Fast-food workers urge council to advance ordinance on scheduling, paid leave and training

Multiple fast-food workers addressed the City Council during public comment to urge officials to place a fast-food workers ordinance on the agenda that would guarantee predictable scheduling, paid time off and workplace training.

Amalena Ramirez, who identified herself as a McDonald's worker in Los Angeles, described workplace safety and equipment problems and said workers had been unaware of their rights. "At my job, we deal with several safety issues every day...We also don't have adequate step stools, and we also deal with angry customers who threaten us," Ramirez said, asking the council to "put the fair work and fast food motion on the agenda so that we can protect ourselves."

Anisha Williams, who spoke as a fast-food worker and described herself as a single mother, called for predictable schedules and paid time off, saying that employers have cut hours and that the instability has caused severe hardship. "We're asking for sustained schedules. We need predictable scheduling. We need paid time off and so on," Williams said.

Alejandra Aguilar Perez and Julieta Garcia also urged council members to support fair scheduling, stop reductions in hours, provide paid sick days, and ensure training so workers can deal safely with customers who are intoxicated or aggressive. Garcia said the situation left many workers surviving on "4 to 6 hours of work a week" in some cases and appealed to councilmembers to consider the human consequences.

The remarks were public comments; the transcript records no immediate council action on the requested ordinance during the meeting. Multiple councilmembers have previously considered worker-protection motions; these speakers asked the council to schedule formal consideration so staff and members can evaluate the proposed ordinance's language and impacts.