Labor
Workers at 2 Starbucks in Santa Cruz vote to unionize, a first in California
San Francisco Chronicle 5/11
Starbucks workers at two of the cafe chain’s stores in Santa Cruz voted overwhelmingly to unionize Wednesday, becoming the first California stores to join a unionizing wave that has swept through the company’s stores and across the country.
Despite Record Budget Surplus, California Unlikely to Fix Massive Wage-Theft Claim Backlog Anytime Soon
KQED 5/11
Even as California enjoys a staggering budget surplus estimated at $68 billion, tens of thousands of workers who claim they were shorted on their paychecks are expected to continue to endure exasperating delays — often stretching years — at the state agency charged with investigating wage theft.
Food Industry Policy
Capitol Alert: California facing a ‘fiscal cliff?’ + Kiley defends defiant restaurant owner
The Sacramento Bee 5/12
FIRST UP — Friday is the big day. The day when Gov. Gavin Newsom unveils his “May Revision” budget.
Editorial: Plastics ban is more than another tax
Press-Enterprise/Daily Breeze 5/11
Californians likely will in November vote on yet another environmental initiative that promises to tackle climate change and pollution, yet which is unlikely to do more substantive than the usual ideas from Sacramento.
On the Side
How Restaurants Can Take Back Control of On-Demand Food
QSR Magazine 5/12
Thanks to the pandemic, online ordering and delivery services have emerged as everyone’s lifeline, from restaurants to consumers.
Beyond Meat shares tumble on lower-than-expected Q1 sales
Associated Press 5/11
Plant-based meat company Beyond Meat reported lower-than-expected revenue in the first quarter as it slashed prices and demand from restaurants fell.
