McDonald’s announced today that it plans to raise U.S. workers’ hourly wage by $1 per hour and increase benefits by the end of 2016, The Wall Street Journal and Time report (note that the WSJ article is behind a pay wall). The changes will affect workers in roughly 1,500 U.S. restaurants. The new benefits will allow those “employees to earn up to five days of paid vacation every year following one year of employment.”
Hesitant to be excited due to the risk that this is a cruel April Fools’ Day trick? It is not, but there is a catch. The pay raise and new benefits won’t apply to workers employed by McDonald’s franchisees, who operate “90 percent of the company’s U.S. restaurants.”
This news comes during the same week as NLRB hearing proceedings concerning whether McDonald’s is jointly responsible for labor violations at its franchisees. Also this week, fast-food workers and organizers announced a one-day strike and national day of action on April 15, as part of their campaign for $15 hourly wages and the right to unionize without retaliation. The announcement was made at an event outside of the McDonald’s in New York’s Times Square.
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July 30
In today’s news and commentary, the First Circuit will hear oral arguments on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) revocation of parole grants for thousands of migrants; United Airlines’ flight attendants vote against a new labor contract; and the AFL-CIO files a complaint against a Trump Administrative Executive Order that strips the collective bargaining rights of the vast majority of federal workers.
July 29
The Trump administration released new guidelines for federal employers regarding religious expression in the workplace; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers is suing former union president for repayment of mismanagement of union funds; Uber has criticized a new proposal requiring delivery workers to carry company-issued identification numbers.
July 28
Lower courts work out meaning of Muldrow; NLRB releases memos on recording and union salts.
July 27
In today’s news and commentary, Trump issues an EO on college sports, a second district court judge blocks the Department of Labor from winding down Job Corps, and Safeway workers in California reach a tentative agreement. On Thursday, President Trump announced an executive order titled “Saving College Sports,” which declared it common sense that “college […]
July 25
Philadelphia municipal workers ratify new contract; Chocolate companies escape liability in trafficking suit; Missouri Republicans kill paid sick leave
July 24
Texas District Court dismisses case requesting a declaratory judgement authorizing agencies to end collective bargaining agreements for Texas workers; jury awards two firefighters $1 million after they were terminated for union activity; and Democratic lawmakers are boycotting venues that have not rehired food service workers.