WASHINGTON—Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that Browning-Ferris Industries is a joint employer responsible for working conditions set by their subcontractors and franchisees.
“This decision is a significant victory in the ongoing effort to hold corporations accountable for poor working conditions that harm American workers. There is no question that corporations like Browning-Ferris and McDonalds exert enormous power over their franchisees and subcontractors. We cannot allow them to continue skirting their responsibility to treat employees fairly.
“In an effort to prioritize profits over employees, many corporations have rigged the system by outsourcing labor, a scam that prevents workers from negotiating better treatment with a parent company. Today’s decision will help close this unfair loophole in labor law. Low wage workers face stagnant wages and poor working conditions. Organizing to demand better treatment is their protected right.
“The CEO of McDonalds makes $9,200 per hour and the average employee makes $8.58 per hour; these workers have a just cause for strengthening their bargaining power and we should protect their right to pursue it.”
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