Workers Say McDonald’s Fired Them for Union Activity

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Bloomberg

The National Labor Relations Board is investigating whether employees at McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) restaurants were fired for joining labor unions, a case that threatens to disrupt the decades-old fast-food franchise model.

A worker group accused McDonald’s locations in New York of terminating nine employees for their union involvement and organizing activities, according to documents obtained by Bloomberg News through a Freedom of Information Act request. Charges were filed by the Fast Food Workers Committee for incidents occurring from November 2012 until April this year.

By including the parent company in the case, the workers are targeting the restaurant owners and McDonald’s as a joint employer. If the labor board decides against the company, it could set a precedent for franchised restaurants, putting more responsibility on parent corporations. That could raise costs for restaurant chains, as well as deter entrepreneurs from getting into franchise businesses, said Steve Caldeira, president of the International Franchise Association.

“Thousands of small business owners would lose control of the operations and the equity they worked so hard to build,” said Caldeira, who expects a decision in the case soon. “Equally troubling would be the millions of jobs that would be placed in jeopardy.”

FULL story at link.



Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg
Fast-food workers and supporters protest inside of a McDonald's Corp. restaurant in Los Angeles. McDonald’s is under increasing pressure to raise wages amid national protests and strikes.



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-17/workers-tell-nlrb-that-mcdonald-s-fired-them-for-union-activity.html

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This case could effect workers nationwide: If the labor board decides against the company, it could set a precedent for franchised restaurants, putting more responsibility on parent corporations.

[Hoppy]

1. Thank god for people like Steve Caldeira, pres. of International Franchise Association.

He points out the if the workers win, millions of jobs would be in jeopardy.....

Why, the franchise owners might even be relegated to flipping their own burgers.

[louis-t]

2. Same old, tired, BS talking points....

"the equity they worked hard to build"? Hey asshole, your employees worked just as hard as you do to build equity for you, but they get none?

[blkmusclmachine]

3. ,

,

[fasttense]

4. Well, if they can't come up with a business model that pays workers a livable wage

then they should NOT be in business because they are some seriously stupid people.

I remember when anyone who worked a 40 hour week, expected to be able to raise a family on it.

Today, you are lucky if you can even find a 40 hour a week job.

[groundloop]

5. Same stale bullshit from International Franchise Association spokesperson

Same old song and dance anytime rich corporations perceive that something might take a few dollars out of their pockets. '.... it would drive up costs and put millions of jobs in jeopardy.' BULL-SHIT!!!!!

[eggplant]

6. "millions of jobs placed in jeopardy"?

Because now they're just going to give up selling their product instead?

Sigh. Mouthpieces have their jobs to do too, but it still sucks to have to listen to them.

[AndyTiedye]

7. What are They Going to Do? Move All the Burger-Flipping Jobs Offshore?

[47of74]

11. There are dipshits who would if they could.

Then serve the American people half rotten, cold shit and have every dumb fuck on the media saying how such burgers are cream of goddamn wheat every chance they get.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

8. K&R

Thanks for posting.

[xfundy]

9. Does anyone else recall

when Boobush and Cheeeeeeney tried to reclassify burger-flipping as "manufacturing" jobs?

[enlightenment]

10. If that article were any more slanted, it would be

recumbent. sheesh.

Looking forward to hearing about the decision and fingers crossed that the workers prevail. Thank you for keeping us informed.

[Cal Carpenter]

12. To the workers

The factory ain't what it used to be, but workers can still organize and seeing it happen warms my heart. Stoking the fires of economic justice. Economic democracy.