The National Labor Relations Board is set to take up a case Monday that pits unions versus McDonald's and hangs the fate of franchise freedoms in the balance.
A win for the unions could mean McDonald's corporate chiefs would have to head to the bargaining table instead of individual franchise owners, The Hill reported.
Union-backed protesters have been dogging the fast-food chain for some time, demanding higher pay and better working conditions. But their efforts have been largely targeted to local restaurants – until the NLRB stepped in and ruled last year that McDonald's should be treated as a "joint employer."
How important are American businesses to America? It's all here in "My Company 'Tis of Thee."
That put the responsibility for individual franchise owners squarely in the seat of corporate executives, a significant win for the unions because it opens the door for a big win with widespread repercussions that hit at all the franchises, rather than a select few.
McDonald's, meanwhile, continues to argue it's not a joint employer, and individual franchise owners operate as they see fit. The company also criticizes the NLRB as a political tool of the unions.
"As we have said previously, the National Labor Relations Boards' decision to involve McDonald's in its actions against our independent franchisees improperly strikes at the heart of the franchise system – a system that creates economic opportunity, jobs and income for thousands of business owners and their employees across the country," a company statement read.
Â