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Fast food workers won Just Cause protections in NYC yesterday, including a bill that mandates layoffs happen in reverse seniority. NYC is now the first city in the country to guarantee these essential worker rights by law. 1/7 https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/View.ashx?M=F&ID=7035185&GUID=BAD60D8C-14CD-4E88-AF65-658161D47B5E
I was surprised by how strong the language in the legislation is. It limits employee probationary periods to 30 days and any non-probationary employee who is terminated can take their case to arbitration. 2/7
The legislation explicitly outlines several tests for just cause and states that discipline issued more than a year before termination cannot be counted towards progressive discipline. 3/7
The burden for proving just cause falls on the employer. The company has to "promptly provide a written explanation to any terminated fast food employee" upon their being terminated and "an arbiter may not consider any reasons not included in such written explanation." 4/7
Employees terminated without just cause are to be made whole by being reinstated and being paid backpay and the employer is on the hook for their attorney's fees. 5/7
This is an example that cities across the country should try and follow. Obviously rightwing state govts will try and pass laws making it illegal for cities to expand worker rights, just like they've done when cities have tried to raise the minimum wage, ban the box, etc. 6/7
But this is a great offensive fight for progressive to wage and unions should be leading the charge everywhere. #JustCauseForAll 7/7
