It's Payback Time for McDonald's -- Lawsuits Could Force Company to Hike Wages

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http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/historic-class-action-lawsuit-levels-wage-theft-charge-mcdonalds



McDonald’s workers across the nation have filed seven class-action lawsuits alleging that the fast-food giant practiced systematic wage theft of its workers.

McDonald’s employees filed two lawsuits in Michigan, one in New York and four in California. The lawsuits name the McDonald’s corporation and McDonald’s franchises as the defendants. The lawsuit filed in New York alleges that McDonald’s employees are required to pay out-of-pocket for their uniforms and all uniform cleaning expenses.

Those additional expenses really hurt already struggling McDonald’s employees, and they also violate a New York state regulation that requires companies to reimburse workers weekly for the cost of buying and maintaining uniforms. Meanwhile, the lawsuits filed in California allege that McDonald’s managers are constantly playing fast and loose with employees’ hours in attempts to keep down costs, which violates federal wage and hour laws.

To make matters worse, McDonald’s employees are already some of the lowest paid workers in America. According to 24/7 Wall Street, McDonald’s is the second worst paying corporation in America, behind only WalMart.

[LuvNewcastle]

1. Good for them. I hope they all get a raise.

It's shameful that they make them pay for those awful uniforms. Talk about adding insult to injury. People have been treated like shit by these corporations for too long, and they're really getting sick of it.

[yeoman6987]

2. I always wonder why McDonald's?

What about Burger King? Subway? etc. All of them pay just minimum wage and certainly not 15 dollars an hour.

[LuvNewcastle]

3. That's a good question. All those fast food places pay low wages.

I think they're going after McDonald's because of the name recognition. McDonald's is such an icon that any news about them is sure to be reported, and they need the publicity in order to get public support behind them. I'm sure they think that if McDonald's gets called out and is forced to pay more money to their employees, it will have a domino effect on the other companies. It's a pretty good strategy.