The Chain Gang

McDonald’s Workers Claim They Were Fired for Unionizing

The buck stops here.
The buck stops here. Photo: McDonald’s

Nine employees who had been employed at several McDonald’s locations in New York City say they were suspended, had their hours cut, or were fired by their managers in retaliation for participating in union activities. The National Labor Relations Board is investigating the claims, which correspond to alleged incidents that occurred from 2012 up until this past April. The development is unprecedented because McDonald’s corporate is being targeted alongside individual franchise owners, and increased operational costs for parent companies is among the possible outcomes, so executives aren’t happy. “We’ll be in restaurants more and we’ll have to hire staff,” Andy Puzder of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s tells Businessweek. “We’re going to have to charge for that.” [Businessweek, Related]

McDonald’s Workers Claim They Were Fired for Unionizing