FRESNO, Texas — For TiAnna Yeldell, personal time is a luxury she finds only in her sleep, which is scarce. This 44-year-old single mother manages three children aged 8, 14, and 18 while working an exhausting 80 hours weekly to make ends meet. By day, she drives for Pizza Hut, earning $9.50 an hour plus tips. When night falls, she shifts gears to clean trains for Houston’s Metro system, making around $17 an hour. When Yeldell works both jobs, she averages only two to three hours of sleep before waking up to prepare her kids for school, only to start the cycle all over again.
Yeldell represents a growing group of fast-food employees across the United States who are struggling to provide for their families. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly two-thirds of these workers are women, many striving to support their households on minimum wages that remain at the federal baseline of $7.25 an hour. The fast-food sector is notably diverse, with Hispanic workers comprising 24.6% of the workforce, compared to 18.8% across all jobs. Moreover, more than half of fast-food employees are 20 years or older.
Former President Donald Trump, who worked at McDonald’s during his campaign in Pennsylvania, has acknowledged the inadequacy of the federal minimum wage, stating it is “very low” and suggesting that raising it could be complicated. In contrast, various states have initiated moves to increase minimum wages in response to rising inflation. For instance, California recently raised its minimum fast-food wage specifically to $20 an hour, up from $16, amid some of the nation’s highest living costs. A report following state legislation indicates that 23 states and 65 cities will see minimum wage increases by the end of 2024.
However, Texas, home to Yeldell and her family, is among the 20 states that adhere to the unchanged federal minimum wage established in 2009. Although Texas Democrats have made several attempts to raise this wage, such bills have failed to pass. The state’s preemption laws hinder local governments from enacting their own increases, limiting wage growth further.
In Houston, the living wage for a single adult raising three children is calculated at an astounding $57.65 an hour, according to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator. This figure starkly contrasts with Yeldell’s earnings, making her second job necessary for survival.
With her Pizza Hut uniform still on, she returns home after a long shift, taking only a moment to change into comfortable attire before preparing dinner for her family. Yeldell expresses her frustrations, saying, “I don’t want to work two jobs — I’m really tired. But I have to, because the jobs don’t pay enough,” stressing that without this dual income, she could not provide for her kids.
Wage issues are only a few of the numerous challenges facing fast-food workers. They contend with unstable work hours, limited paid sick leave, and difficult customer interactions. Daniel Schneider, co-director of the Shift Project at Harvard and the University of California, San Francisco, highlights that such conditions significantly impact the workforce. Concerns over wage theft and other labor law violations are also prevalent, according to labor expert David Madland, who remarks that the fast-food sector is infamous for its low pay and unsatisfactory working conditions. “It’s seen as the almost typical throwaway job,” he notes.
Yeldell’s deliveries can sometimes extend until 11 p.m., prompting her to carry safety items such as a knife and flashlight for protection. Yet in light of the difficulties, she maintains a positive view of her Pizza Hut role, stating that it’s simple if approached with the right mindset. “Pizza Hut is a really easy job, and the job is only hard if you make it hard,” she affirms, highlighting her adaptability in learning various tasks at her job site.
Comparatively, California has adopted the highest fast-food minimum wage in the nation, setting a minimum of $20 an hour. Angelica Hernandez, a 51-year-old who has been with McDonald’s for two decades and currently works in Monterey Park, shares that the wage increase assists her in managing bills and rent costs, though it still falls short due to increasing living expenses.
Opponents of the wage hike argue its continual increase doesn’t resolve underlying issues, suggesting it leads to higher prices and fewer job openings for the youth, tightening already narrow margins for franchise owners. However, a recent study from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests the impacts of raised wages have been minor, causing only a modest price increase without suppressing jobs.
For Yeldell, a Texas wage increase is simply about fairness. She believes that other states have managed changes, and Texas should follow suit. On a brisk Friday morning, she walks her youngest child to the bus stop before driving her daughter for senior pictures. Both mother and daughter capture their moment in front of a “Class of ’25” backdrop, with Yeldell dressed distinctly in a royal blue dress that spells “Faith” in cursive, while her daughter dons a black gown.
Ultimately, despite Yeldell’s relentless efforts, savings remain elusive. On good days, she may have around $100 left after expenses, but often, her situation yields little to show for her hard hours aside from settling bills.
“At the end of the day, I’ve worked all these hours and I really have nothing to show for it, but just paying some bills,” she reflects, summarizing the weight of her daily sacrifices.
