Latest news with #labor rights
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
County prosecutors' union bid should get tossed out, judge finds
A decades-old Illinois Supreme Court decision bars Cook County prosecutors from unionizing, an administrative law judge for the state's labor board found Wednesday. A bid from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 700 to represent nearly 700 assistant state's attorneys should therefore get tossed out, the judge, Michelle N. Owen, found. 'The petition is clearly inappropriate,' she wrote. Earlier this year, county prosecutors launched the first major union drive the office had seen in decades, saying they were seeking parity with Cook County public defenders, who have been unionized since the 1980s. The Teamsters said they believed the legal winds had changed since the 1995 state Supreme Court decision that found prosecutors were 'managerial' employees barred from union membership. The union argued the state's Workers' Rights Amendment, which since 2022 has enshrined the 'fundamental right' to collective bargaining in the Illinois Constitution, should pave the way for a prosecutors' union. But in her order, Owen found that the labor board lacked jurisdiction to determine whether state law should be preempted by the relatively new constitutional amendment. Matt McGrath, a spokesperson for the state's attorney's office, said the office was 'pleased' with the order. 'Our position all along has been that this is a well-established legal matter that requires a legislative solution, and the (labor board) agreed,' McGrath said in a statement. 'State's Attorney (Eileen O'Neill) Burke supports organized labor and the right of workers to collectively bargain, but as the county's chief law enforcement official and former judge, she will always follow the law first and foremost.' The labor board judge also wrote that the Teamsters had failed to demonstrate that a majority of the prosecutors had signed union cards, though the union had previously claimed to have secured support from a majority of the ASAs. Pasquale Gianni, director of government affairs for the Illinois Teamsters, said the union still believed it had filed its petition with more than 51% support and that it was not sure how the labor board had reached that determination. The union can appeal the order. Gianni declined to say definitively whether or not the Teamsters would do so, but said in a statement the union was 'charting our new direction forward.' 'Obviously, we are disappointed with the decision, which amounts to the disenfranchisement of working people who wish to be represented by a union. It is our intention to leave no stone unturned to achieve that end,' he said. The union has soured on its relationship with O'Neill Burke, whom Local 700 endorsed, since she took office. While she was on the campaign trail, the Teamsters have said, the union secured a promise from O'Neill Burke that, if elected, she would recognize a prosecutors' union if a majority of her staff wanted one. Before filing a petition for union representation earlier this year, the Teamsters asked for that voluntary recognition. O'Neill Burke didn't provide it, after which the union filed a petition with the state labor board. The Teamsters — including the union's general president, Sean O'Brien, who at a May rally in Chicago said the union had gathered to give O'Neill Burke 'a dose of truth-cillin' — have accused the state's attorney of reneging on a promise. O'Neill Burke's office has maintained throughout the union push that she supports the right of ASA's to unionize 'once Illinois law allows for it.' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boycott of McDonald's to begin this week: ‘This is about more than burgers and fries'
A grassroots advocacy group is calling for a week-long boycott of McDonald's, accusing the fast food chain of price gouging, unfair labor practices, and avoiding taxes. 'This is about more than burgers and fries, this is about power,' The People's Union USA said in a statement on Instagram. 'When we unite and hit corporations in their wallets, they listen.' The group, which has previously called for boycotts of Amazon, Nestlé, Walmart, General Mills, and Target, accused the Golden Arches of a litany of unsavory tactics. Earlier this month, People's Union leader John Schwarz said McDonald's had a record of 'silencing' workers and blocking union attempts, as well as seeking to 'exploit global supply chains and environmental loopholes' and engaging in performative diversity initiatives while the corporation's 'political donations and lobbying often support candidates and legislation that undermine equity, labor rights, and marginalized communities.' The calls for a boycott come at a delicate time for the fast food giant, following a string of difficulties including a fall 2024 E coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounders, as well as decreasing sales and a backlash to its January decision to roll back diversity programs, joining numerous companies that took similar steps with the election of Donald Trump. The Independent has contacted McDonald's for comment. Last fall, Democratic senators accused McDonald's of price gouging in a letter to its corporate leadership. 'McDonald's own reports indicate that the company's price increases may be outstripping inflation,' read the October message from Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bob Casey, and Ron Wyden. 'As a result, McDonald's net annual income rose by over 79% — to nearly $8.5 billion — from 2020 to 2023.' McDonald's has strongly denied price gouging allegations and says its individual franchisees set menu prices, with an emphasis on affordability. Last year, fast food workers in California across various brands including McDonald's formed a union associated with the Service Employees International Union, a major development in an industry with low union penetration. The People's Union USA, which began attracting significant attention earlier this year, has quickly racked up endorsements from prominent celebrities for its efforts, including author Stephen King, actor John Leguizamo, and actress Bette Middler. A GoFundMe for the movement has raised more than $125,000 in the last four months. Its leader, Schwarz, a father of three and meditation teacher who lives in Chicago, was sentenced to 90 days in jail for alleged exploitation related to a cafe he once reportedly owned. In 2007, the activist was sentenced by a Connecticut judge to 90 days in jail for disseminating voyeuristic material, The New York Times reports. Schwarz, 39 at the time of the incident in question, was accused of photographing an unconscious 18-year-old's exposed breast and texting the image to her cell phone, per the paper. The teen worked at the now-closed Sugar Cube Cafe, which Schwarz owned, according to state records obtained by the Times. 'This whole thing was a big scam,' Schwarz told the paper. 'It's going to be expunged. I passed my polygraph test three times. Three times. I did not take a photograph. I did not do anything inappropriate to anybody.' The activist responded to the charge using an Alford plea, in which defendants don't technically admit guilt, but acknowledge prosecutors likely have the evidence to convict them, according to the report. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Montana IHOP staff say they haven't been paid in 6 weeks — but they worry leaving would cost them their chance
A Lee's Summit, Montana, IHOP restaurant is accused of making their staff wait weeks for their paychecks — and on top of that, the air conditioning isn't working either. One staffer, identified only as Linda, told KMBC 9 Investigates that it's going on six weeks with no paycheck. 'People might say, 'Well, why do you continue to work here?'' a reporter asked her. 'We're like family here,' she said. 'I've been here almost a year now. A lot of these people have been here a way long time.' Another employee, Chelsea Stoker, says she has filed a complaint with the Department of Labor along with some fellow employees, but she's afraid to quit her job. 'I'm kind of too scared to leave, because if I leave, I'm concerned that I'm not going to get my other paychecks,' Stoker said. 'And that's about $1,200. And I got four kids, I need it.' I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it The KMBC investigators report that they tried multiple methods of reaching the parent company that owns the IHOP franchise, AJTX Management, but got no responses. They further found court records that show AJTX is facing multiple lawsuits in Missouri over employment-related claims. The staff at the IHOP also told reporters that the air conditioning in the restaurant has been broken for some time, with no plans in place for having it fixed. They hope that going public with their story will make a difference. 'I'm hoping that if this gets out there, we'll get paid and we'll get air conditioning and all the people can come back,' Linda said. Read more: No millions? No problem. With as little as $10, here's of diversified assets usually only available to major players The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) governs employment conditions across the country, and ensures workers' rights are protected. Failure to pay an employee's wages on time is a violation of the FLSA, and AJTX Management's failure to keep the restaurant's air conditioner operational may also be considered a violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's rules on safe working conditions. Employers are required to protect workers that are exposed to high heat for long periods, and may even be responsible for developing a heat illness prevention program. Any worker who can prove that their employer caused them to develop a heat-related illness may be eligible to file a complaint with the OSHA. For employees that are waiting on paychecks, the FLSA ensures their employer can face penalties and legal action. These can include back pay to affected employees, civil penalties, liquidated damages and the payment of employees' legal fees and costs. Under FLSA, you have multiple options to ensure your employer gives you what you are legally owed. The FLSA also prevents your employer from retaliation against you for exercising your legal rights. If you are owed compensation, you can: Contact your employer in writing to document the missing wages, and ask for back pay to the amount owed. If your employer has been given a reasonable time to address your concerns, you can next file a complaint with the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Divisions (WHO). They are able to investigate any violations of the FLSA and take action against your employer if needed. If your employer is violating employment laws, you may file a lawsuit. It's important to work with an experienced employment lawyer, especially if any investigations by the WHO are still underway. For employees outside the service industry, alternative channels may exist for addressing workplace violations. Start by reporting FLSA or OSHA rights violations to your company's HR department. If HR fails to take appropriate action, escalate the matter to management, including senior leadership. Should these internal pathways prove ineffective, follow the previously outlined steps and consider consulting with a qualified employment attorney who can provide guidance on your legal rights and potential courses of action. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Money doesn't have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
