The UC Berkeley Labor Center has taken inventory of minimum wage levels and scheduled increases across California and much of the country.

The UC Berkeley labor center estimates more than 400,000 medical assistants, janitors, food service workers and others will benefit.

“It’s low pay, and the more drivers there are, the longer the waiting time and the less they make,” said Ken Jacobs.

Ken Jacobs says the chains could easily reduce fees for franchisees to minimize the impact. “The ten largest fast food companies had $6.1 billion in stock buybacks in 2023. It’s an extraordinary amount of money.”

More than 700,000 immigrants living illegally in California will gain access to free health care starting Monday under one of the state’s most ambitious coverage expansions in a decade.

“The support of young people is even greater than the rest of the population. We are seeing a significant increase in workers interest in unions and engagement in organizing in their workplace,” Jacobs said.

So called “prime-age” workers, between 25–54 years old, reached the highest employment rate in 22 years, with nearly 81% working. “For prime-age women, it’s the highest on record since the data started to be collected in 1948,” said Ken Jacobs, chair of the UC Berkeley Labor Center. “The only worrisome sign is the uptick in unemployment among Black workers and young workers.”

What might be harder than finding a job, Lopezlira says, is finding a job with all the high salaries and extra benefits and perks that came with many Silicon Valley and Bay Area tech jobs.

“Over 200 Starbucks around the country, workers have voted to form unions. This is the second REI that’s now voted to form a union,” said Jacobs, “”When we look at polling data, the general public support for unions is the highest it’s been since mid-1960’s.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed a bill into law that will now give health care coverage for low-income people age 50 and older, including those who are living in the country without the proper documentation.

“The companies have been slick in their deception. [Prop. 22] doesn’t provide meaningful guarantees for the driver. The central effect of Proposition 22 is to take away rights and benefits for drivers under California law.”