Labor and Policy: Page 14

  • A sign saying "we're hiring!" hangs in a Starbucks window.
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    Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
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    Starbucks shareholder files suit over diverse hiring

    A conservative think tank claims Starbucks’ diverse hiring practices violate the Civil Rights Act of 1965.

    By Caroline Colvin • Sept. 9, 2022
  • Gavin Newsom
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    The image by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Restaurant groups push to repeal California’s fast food council law

    A coalition led by industry groups has about three months to collect signatures necessary to put the repeal of AB 257 on the 2024 general election ballot.

    By • Sept. 8, 2022
  • Gavin Newsom gives a speech.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Industry wonders what’s next as Newsom signs fast food council bill

    The National Restaurant Association vows to fight against what organized labor heralded as one of the biggest changes to labor law in decades.

    By • Sept. 6, 2022
  • An image of McDonald's logo
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    Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s president denounces CA fast food council bill

    Joe Erlinger wrote in a letter Wednesday that the legislation would establish an uneven playing field, forcing major chains and their franchisees to raise wages while other business owners would be exempt. 

    By • Aug. 31, 2022
  • The California statehouse
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    The image by Jimmy Emerson, DVM is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
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    California Senate approves fast food labor council with power to set wages

    Chains with over 100 units nationally would be subject to regulations formulated by the council, which includes industry and labor representatives.

    By • Updated Aug. 30, 2022
  • The Starbucks logo hangs outside one of the company's cafes in Northwich on 3 July, 2008 in Northwich, England.
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    Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks must extend benefits to union workers, regional NLRB office says

    A Seattle NLRB office issued a complaint asserting the company and interim CEO Howard Schultz violated labor law by giving benefits to non-union stores.

    By • Aug. 26, 2022
  • Teamsters pose outside a Lansing, Michigan Chipotle where workers voted 11-3 to join the union on Aug. 25
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    Permission granted by International Brotherhood of Teamsters
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    Chipotle workers at Michigan store unionize

    Workers voted 11-3 to join the Teamsters, marking the first successful union push at the chain, which permanently closed a Maine store that organized with an independent union.

    By • Aug. 26, 2022
  • drive thru painted on street for directions
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    booker5m via Getty Images
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    Restaurant outsourcing startup Bite Ninja raises $11.3M

    The firm has trained 12,000 workers to take orders remotely, offering savings for restaurants that don’t want to hire traditional employees. 

    By • Aug. 24, 2022
  • A McDonald's store is shown in Houston, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Judge approves McDonald’s franchisee’s $1.5M settlement in sexual harassment suit

    About 100 plaintiffs, who alleged they were harassed by a Michigan store manager, will be able to claim an average of $10,000 each.

    By • Aug. 18, 2022
  • People hold signs while protesting in front of Starbucks on April 14, 2022 in New York City.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks requests NLRB suspend mail-in union elections

    The chain claims the labor board and Workers United engaged in misconduct during the voting process in a Kansas City-area cafe, and likely other elections.

    By • Aug. 15, 2022
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    Stefani Reynolds / Stringer via Getty Images
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    Restaurant Revitalization Fund

    73 Congress members ask SBA to immediately disburse leftover RRF funds

    Legislators have also asked the body to prioritize any of the roughly 7,000 applicants who were approved for grants last year but didn’t receive funding. 

    By • Aug. 11, 2022
  • People wait in line to enter a building with a sweetgreen logo at the top.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Sweetgreen lays off 5% of support staff

    These reductions could result in annual savings of $4 million and help the chain reach profitability potentially as early as 2024, according to the company.

    By • Aug. 10, 2022
  • A round red sign hanging off of a glass building that says Chipotle
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    Michael M. Santiago / Staff via Getty Images
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    Chipotle to pay $20M to employees in NYC Fair Workweek settlement

    About 13,000 workers will receive $50 for each week or part of the week they worked between November 2017 and April 2022, per the agreement’s terms. 

    By • Aug. 10, 2022
  • A picture of one of Reef's mobile kitchens.
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    Courtesy of REEF Technology
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    Deep Dive // Reef Technology's expansion

    How Reef helps shape city ghost kitchen regulations to accommodate its model

    The ghost kitchen company has devised two paths into new markets: one through city hall, and one through back doors of hotel kitchens.

    By • Aug. 8, 2022
  • Seattle USA, Washington State, Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier - stock photo
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    Philip Kramer/DigitalVision via Getty Images
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    Seattle passes permanent 15% delivery fee cap with exceptions

    Seattle joins San Francisco in approving a permanent cap, but allows delivery firms to charge more if restaurants opt for additional services, like marketing. 

    By • Aug. 4, 2022
  • The U.S. Capitol building.
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    drnadig via Getty Images
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    Restaurant Revitalization Fund

    SBA to disburse $180M in remaining RRF funds

    While the Small Business Administration confirmed it would distribute the money, it has yet to provide additional details on how it will be allocated. 

    By • Aug. 3, 2022
  • Starbucks Workers United members picket outside a Starbucks in Watertown, Ma., on August 1, 2022.
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    Permission granted by Kylah Clay, Starbucks Workers United
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    Workers United says it will waive bargaining rights over some Starbucks benefits

    The union said its members want to be included in new benefits, such as wage increases, credit card tipping, faster sick leave accrual and revived training programs.

    By • Aug. 2, 2022
  • A restaurant worker wearing a clear plastic mask shield speaks with restaurant patrons.
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    Ian Forsyth via Getty Images
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    Restaurant Revitalization Fund

    NRA urges SBA to release $180M in leftover RRF funds

    Per a Government Accountability Office report, $24 million of the funding was designated for litigation, and roughly $56 million came from returned grants.

    By • July 28, 2022
  • A man and woman looking at receipts inside a cafe
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    Ridofranz via Getty Images
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    Study: Over one-third of restaurant operators implementing hiring freezes

    Despite an ongoing labor shortage, 4% of small restaurant owners said they are cutting staff, a July Alignable report also found. 

    By Alicia Kelso • July 28, 2022
  • Aerial view of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, California with skyline in background
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    Melpomenem via Getty Images
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    San Francisco weakens 15% delivery fee cap

    The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a law Tuesday enabling delivery services to charge more than 15% in restaurant commissions if eateries opt for additional services. 

    By • July 27, 2022
  • McDonald's drive thru sign
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s CEO: Robots aren’t practical in vast majority of restaurants

    Though 10% labor inflation and staffing levels are challenging the chain, CEO Chris Kempczinski said automation won’t be a “silver bullet” solution. 

    By • July 26, 2022
  • An image of a bike rider with a yellow backpack that says "Lunchbox" on it
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    Courtesy of Lunchbox
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    Lunchbox reportedly lays off 60 employees

    The job cuts reduced the restaurant tech firm’s staff, including engineering and technology roles, to 120 workers, Business Insider reports.

    By • July 22, 2022
  • A woman in a green apron at a coffee counter waves off camera
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    Retrieved from Starbucks on July 11, 2022
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    Starbucks faces 'indefinite' strike at a Boston cafe

    Baristas are refusing to work for an unspecified amount of time, demanding that the chain replace a store manager and bolster staffing across shifts.

    By • July 21, 2022
  • A bank of windows below a red sign that says "Chipotle." A man stands in the background inside the restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Chipotle permanently closes unionizing Maine store

    Chipotle wrote in a message to employees that the Augusta, Maine, unit was shuttered due to lack of labor availability. 

    By • July 20, 2022
  • Ordering takeout and delivery convenience food from an online Asian restaurant delivery meal from a smart phone.
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    YinYang via Getty Images
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    ChowNow CEO: More restaurant tech industry layoffs are coming

    The company had one of its best sales months in June, but rising interest rates and more expensive capital has Chris Webb preparing for a financial hurricane.

    By • July 19, 2022