Workers in the New York City fast food industry now have greater protections under two bills that were approved by the City Council last week.
The two bills expand the laws passed in 2017, preventing national channels from engaging in practices that violate labor rights.
One of the laws prohibits the firing of workers without “just cause”, which means that the employer must show that the employee did not fulfill the labor obligations or that he has damaged the commercial interests of the company.
The second law protects older workers from dismissal, who generally receive higher benefits and benefits. The arbitration guidelines are established in both bills.
“Fast food workers have been subjected to unfair work environments and have been the victims of unfair reduction of hours or arbitrary firings, which has led them to live in a constant state of uncertainty,” said Councilwoman Adrienne Adams during a hearing. virtual.
“These employees get up before dawn or work nights, commute for hours, do strenuous jobs and miss meals with their own families,” added Adams, lead sponsor of the package along with Council Member Brad Lander.
The measures would only apply to major national chains with 30 or more locations in the nation, as defined in the Fair Labor Act passed in 2017. Small businesses would be excluded from the rule.
Mayor Bill de Blasio supports the measures.
“Workers have been the hardest hit by the pandemic and they deserve protection and fair wages,” De Blasio said in a statement. “I am proud to support fast food workers as our city creates a more equitable recovery.”
The new rules will go into effect within six months after being passed by an overwhelming majority last Thursday.
“These workers are more vulnerable to being fired without a cause related to their job performance,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “It has to stop. This practice prevents them from talking about harassment and poor working conditions.”
The efforts of workers’ rights organizations have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, as workers in industries with few benefits and protections have been deemed essential during the health crisis.
Workers at Amazon and Whole Foods have organized work stoppages and strikes at the peak of the pandemic, as New York City becomes even more dependent on delivery workers exposed to dangerous working conditions, difficult to access benefits. of unemployment and police repression for the use of their electric bicycles.
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