Fast-food protests to spotlight 'wage theft'

[lostinblue 1,989]

Fast-food protests to spotlight 'wage theft' Fast-food protests nationwide to spotlight 'wage theft'; comes after workers sue McDonald's

By Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer 41 minutes ago

NEW YORK (AP) -- Fast-food protests are planned for several U.S. cities Tuesday as labor organizers look to bring attention to practices they say illegally deprive workers of their wages.

The protests are planned for about 30 cities, but it's not clear what the scope of the turnout will be. It's part of an ongoing campaign by labor groups to build support for pay of $15 an hour and bring attention to the rights of low-wage workers.

Organizers have also been referring workers to attorneys, who filed lawsuits in three states last week saying McDonald's was stealing their wages in a variety of ways, such as by docking paychecks for the cost of their uniforms.

McDonald's Corp. said it planned to investigate the allegations and take necessary actions. A representative for the company, based in Oak Brook, Ill., did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the planned protests.

The protests by labor groups since late 2012 have captured national media attention and served as an important backdrop for President Obama's push to lift workers' wages. The White House wants to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, or about $21,000 a year for full-time work. That's up from the current pay of $7.25 an hour, or $15,000 a year, which was last raised in 2009.

Protests organizers are getting financial and organizational support from the Service Employees International Union, as well as local Democratic lawmakers and community leaders. In New York City, public advocate Tish James and others were expected to turn out Tuesday for a rally at a McDonald's near the Empire State Building.

"The lawsuits that were filed last week put McDonald's on notice that fast food workers are aware that they're getting their money stolen," said Kendall Fells, who works for the Service Employees International Union but said he was "on loan" to the campaign for higher wages.

Fells said the actions would target McDonald's restaurants, although fast-food workers from across the industry would participate.

The lawsuits filed in California, Michigan and New York against McDonald's detail a variety of "wage theft" allegations. In Michigan, for example, workers said they were made to wait before clocking in for their shifts so restaurants could maintain a target ratio of labor costs as a percentage of revenue. The suit describes a detailed monitoring system by McDonald's Corp. that closely tracks such metrics at its more than 14,000 restaurants in the U.S.

While such practices are widespread across the industry, lawyers said they targeted McDonald's because of its size and position as an industry leader.

Turnout for past fast-food protests has varied greatly. In major cities, for example, TV crews and other media are alerted of a time and location the day before a large rally is planned. The crowd will then flood the restaurant, with workers and others speaking before dispersing or moving to another location after about a half hour.

Elsewhere, the turnout has been much smaller and had little to no impact on operations.

For Tuesday, organizers said protests were scheduled in about 30 cities including Detroit; Memphis, Tenn.; Milwaukee; and Oakland and Sacramento, Calif. They noted that the number of cities could rise.

Brendan Brosh, a spokesman for James' office, said the New York City public advocate plans to propose legislation that would establish a hotline where workers could anonymously report actions that amount to wage theft. The legislation would also give city agencies expanded authorities to investigate wage theft, he said.

Brosh said James will also call on McDonald's Corp. to amend its franchise agreements to "punish franchisees that engage in wage theft."

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public advocate Tish James and others....Why cannot these people just open their own fast food place all over the country and pay their employees what they think is a sociably acceptable wage?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So you think that wage theft is acceptable? I think it's despicable to illegally deprive those already at the bottom of the food chain of parts of what little money they do earn.

[Karee 4,191]

They shouldn't be docking workers for their uniforms. That should be illegal unless they're out losing them or something along those lines. I worked at a car wash for minimum wage a few years ago, and they would make everyone show up at between 8 and 9 am, but wouldn't let you clock in until there were enough cars to wash. This meant that you would have to sit around unpaid for a couple hours. Bull$hit if you ask me.

That said, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour is plain stupid. If they do that, there will be less workers and people will be paying $10 for a Big Mac.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

They shouldn't be docking workers for their uniforms. That should be illegal unless they're out losing them or something along those lines. I worked at a car wash for minimum wage a few years ago, and they would make everyone show up at between 8 and 9 am, but wouldn't let you clock in until there were enough cars to wash. This meant that you would have to sit around unpaid for a couple hours. Bull$hit if you ask me.

That said, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour is plain stupid. If they do that, there will be less workers and people will be paying $10 for a Big Mac.

How about we raise the minimum wage to $15 and the government subsidizes the price of the Big Mac so there will be no need for a price increase and McDonald's still makes a profit?

[lostinblue 1,989]

So you think that wage theft is acceptable? I think it's despicable to illegally deprive those already at the bottom of the food chain of parts of what little money they do earn.

Start your own business ... Pay them 100/hr or what you think is acceptable.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Start your own business ... Pay them 100/hr or what you think is acceptable.

So basically you don't understand the issue. That's okay. The world needs all sorts.

[Ban Hammer 13,604]

yup, we're gonna be a spongebob nation working at the crusty crab.

[BatmanUSA 105]

How about raise the minimum wage to 10 bucks an hour (because its been 5 years since minimum wage was raised).. McDonalds should give at least 2 free uniforms per year to its employees... and McDonalds can stop providing health insurance to its employees because we now have Obamacare and the healthcare exchange because that is working so well.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Start your own business ... Pay them 100/hr or what you think is acceptable.

How is that even relevant to what you posted? Have you read the article you copied and pasted? Have you grasped it?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

How is that even relevant to what you posted? Have you read the article you copied and pasted? Have you grasped it?

I think he reads: "blah blah blah the poors want to steal money from the job creators blah blah suck it up and deal blah blah."

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I think he reads: "blah blah blah the poors want to steal money from the job creators blah blah suck it up and deal blah blah."

I know. And then he feels bad for the owner of the grocery store down on the corner that will have to pay all its 1,000 employees more money.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I know. And then he feels bad for the owner of the grocery store down on the corner that will have to pay all its 1,000 employees more money.

I thought that the Chinese cook at that grocery store was already making $60K per year? He must have a huge staff to cook for all of those employees. The break room must be huge.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I thought that the Chinese cook at that grocery store was already making $60K per year? He must have a huge staff to cook for all of those employees. The break room must be huge.

That's right. So the owners would only have to pay 999 of the 1,000 employees more. Thanks for catching that important detail.

[novedsac 355]

They shouldn't be docking workers for their uniforms. That should be illegal unless they're out losing them or something along those lines. I worked at a car wash for minimum wage a few years ago, and they would make everyone show up at between 8 and 9 am, but wouldn't let you clock in until there were enough cars to wash. This meant that you would have to sit around unpaid for a couple hours. Bull$hit if you ask me.

That said, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour is plain stupid. If they do that, there will be less workers and people will be paying $10 for a Big Mac.

Agreed. Docking pay for these sorts of things is ridiculous and should not be tolerated. If one requires a uniform, safety shoes, safety glasses, specialized training, etc. then these expenses should be borne by the employer.

I drove limo for a few months when I was in college and the owner only wanted to pay me for the duration of the booking. However, sometimes it took me an hour to get to the client and an hour back to return the car after the booking. Sometimes a flight would be delayed and I'd be stuck at the airport for an hour or two. I told him what he charged the client was between he and the client, but I would be paid from when I picked up the car and when I dropped it off. He paid. I would not have continued driving for him if he disagreed.

What I don't understand is why people accept the abuse/theft? Do they not realize it is wrong? I mean, these are not the types of jobs you'd do most anything to keep.

[lostinblue 1,989]

How is that even relevant to what you posted? Have you read the article you copied and pasted? Have you grasped it?

You believe a franchise is not paying its workers enough. so buy one and pay your workers what you believe is fair.