unified School District raised the salary by 10% last year with another increase of 6% in the current year’s July.

Cancy McArn, the district’s chief human resources officer, said it was the largest single raise in the district in nearly three decades, adding that "we are looking not only at competing with districts and comparing with districts, we’re also looking at fast food places."

In Southern California, San Luis Coastal Unified increased the staff number and limited the number of its entry-level positions, for which employees are harder to find, but they increased hiring for the roles that require skill.

Tia Orr, executive director of the Services Employees International Union California — which represents both school food service workers and fast food employees — said school districts and other service industries must consider raising wages because of this new law.

"This is a good thing, and it is long overdue," she said.