{"id":2342968,"date":"2024-09-18T15:54:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T19:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-months-after-california-raised-fast-food-minimum-wage-to-20-chipotle-is-already-bringing-in-the-robots\/"},"modified":"2024-09-18T15:56:39","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T19:56:39","slug":"5-months-after-california-raised-fast-food-minimum-wage-to-20-chipotle-is-already-bringing-in-the-robots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-months-after-california-raised-fast-food-minimum-wage-to-20-chipotle-is-already-bringing-in-the-robots\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Months After California Raised Fast-Food Minimum Wage to $20, Chipotle Is Already Bringing in the Robots"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F5-months-after-california-raised-fast-food-minimum-wage-to-20-chipotle-is-already-bringing-in-the-robots%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2342968&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the negative\u2064 consequences of California&#8217;s recent law mandating a $20 minimum wage for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-california-fast-food-restaurants-at-center-of-criminal-threats\/\" title=\"Report: California Fast Food Restaurants at Center of Criminal Threats\">fast-food workers<\/a>, which\u2062 has led to job losses and price increases in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/states-new-fast-food-law-will-deliver-a-devastating-financial-blow-group-warns\/\" title=\"Group warns that the state&#039;s new fast-food law will cause significant financial damage.\">fast-food \u200dindustry<\/a>. Companies like Chipotle are \u200cresponding by introducing automation, such as the \u200c&#8221;Autocado&#8221; \u2064machine and &#8220;Augmented Makeline,&#8221; to reduce reliance on human labor. The article posits\u2062 that such wage hikes \u200cmay benefit few while harming\u2062 workers and consumers alike, as evidenced by a \u200breported loss of approximately 9,500 fast-food jobs shortly after the law was enacted. Additionally, many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bold-fiscal-policy-matters-yellen-says-biden-spending-agenda-is-meant-to-cut-inequality\/\" title=\"\u2018Bold Fiscal Policy Matters\u2019: Yellen Says Biden Spending Agenda Is Meant To Cut \u2018Inequality\u2019\">fast-food chains<\/a> have begun raising prices, further burdening customers. The article highlights the irony that even California Governor Gavin Newsom, who signed the bill into law, does not pay his restaurant employees the mandated wage, \u200dsuggesting a lack of sustainability for these policies. Ultimately, it warns that\u2063 the ideal of a living wage for low-skill workers cannot be achieved without detrimental\u200b effects \u200clike job elimination \u200cor higher prices.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>When it comes to matters of people&rsquo;s livelihoods, there is absolutely no glee in saying, &ldquo;We told you so,&rdquo; but &hellip;<\/p>\n<p>We told you so.<\/p>\n<p>As anyone with a rudimentary, high school-level knowledge of economics could&rsquo;ve told you, the push to magically (federally) mandate a pay wage for low-skill employees was always going to have dire consequences, for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/celebritys-fast-food-chain-suddenly-closes-locations-following-minimum-wage-hike\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">workers<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mcdonalds-25-deal-angers-customers-shows-damage-californias-20-minimum-wage-fast-food-industry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">customers<\/a> alike.<\/p>\n<p>The latest example of this comes from deep blue California, where it has taken less than half a year for the $20 an hour fast-food minimum wage to start having a big impact &mdash; and not in a way that benefits employees.<\/p>\n<p>Chipotle, a &ldquo;fast casual&rdquo; Mexican restaurant that boasts about its handcrafted foods, <a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.chipotle.com\/2024-09-16-CHIPOTLE-DEBUTS-AUTOCADO-AND-THE-AUGMENTED-MAKELINE-BY-HYPHEN-IN-RESTAURANTS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announced<\/a> on Monday that one of its most popular items was about to be less &ldquo;handcrafted.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The announcement touted the debut of the company&rsquo;s new &ldquo;Autocado&rdquo; machine, which &ldquo;cuts, cores, and peels avocados before they are hand mashed to create the restaurant&rsquo;s signature guacamole.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-embed\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fRvVNlAELpc?si=FIlsBrvaC9EW4woh\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Not only did the company announce the &ldquo;Autocado,&rdquo; but it also announced the debut of its &ldquo;Augmented Makeline,&rdquo; which will use &ldquo;automated technology to build bowls and salads while Chipotle employees operate the top makeline to make burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and kid&rsquo;s meals.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Now, having automated help to work with the guacamole, bowls and salads isn&rsquo;t much of a start on fully replacing human employees &mdash; but it&rsquo;s a start nonetheless.<\/p>\n<p>And it&rsquo;s a course that America seems set on, if this push for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/unemployment-inflation-and-automation-the-truth-about-the-15-minimum-wage\/\" title=\"Unemployment, Inflation, and Automation: The Truth About The  Minimum Wage\">federally-mandated minimum wage<\/a> is anything to go by.<\/p>\n<p>But make no mistake about it: This is an utterly disastrous course, despite arguments that say otherwise from <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LibertyCappy\/status\/1836265892276998189\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><del>noted Batman nemesis The Joker<\/del><\/a>  California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Last September, Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/california-taxpayers-foot-six-figure-bill-gov-newsoms-celebrity-photographer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gavin Newsom<\/a> signed California Assembly Bill 1287 into law, which includes a $20 per hour minimum wage for fast-food workers and a fast-food regulatory council, which has the authority to raise the industry&rsquo;s minimum wage annually,&rdquo; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hoover.org\/research\/california-loses-nearly-10000-fast-food-jobs-after-20-minimum-wage-signed-last-fall#:~:text=Last%20September%2C%20Gov.,the%20industry's%20minimum%20wage%20annually.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hoover Institution<\/a> reported in April.<\/p>\n<p>The research center bluntly laid out the immediate results of Newsom&rsquo;s grand plan: &ldquo;But between last fall and January, California fast-food restaurants cut about 9,500 jobs.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>(It&rsquo;s worth pointing out that <em>this&nbsp;<\/em>is &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/bidenomics-rends-nationwide-drugstore-chain-set-shutter-significant-number-locations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bidenomics<\/a>&rdquo; and\/or &ldquo;Kamalanomics&rdquo; in action.)<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Total private employment in California declined just 0.2 percent during the same period, which makes it tempting to conclude that many of those lost fast-food jobs resulted from the higher labor costs employers would need to pay,&rdquo; the Hoover Institution noted.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;More fast-food job losses are coming as the new minimum wage took effect earlier this month,&rdquo; the research group continued. &ldquo;This includes losses at Pizza Hut and Round Table Pizza, which are in the process of firing nearly 1,300 delivery drivers. El Pollo Loco and Jack in the Box announced that they will speed up the use of robotics, including robots that make salsa and cook fried foods.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Fast-food prices are up since the law took effect on April 1. In less than one month, Wendy&rsquo;s increased prices by 8 percent, Chipotle&rsquo;s prices have increased by 7.5 percent, and Starbucks prices are up by 7 percent. McDonald&rsquo;s has announced it will be raising prices, and many other fast-food franchises have announced hiring freezes.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But the most damning condemnation of this minimum wage hike doesn&rsquo;t come from any think tank, legal scholar or worldly economist.<\/p>\n<p>It actually comes from Newsom himself.<\/p>\n<p>The beleaguered governor is part of an investment group that owns several high-end eateries and wineries in California. Surely those employees would make that $20-an-hour &hellip; right?<\/p>\n<p>Nope, they make <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/newsoms-restaurant-pays-16-hour-despite-law-crippling-fast-food-chains-20-minimum-wage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">about $16<\/a>, which means Newsom is basically saying, &ldquo;I know it&rsquo;s not sustainable. Oh, well!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>You simply cannot pay low-skill workers (this isn&rsquo;t meant to be a pejorative, one of this writer&rsquo;s first jobs was at a Panda Express) a &ldquo;living&rdquo; wage without eliminating jobs or raising prices &mdash; neither of which is great for any party involved.<\/p>\n<p>Newsom clearly knows all of this, despite signing the wage bill into law back in September, which is exactly why he is one of the most excoriated politicians this side of Bob Menendez.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We told you so&rdquo; is always hard to hear.<\/p>\n<p>But when it effectively comes from the person who signed the bill? That&rsquo;s a lasting sting.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When discussing people&#8217;s livelihoods, it&#8217;s never satisfying to say, &#8220;We told you so,&#8221; but here we are. Those with even a basic understanding of economics could have predicted that the federal mandate for a minimum wage for low-skill workers would lead to negative outcomes for both employees and customers. A recent example from California illustrates this point: within just six months of implementing a $20 per hour minimum wage for fast-food workers, significant adverse effects have emerged\u2014not benefiting the employees as intended. Chipotle, known for its handcrafted meals, recently announced that one of its popular menu items will be less &#8220;handcrafted&#8221; due to the introduction of an &#8220;Autocado&#8221; machine designed to automate avocado preparation for guacamole.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the Autocado machine, Chipotle is launching an \u201cAugmented Makeline\u201d that utilizes automated technology to prepare bowls and salads while human staff focus on making burritos and other items. While this automation doesn&#8217;t fully replace human workers yet, it marks the beginning of a trend towards increased automation in response to rising labor costs driven by mandated wage increases.<\/p>\n<p>California&#8217;s Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1287 last September, which established the $20 per hour minimum wage and created a regulatory council with authority over future increases in fast-food wages. However, since then, approximately 9,500 jobs in California&#8217;s fast-food sector have been eliminated between last fall and January\u2014a clear indication of how higher labor costs can lead employers to reduce their workforce.<\/p>\n<p>The Hoover Institution noted that total private employment in California only declined by 0.2% during this period; thus many lost fast-food jobs likely stemmed from these increased labor expenses. As more businesses adjust following the new minimum wage implementation earlier this month\u2014such as Pizza Hut planning layoffs or El Pollo Loco accelerating robotic usage\u2014fast food prices have also surged significantly since April 1st.<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly enough, Governor Newsom himself is part of an investment group owning upscale restaurants where employees earn about $16 per hour instead of the mandated $20\u2014suggesting he understands these policies may not be sustainable despite having enacted them. The reality remains: paying low-skill workers a \u201cliving\u201d wage often results in job losses or price hikes\u2014neither favorable outcomes for anyone involved\u2014and Newsom\u2019s awareness makes him one of today&#8217;s most criticized politicians regarding economic policy decisions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2342969,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Chipolte-Workers.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6425,4045,13133,32421],"class_list":["post-2342968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-automation","tag-california","tag-fast-food","tag-minimum-wage"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Chipolte-Workers.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2342968"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342968\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2342969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2342968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2342968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2342968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}