Fast food wage increases affect franchise owners in Bakersfield

Rob Hagan
·2 min read

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — On Monday, more than half a million fast food workers in California will be bumped up to $20 an hour.

Fast food workers in California at restaurants with 60 or more locations nationwide will be paid $20 an hour starting April Fool’s Day, but franchise owners aren’t laughing.

“It’s gonna to hurt a lot,” said Wienerschnitzel owner Sally Alejo.

Alejo has owned and operated a Wienerschnitzel since 2008. The hot dog chain has more than 300 locations in the U.S., more than 200 of them in California.

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Alejo may be the owner but she makes hot dogs for a living.

“I work everyday and go home like 8 or 9 o’clock, then open at 8 in the morning,” said Alejo. “With this raise I’m going to have to work more hours.”

Alejo said the price of a combo meal will go up because Wienerschnitzel corporate made new pricing guidelines, but that’s not the only change.

“Corporate already made some guidelines also on some of the discounts,” said Henry Oliver.

Henry Oliver is Alejo’s husband and her employee.

“I support the store because I’m the gopher. I fix this, I fix that,” said Oliver. “This, this, and that. If I can’t fix it I’ll hire a contractor.”

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Oliver said they survived the pandemic because of loyal customers and exceptional service. He says they’ll survive the minimum wage hike because workers are now going to multitask like never before.

“It’s up to them whether they want it or not. Their getting paid so much money, they have to accept it or I have people waiting in line,” said Oliver. “Like, hey if you cannot be mentored, get out. Let me be in your place. Sorry, it’s part of business.”

All the Wienerschnitzel owners in town held a meeting at Frugatti’s to discuss the minimum wage hike on Monday, according to the owner of the Wienerschnitzel at the Ming Avenue location.

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