McDonald’s in McDeep Legal Trouble: Workers Suing for Wage Theft!
by Jonathan Hargrove
The
fight for worker's rights in the fast food industry has culminated in a
lawsuit against McDonald's in three states: Michigan, New York and
California. Beginning in 2012, workers across the country joined forces
to request fair wages for fast food workers and baristas. Over the last
several months the strike spread to approximately 100 US cities.
The conglomerate currently in question has caused a stir over the past several months, responding to requests to raise wages by proposing a budget; which
suggested employees get a second job and possibly government
assistance. That's correct, McDonald's indirectly admitted their
employees could not live on their wages alone.
But two full-time jobs still isn't enough. Some experts estimate as many as 140 hours
or more a week would be necessary to live modestly—leaving
approximately 4 hours per day to sleep, ostensibly. (Click the link and
scroll to the calculator to see regional amounts.)
Many employees simply put up with these conditions, feeling helpless. Some are even forced to subsist on as little as $100 a week. Organizers in cities across the country realized it was time to take action. A seed was planted, and the movement caught on fast; rivaling the Occupy Wall Street
movement. Not only have employees been required to work off the clock;
the suit claims they have been denied overtime, had hours shaved and
even had illegal pay deductions for uniform related costs. An excerpt
from the press release states:
In three California suits, workers claim that McDonald's and its franchise owners failed to pay them for all time worked, failed to pay proper overtime, altered pay records and deprived them of timely meal periods and rest breaks. A fourth case makes similar claims on behalf of a statewide class of workers in McDonald's corporate-owned restaurants, who are adding their claims to a lawsuit for unpaid wages, penalties, and other relief that is already pending against McDonald's in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The lawsuit was announced today
by the organizers that backed the $15 an hour pay increase. There is
plenty of support for the claims, already coming from dozens of stores.
The class action lawsuit plans to affect approximately 27,000 current
and past employees.
From two Detroit locations:
Workers claimed that their restaurants told them to show up to work, but then ordered them to wait an hour or two without pay until enough customers arrived
The
lawsuit exhibits repeated labor abuse spanning the franchise. Though
only locations in those three states are involved, it would be foolish
to think complaints would be different anywhere else.
Not Lovin' It.
h/t: CNN Money
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