Unionization Of Fast Food Workforces Poses Concerns For Employers

Unionization of fast food workers should have many corporate leaders in the food service space weighing how a labor stoppage could impact their business. As low-wage workers ponder the benefits of formally organizing, the trend continues to evolve across North America, with union sentiment spreading well beyond the hospitality, manufacturing, and logistics spaces. The fast food industry is primed for an incredible shake-up as workforces gain more leverage in places like California, while some workforces simply refuse to accept what their employers have to offer.

Rising costs of living throughout the globe mean that the everyday food service worker simply needs more in order to pay rent and have a reasonable standard of living. When workforces have no other option but to organize and strike, many major fast food chains could see their own bottom line dwindle.

Unionization in The Corporate Cheeseburger Space

Burgers and fires simply wouldn’t be possible without the many workers who have supported the Golden Arches through the good times and the bad. When workers were called upon to flip burgers during the pandemic, today their increased pay and benefits is a thing of the past. However, the situation isn’t quite like it once was, and these fast food workers need so much more in order to live a normal life and support their families.

Inflation has been far more persistent than what many pundits predicted, and higher rents and soaring grocery prices might be here to stay for the immediate future. Fast food chains that have maintained non-unionized workforces for decades should be expecting a colossal shift in sentiment, as these workers simply have no other choice but to demand more from their workforce in the form of unionization and strike action. 

Preparing For Labor Strikes

Complete halts in productivity, security risks against executives, and heated picket lines are just some of the elements that come with a fast food worker strike. The mess that comes when a workforce finally heads to the picket line is always better addressed preemptively, rather than reactively. Having failed to plan for a labor stoppage puts the business itself at risk, along with exposing the workforce and the general public to the risk of personal injury. Picket lines can turn heated in a matter of minutes, and workers may vent their frustrations by destroying private property and clashing with the general public.

Unionization sentiment is quickly growing in the fast food industry, a sector that has historically utilized non-unionized labor. As an employer, are you prepared to address the possibility of a worker strike?

AFIMAC remains highly capable of assessing the risks of upcoming unionization attempts, helping employers plan for every element of a labor strike. The key to navigating a strike is extensive planning that considers every possible detail of what could happen on the job site. Should an employer be unable to avert a strike, at the very least there are plans in place to navigate the situation. AFIMAC can be called upon to assist with an employer’s needs, but also conduct extensive pre-strike planning so that in the event a work stoppage occurs, the employer is as prepared as possible.

Sentiment and Workforce Monitoring

Workers across the United States have had the right to formally organize since 1933, and employers can be caught in a contentious legal battle if they interfere in any way. Employers can, however, quietly monitor the sentiment of their workforce on social media by sifting through publicly available information. Oftentimes, when a formal organization within the workforce is being conducted, employers can catch wind via social media.

The many intelligence-gathering tools available to employers on behalf of AFIMAC help employers stay informed of what could happen within their workforce. Monitoring union sentiment remains a delicate legal matter for employers and is best conducted by a qualified intelligence agency that can navigate the process for you. In fact, the social listening tools of AFIMAC can help to verify suspicions that a workforce is considering unionizing in the near future.

Labor Strike Services From AFIMAC Global

Navigate the many hurdles that come with a fast food worker strike or unionization attempt alongside the labor dispute specialists at AFIMAC. Formal strike actions come with many layers, and AFIMAC is proud to bring decades of experience to our clients, helping corporate entities with every element of a labor strike. 

Conduct extensive pre-strike planning, call upon security resources, and actively monitor picket lines in an effort to manage risk and bring strikes to an end. AFIMAC can even guide employers through the union negotiation process, helping you and your executive team come to fair agreements with your workforce and shift the focus back to work and productivity.

Partner alongside AFIMAC and tilt the scales back in your favor with a number of labor dispute services. Capable of servicing corporations across North America, resources are brought directly to the job site in the event you need them. Fill out the form below and begin the planning process now.

Contact us today to speak with an AFIMAC representative.