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The Independent
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
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.
The Independent
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
‘This is about more than burgers and fries': Boycott of McDonald's to begin this week
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.
CBS News
17-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Colorado Safeway strikes expand to Castle Rock and Littleton with more locations expected
New Safeway locations joined UFCW Local 7's strike efforts on Monday, bringing the total to six locations across the state with more expected in the coming days. Among the hundreds of union workers already on strike is Castle Rock store clerk Tanner Vonstein. Vonstein says he voted to support the strike after five years with the company. "I know it's really important that if we're together, then we can win this fight," Vonstein said. Castle Rock Safeway clerk Tanner Vonstein describes working conditions at his store and the reason he and other workers are striking on Monday, June 16, 2025. CBS While shoppers may remember the recent strikes across Colorado King Soopers locations, UFCW Local 7 says this is the first Safeway strike in 29 years. The union says the strike comes to address what it says are unfair labor practices from Safeway. "I was doing the job of four people by myself. I mean, I'm a front-end head clerk, and I was doing produce for about eight months," Vonstein said. "It's very stressful." While dozens of shoppers continued to cross the picket line in Castle Rock on Monday, some turned away after hearing stories like Vonstein's. "I can barely afford rent on what we have now, and with these minimum wage increases, it doesn't make it any easier for me," he said. And from Estes Park to Castle Rock, UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova spent the day driving across the state and bringing workers to the picket lines with more expected to join this week. "As well as workers walking off the job, the entire state of Colorado, all of the union stores, and the union workers inside, they are so upset with their employer they're ready to strike this entire state," Cordova said. Managers Michael (no last name provided) and Denise (no last name provided) hold signs during a protest against Safeway in Littleton, Colorado on Monday, June 16, 2025. AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images But some shoppers are asking how long this strike could last. "They haven't resolved the unfair labor practice charges that we have against them, so we're still far apart, and the strike is going to continue to grow until we reach a contract with them," Cordova said. In a statement, however, Safeway disputed claims of unfair labor practices and shared the following statement, in part: "Safeway in Colorado remains committed to productive discussions with UFCW Local 7, and we are disappointed the union has chosen to strike some of our stores. We respect the rights of workers to engage in collective bargaining and are negotiating in good faith to achieve a balanced agreement that rewards our associates, benefits our customers, and is sustainable for our company in the competitive grocery industry." But as negotiations continue, Cordova says so too will the strikes. "You may see, it could happen today, it could happen tonight. It can happen tomorrow, but the strike is going to expand until we reach a contract," Cordova said. Cordova explained that as negotiations continue with King Soopers as well, it could be possible that both chains eventually strike at the same time, but emphasized that the focus right now is on Safeway. In its statement, Safeway also said that it expects stores to remain open for customers throughout the strike.
South China Morning Post
13-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Filipino helpers face exploitation, sexual harassment in South Korea's pilot scheme
A pilot programme designed to bring Filipino carers to South Korea is drawing harsh criticism after reports surfaced of sexual harassment, excessive workloads and inadequate support for participants. The programme, backed by former president Yoon Suk-yeol and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, is under fire for what critics say was a rushed and poorly monitored roll-out that left many workers vulnerable. A forum titled 'Precarious Stay, Excluded Labour Rights: Voices of Filipino Caregivers' took place at the Seoul Metropolitan Council on Thursday, where civic group representatives and researchers presented findings from a field investigation. According to the coalition supporting migrant care workers' rights, 21 Filipino workers were interviewed anonymously in April and May, offering a rare glimpse into the challenges they face. Lee Mi-ae, a research professor at Jeju National University, said many workers were burdened with duties far beyond their original contracts. 'One worker has to care not only for the employer's child, but also for the entire family, including in-laws and even the family dog,' she said. 'Some are pressured to give English conversation lessons to parents during the baby's nap time, leaving virtually no time for rest.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Activist groups gather in Raleigh in solidarity with Los Angeles ICE protests
Protesters in Raleigh gathered in Moore Square on Monday afternoon to display solidarity with ongoing protests in Los Angeles and in response to the arrest of labor union leader David Huerta. The Raleigh protest, which was organized by the Union of Southern Service Workers and Service Employees International Union, amassed a crowd of over 100. Members of North Carolina's state chapter of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the North Carolina Association of Educators and immigrant rights group Siembra NC were also in attendance. 'If the Trump administration can take an American citizen [and] union leader exercising their First Amendment rights to bear witness to the growing tyranny of this administration, put them in the hospital and then throw them in jail, that can happen to anybody,' Jeremy Sprinkle, communications director of the North Carolina AFL-CIO, told The News & Observer. Huerta, who was born and raised in Los Angeles County, serves as the president of the Service Employees International Union California and the president of SEIU-United Service Workers West. Police say that the arrest was made because Huerta interfered with federal officers, multiple news outlets reported. SEIU California says he was peacefully observing officers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Video of his arrest shows Huerta standing with his hands on his hips, then being pushed to the ground by officers. He was injured by the fall and was admitted to the Los Angeles General Medical Center. He has since been discharged and was being held in ICE custody, the Sacramento Bee reported. 'No one should ever be harmed for witnessing government action,' Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to Huerta's detention. The crowd in Raleigh participated in chants led by organizers from Siembra and the service workers' union. 'Free David! End ICE! Right now!' protesters shouted. Bertha Bradley, an organizer with the service workers' union who goes by Mama Cookie, said that she has met Huerta several times. 'He's been fighting for workers his whole life,' Bradley said. 'That just goes to show his power. When you got power in this country, they don't like that.' Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, said she thinks that increased ICE raids are simply a 'smoke and mirrors' tactic from Republicans to overshadow GOP-proposed funding cuts for programs like Medicaid and SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. 'People need to see our party standing up for immigrant rights across the country, and I also think we need to show solidarity with our labor movement and labor leaders,' Clayton said. 'What's happening in Los Angeles is definitely just the tip of the iceberg,' said Ellen Canavean, a retired occupational therapist from Cary and a member of the advocacy group Raging Grannies. 'ICE is out of control.' The protests come as the Trump administration continues to push for increased ICE enforcement. In the Los Angeles protests, which began on Friday, thousands of demonstrators have gathered in the streets to push back against several ICE raids that occurred Friday morning, including raids in a Home Depot parking lot and in Los Angeles' fashion district. Some protesters have damaged property, burning cars, throwing rocks at police and their cars, and vandalizing property. Despite Newsom's opposition, the Republican president activated 2,000 of California's National Guard officers and deployed them to the city. This is the first time that a president has deployed a state's National Guard without a call from the governor since Lyndon B. Johnson discharged officers into Selma, Alabama, ahead of the historic, peaceful civil rights march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. CBS reported on Monday afternoon that 700 Marines could also possibly deploy in Los Angeles. Trump's activation of the National Guard has sparked a clash between Newsom and Trump. California's attorney general announced Monday morning that the state is suing the Trump administration. Through Trump's first 100 days in office, ICE had already arrested 66,463 immigrants who were in the country without legal authorization. An estimated 325,000 unauthorized immigrants live in North Carolina, according to a 2022 Pew Research Center estimate. Nikki Marín Baena, co-director of Siembra, said ICE has yet to start raids in workplaces in North Carolina, instead detaining immigrants at probation appointments and during traffic stops. Still, Marín Baena said Siembra is training workplaces across the state to understand they have the right to ask federal agents for a judicial warrant before they search a private area. 'We also just know that a North Carolina that is safer for immigrant workers will be safer for all workers,' Marín Baena said. 'And so that's what we're organizing towards.' The protest is just one of many scheduled for this week, including a demonstration Tuesday to oppose two immigration bills under consideration in the state legislature, and one Saturday organized under the name No Kings. Trump is set to visit North Carolina's Fort Bragg on Tuesday to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Army.
