McDonald's and Fast Food Giants: Do Better

Every day, millions of Americans buy meals from McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Subway, and other major fast food brands. These companies spend billions building trusted brands and earning customer loyalty. They should be just as committed to protecting the workers who make that success possible.

As The New Republic reports, the Trump administration is moving to weaken the "joint employer" standard—a change that would make it easier for large corporations like McDonald's to argue they are not legally responsible for wages, workplace conditions, or labor violations affecting workers at franchised restaurants, even though those restaurants operate under their brands and business systems.

Workers shouldn't have to navigate a maze of franchise agreements to find accountability. When customers walk into a McDonald's or Burger King, they see one brand—not a complicated corporate structure. The companies that profit from those brands should help ensure workers are paid fairly, treated with dignity, and provided safe workplaces.

McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Subway, and other major fast food corporations should lead the industry by committing to fair labor standards throughout their franchise networks—not by distancing themselves from the people who wear their uniforms.

Add your name to demand that McDonald's and other fast food giants take responsibility for protecting the workers who keep their businesses running.

The people serving our meals deserve more than corporate slogans about opportunity and community. They deserve employers willing to stand behind them. It's time for America's biggest fast food companies to match the strength of their brands with a real commitment to the workers who make those brands possible.