The National Retail Federation released the following statement from Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French on the National Labor Relations Board decision on what constitutes a joint employer:
“The staff decision issued today by the National Labor Relations Board recommending that McDonald’s and its franchisees should be considered joint employers gives a whole new meaning to the word outrageous.
“It is just further evidence that the NLRB has lost all credibility as a government agency established to protect workers and is now just a government agency that serves as an adjunct for organized labor, which has fought for this decision for a number of years as a means to more easily unionize entire companies and industries.
“The NLRB’s contempt for hard working business men and women is on full display when they completely disregard established laws that govern the franchise model – a practice that has literally created thousands of small businesses in communities across America and employ millions of citizens of all ages.
New York Times: Ruling Says McDonald’s Is Liable for Workers
NLRB Office of the General Counsel Authorizes Complaints Against McDonald’s Franchisees and Determines McDonald’s, USA, LLC is a Joint Employer
Office of Public Affairs
The National Labor Relations Board Office of the General Counsel has investigated charges alleging McDonald’s franchisees and their franchisor, McDonald’s, USA, LLC, violated the rights of employees as a result of activities surrounding employee protests. The Office of the General Counsel found merit in some of the charges and no merit in others. The Office of the General Counsel has authorized complaints on alleged violations of the National Labor Relations Act. If the parties cannot reach settlement in these cases, complaints will issue and McDonald’s, USA, LLC will be named as a joint employer respondent.
The National Labor Relations Board Office of the General Counsel has had 181 cases involving McDonald’s filed since November 2012. Of those cases, 68 were found to have no merit. 64 cases are currently pending investigation and 43 cases have been found to have merit. In the 43 cases where complaint has been authorized, McDonald’s franchisees and/or McDonald’s, USA, LLC will be named as a respondent if parties are unable to reach settlement.
“The last thing this economy needs is decisions like this which merely serve to stall job growth and diminish much needed capital investment. When a government agency unilaterally decides to unravel the long established and successful business relationships between franchisees and franchisors, the entire business community reacts. And the very people the NLRB was established to protect – American workers – may be the ultimate losers in this decision as those same businesses reconcile with an uncertain future.”
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