FRESNO, Texas — For 44-year-old TiAnna Yeldell, moments of solitude are rare, often confined to her restless hours of sleep. As a single mother of three—ages 8, 14, and 18—Yeldell juggles two demanding jobs to meet the needs of her family. During the day, she drives for Pizza Hut, earning $9.50 an hour plus tips. At night, she shifts gears to clean trains for Houston’s Metro system, where her hourly wage increases to about $17. Unfortunately, on days when she works both jobs, she can only manage two to three hours of sleep before getting her children ready for school, only to repeat the exhausting cycle.
Yeldell’s struggle is reflective of the plight faced by millions of fast food workers nationwide. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up about two-thirds of this workforce, with many trying to sustain their families on meager wages, often pegged at the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. The demographic breakdown reveals that a significant portion of fast food workers are Hispanic, accounting for 24.6% of the workforce, contrasted with 18.8% across all sectors. Additionally, more than half of fast food employees are 20 years of age or older, dispelling the myth that these jobs are simply summer gigs for teenagers, as noted by Tsedeye Gebreselassie, a lawyer with the National Employment Law Project.
Former President Donald Trump acknowledged that the federal minimum wage is insufficient, expressing a conditional willingness to consider raising it while noting the complexities involved. Meanwhile, many states have taken the initiative to increase wages amid soaring inflation. In Alaska, voters approved a measure that will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027, and Missouri is making a similar adjustment by transitioning from $12.30 to $15 by 2026. In California, the state raised the fast food wage to $20 an hour in April, recognizing the high cost of living there.
By the close of this year, 23 states along with 65 cities and counties are expected to implement minimum wage increases, according to a comprehensive report by the National Employment Law Project. However, Texas, where Yeldell resides, remains stagnant at the federal minimum wage of $7.25, a rate that has not changed since 2009. Despite multiple proposals from Texas Democrats aimed at increasing the wage, no progress has been made, partly due to preemption laws that prevent local governments from establishing their own wage standards.
In the Houston metro area, a living wage for a single adult caring for three children amounts to $57.65 per hour, as per MIT’s Living Wage Calculator. The financial strain means Yeldell must rely on both her jobs to make ends meet. After a recent shift, donned in her Pizza Hut uniform, she slouches at a folding table in her modest home, which, despite its simplicity, maintains a certain order. After a brief pause, she promptly changes into comfortable attire and begins preparing dinner for her children, demonstrating the balancing act of motherhood and work.
“I’m really tired, but I have no choice,” Yeldell expressed. “If I don’t work two jobs, I can’t provide a home for my kids. My children come first; I come second.”
Efforts made to reach out to Pizza Hut and Yum Brands for their stance on worker wages were met with silence. Wage concerns barely scratch the surface of the challenges faced by fast food employees, as unpredictability in their hours and limited access to sick leave exacerbate their struggles, according to Daniel Schneider, a co-director of the Shift Project, which studies service sector work conditions. Instances of wage theft and law violations are also prevalent, as highlighted by labor expert David Madland.
Yeldell’s late-night pizza deliveries often extend until 11 p.m., a reality for which she carries a knife and flashlight for her safety. Yet, she seems to cultivate a positive perspective about her job, one that she has held for a year and a half. “The role is easy if you take it as it is,” she said, while acknowledging the worry that comes when hours get cut.
In stark contrast to Texas, California has established a minimum wage for fast food workers that now stands at $20, the highest in the nation. Angelica Hernandez, who has spent 20 years at various McDonald’s locations, testified that this increase allows her to meet financial obligations more effectively but has been partially offset by a recent $200 rent hike.
“More pay would truly help us save,” she said. Hernandez now serves as a member of the California Fast Food Workers Union and contributes to state efforts aimed at improving working conditions.
Critics argue that raising wages further could be detrimental, asserting it may lead to increased prices and reduced job opportunities for younger people, particularly affecting franchise owners in an already precarious market. Nonetheless, a report from UC Berkeley indicates that the wage increase had a minimal impact on employment and only marginally affected prices.
For Yeldell, she believes that increasing her state’s minimum wage is a matter of fairness. “If other states can do it, we should be able to as well,” she remarked, her fatigue evident as she moves slowly, often deprived of days off, which limits her time to engage in family activities.
On a chilly Friday morning, she takes her youngest to the bus stop before driving her daughter across town for senior pictures, managing to fit family life into her hectic work schedule.
As they pose for a picture together, adorned in matching braids and formal attire, Yeldell emphasizes her commitment as a mother. “I’ll continue to do what’s necessary for my kids. But despite working hard, we barely have anything left at the end of the month,” she shared, reflecting on the scarce savings they have. “At the end of it all, it feels like I’m just paying bills without much to show for my efforts.”
