GOP rips labor board for ‘radical’ ruling on fast food workers

House Republicans are turning up the pressure on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over an “unprecedented” decision that could make it easier for unions to organize fast food restaurant workers across the country.

Following the NLRB’s “joint employer” ruling that McDonald’s should be held responsible for the labor violations of its franchise owners, top Republicans on the House Education and Workforce Committee wrote to the agency’s general counsel, Richard Griffin, on Tuesday, asking for more information about the decision.

“It is our understanding such complaints are unprecedented,” Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), the committee’s chairman, and Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) wrote.

{mosads}In the letter, the Republicans request a list of all the NLRB cases in which a company’s joint employer status is at issue, as well as a description of how Griffin intends to apply the joint employer status to companies.

This comes one week after Roe held an Education and Workforce subcommittee hearing to examine the NLRB’s joint employer decision.

During the hearing, Roe accused Griffin of a “radical effort” to unionize fast food restaurant workers.

“In recent months, it’s become clear the Obama National Labor Relations Board is determined to rewrite a franchise model that has served workers, employers, and consumers well for decades,” Roe said at the hearing.

“At the center of this effort is Richard Griffin,” he added. “As the agency’s general counsel, Mr. Griffin has encouraged the board to blur the lines of responsibility between the franchisor and franchisee. Most recently, he determined McDonalds Inc. is a joint employer with its franchisees, a decision that no doubt sent a shockwave across the country.”

Franchise owners who oppose the rule came to Capitol Hill this week to lobby against it. The NLRB argues the joint employer decision is fair.