McDonald's ruling could open door for unions

The general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board ruled on Tuesday that McDonald’s could be held jointly liable for labor and wage violations by its franchise operators — a decision that, if upheld, would disrupt longtime practices in the fast-food industry and ease the way for unionizing nationwide.

The labor board's general counsel, Richard Griffin Jr., found merit in 43 of 181 claims accusing McDonald's of illegally firing, threatening or otherwise penalizing workers for their pro-labor activities, according to the New York Times.

In those claims, Griffin said he would include McDonald's as a joint employer. Some 90 percent of the chain's restaurants in the U.S. are franchises.

Business groups were not pleased with the decision. Some, according to the Times, said it was a far-reaching move that could make way for many other companies to be held to the same standard of joint employer. This, according to the groups, could make businesses that use subcontractors or temp agencies at least partly liable in cases of overtime, wage or union-organizing violations.

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