IFA Responds to Labor Unions Hidden Agenda Behind Planned Fast Food Protests

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:

Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770

Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766

mhaller@franchise.org

jweisbord@franchise.org


IFA RESPONDS TO LABOR UNIONS HIDDEN AGENDA BEHIND PLANNED FAST FOOD PROTESTS


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2014—International Franchise Association President & CEO Steve Caldeira, CFE, released the following statement in advance of scheduled protests at local franchise business owners’ restaurants.


“The SEIU and its politically-motivated agenda and affiliates have staged and sponsored these protests for a higher minimum wage over the past two years under the guise of trying to help the working poor. These protests are just another clear example of unions attempting to generate headlines and grow union membership, which has been declining in the private-sector for decades. The protest’s focus on franchises is part of a desperate, special interest play by the SEIU to add to their dwindling financial coffers by organizing a large entity compared to trying to unionize thousands of separate, hard-working, one-off mom and pop businesses.


“The not-so-subtle subtext to the call for a higher minimum wage is the union’s blatant effort to persuade federal, state and local governments to declare that franchised businesses are joint employers with their local, independently–owned franchisees. The definition of a joint employer has been the same for over 30 years because quite simply, it works. Franchise businesses have outpaced the overall growth of non-franchised businesses the last five years because the model is proven and time-tested, and creates much-needed entry-level jobs and small business ownership opportunities like no other business sector.


“What the unions don’t seem to understand, or want to accept, is that the brand company has absolutely nothing to do with setting wages, and these protests are really harming the very same workers the labor unions are claiming to help. There is unequivocally no widespread, organic evidence that employees of any fast food franchises are walking out of their jobs on their own volition and these planned protests are the last thing business owners and the U.S. economy need during this still fragile, uneven economic recovery. Unions should find other ways to grow their membership instead of on the backs of local franchise business owners, the actual hard-working folks who help to create two-thirds of all net, new jobs and career opportunities in America.”


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About the International Franchise Association

The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the more than 825,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.


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