NEW YORK, N.Y.—The National Labor Relations Board has formally accused the Chipotle Mexican Grill fast-food chain of illegally firing workers at two of its Manhattan restaurants for trying to organize employees to join 32BJ SEIU. The complaint, filed Dec. 12 by NLRB general counsel Peter Robb, also accuses Chipotle of threatening to sack other union supporters and promising promotions to those who informed management about union activity. “I was forced out because of my organizing,” Jeremy Espinal, 20, who worked at a Chipotle on East 14th Street that was one of the two listed in the complaint, said in a statement released by 32BJ Dec. 20. “Chipotle managers threatened us all the time, but I am happy that someone is now taking action because they shouldn’t get away with stuff like that.” Another union supporter was fired for demanding more hours and a more consistent schedule. “Chipotle’s patterns of illegal behavior in New York City is disappointing, but will not deter workers from achieving their aim of joining the union,” 32BJ President Kyle Bragg said. As the Chipotle corporation owns all its restaurants instead of franchising them, it can’t claim that it is not responsible for labor-law violations. Read more
