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Amid the recent buzz surrounding California's new $20-per-hour minimum wage for fast food workers, there's a crucial aspect that's been overlooked: the potential impact on public schools. This raise could lead to a situation where districts have to compete with fast food giants like McDonald's and Wendy's for cafeteria workers, all while facing a state budget crunch.
The new minimum wage law, which came into effect on Monday, guarantees a minimum of $20 per hour for workers at fast food restaurant chains with at least 60 locations nationwide. However, this does not apply to school food service workers, who have historically been among the lowest-paid workers in public education.
California is the first state to ensure free meals for all students, regardless of their family's income. As a result, there is a higher demand for school meals than ever before. The state Department of Education projects an increase of over 70 million extra meals in California schools this year compared to 2018.
Despite this increased demand, school food service jobs are known for their high turnover rates and difficulty in recruitment. The minimum wage hike for fast food workers could exacerbate this challenge.
Carrie Bogdanovich, president of the California School Nutrition Association, expressed concerns, stating that most districts anticipate it will become increasingly difficult to hire employees.
To address these challenges, some districts have already taken action. Last year, the Sacramento Unified School District, anticipating the passage of the law, agreed to a 10% increase for its food service workers and other low-paying jobs. This was followed by another 6% increase on July 1 of this year, raising their wages to $20 per hour. Cancy McArn, the district's chief human resources officer, described it as the largest single raise in the district in nearly three decades.
In Southern California, the San Luis Coastal Unified School District doubled its food service staff to 40 people after experiencing 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, including breakfast, lunch, and supper options for students in after-school sports and activities. The district has also limited the number of entry-level positions, which are the hardest to fill, while focusing on hiring for more skilled roles like "culinary lead" and "central kitchen supervisor" to attract more job seekers.
Tia Orr, executive director of the Services Employees International Union California, which represents both school food service workers and fast food employees, praised the wage increase, calling it a long overdue step.
However, some districts, such as Lynwood Unified School District in Los Angeles County, are constrained in what they can offer due to budget limitations. Gretchen Janson, the district's assistant superintendent of business services, explained that the starting salary for food service workers is $17.70 per hour and maxes out at $21.51 per hour. Additionally, these workers only work three hours per day, making them ineligible for health benefits.
Nuria Alvarenga, who has worked in the Lynwood School District's food service for 20 years, expressed uncertainty about her future. While she currently earns $21 per hour, she believes she could likely earn more in the fast food industry. Despite this, she enjoys working at a high school where she sees former students recognizing her in line for lunch, highlighting the personal rewards of her job.
School food service workers have received more support in recent years, with the state investing $720 million in school kitchen upgrades to prepare fresh meals and creating a $45 million apprenticeship program to professionalize the industry.
While it may be challenging for lawmakers to mandate a raise for school food workers due to the complexities of the state's school funding formula, advocacy groups like the Chef Ann Foundation have proposed state-funded incentive programs. One such proposal was to provide school food workers who completed an apprenticeship program with a $25,000 bonus payable over five years. However, this idea was not included in Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget proposal, as the state is facing a significant budget deficit.
Despite the limitations, school districts can offer incentives beyond pay raises, such as health insurance, paid vacation, predictable hours, and retirement benefits. These factors, along with the stability and lower stress levels of working in a school cafeteria, could make these jobs attractive to workers compared to those in the fast food industry.