About that $20 minimum wage in California
-
Panera is exempt.
-
Good luck to Panera in trying to find and keep employees when McDonalds is paying 20% more…
-
Non-disclosure agreements were used in negotiations of California's landmark fast food worker law
We may never know what exactly happened in the final negotiations of California's controversial fast food minimum wage law because the groups involved signed non-disclosure agreements, multiple sources on all sides of the issue have confirmed to KCRA 3.
That law, which takes effect on April 1, has been at the center of intense scrutiny as Gov. Gavin Newsom faces allegations that he pushed for a special exemption in the law for bakeries to help benefit one of his billionaire donors who is also a Panera franchisee, Greg Flynn. Newsom has said the claim is absurd, and the franchisee said he never asked for special treatment.
Sources close to the negotiations said in the summer of 2023, the powerful Service Employees International Union required the other groups at the negotiating table to sign non-disclosure agreements, also known as NDAs. An NDA is a legally binding agreement that forces those involved to keep discussions confidential. SEIU has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
Sources within the fast food industry told KCRA 3 that when they sought information from the industry's leaders at the negotiating table in 2023, they were told the information could not be disclosed because of the NDAs.
Long-time Capitol observer and McGeorge School of Law Professor Chris Micheli said the development is surprising but noted the use of NDAs between interest groups is not illegal.
"It's unprecedented in my mind because I've never heard of anyone using an NDA when it comes to legislative negotiations," Micheli said. "I think the concern we should have is a potential lack of transparency and disclosure. Remember, the lawmaking process is being done on behalf of the people of California."
"It would seem we can't get access to what was discussed or disclosed in those negotiations because it appears the parties signed those NDAs, and if they view themselves as bound by them, then they're probably not going to disclose to the press or anyone else what was said in those negotiations," Micheli said.
"Surprising but not illegal." LOL.
-
A wealthy campaign donor of California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the Panera Bread restaurants he owns will start paying workers at least $20 an hour on April 1 after controversy over whether a new state minimum wage law for fast food workers applies to his businesses.
Flynn has not said whether he agrees with the Newsom administration’s interpretation. But on Tuesday, he announced that all of the Panera Bread restaurants his company owns and operates will pay all hourly workers pre-tip wages of “$20 per hour or higher.”
-
A wealthy campaign donor of California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the Panera Bread restaurants he owns will start paying workers at least $20 an hour on April 1 after controversy over whether a new state minimum wage law for fast food workers applies to his businesses.
Flynn has not said whether he agrees with the Newsom administration’s interpretation. But on Tuesday, he announced that all of the Panera Bread restaurants his company owns and operates will pay all hourly workers pre-tip wages of “$20 per hour or higher.”
