By Julie Jargon
A group of fast food employees that has been pushing for higher
wages said on Thursday that it has filed seven lawsuits alleging
wage theft against McDonald's Corp. and some of its
franchisees.
The suits, which are all seeking class certification or
collective action certification, have been filed in either state or
federal court in California, Michigan and New York. The 13 named
plaintiffs in the cases allege they weren't paid for overtime hours
worked, not reimbursed for the expense of purchasing and cleaning
uniforms and being made to clock out during times when sales were
slow in the restaurants, among other things.
Fast food workers, in a campaign backed by the Service Employees
International Union, have been criticizing the industry for months,
holding protests across the country calling on restaurant chains to
raise wages to $15 an hour. They have been targeting McDonald's, in
particular, for some of its messages on an employee resource
hotline and website, including suggestions that workers seek
government assistance or get a second job to make ends meet.
"McDonald's and our independent owner-operators share a concern
and commitment to the well-being and fair treatment of all people
who work in McDonald's restaurants," a McDonald's spokeswoman said.
"We are currently reviewing the allegations in the lawsuits.
McDonald's and our independent franchisees are committed to
undertaking a comprehensive investigation of the allegations and
will take any necessary actions as they apply to our respective
organizations."
Attorneys representing the workers say some of the plaintiffs
were referred to them by the Service Employees International
Union.
The pressure on McDonald's comes amid a debate in Washington
over whether to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour,
from $7.25.
Write to Julie Jargon at julie.jargon@wsj.com
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