SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A voter initiative that may overturn a California legislation aimed toward elevating wages and bettering working situations for quick meals employees has certified for subsequent 12 months’s poll, authorities mentioned Tuesday.

The referendum raised greater than 623,000 legitimate voter signatures to be positioned on the Nov. 5, 2024, election poll, Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber introduced.

The primary-of-its-kind legislation, handed final 12 months, establishes a 10-member council empowered to set minimal wages in addition to requirements for hours and dealing situations for California’s quick meals employees. It could have an effect on some 550,000 employees statewide.

Two trade teams, the Worldwide Franchise Affiliation and the Nationwide Restaurant Affiliation, promoted the referendum that would go away its destiny to voters.

On Dec. 30, a Sacramento County Superior Courtroom decide quickly blocked the state from implementing the legislation whereas poll signatures had been counted and verified.

The measure would have raised worker wages to as a lot as $22 an hour by the tip of this 12 months for chains equivalent to McDonald’s and Starbucks which have 100 or extra shops nationwide.

California’s present minimal wage for all employees is $15.50 an hour.