McDonald's squares off against NLRB in worker retaliation trial

Reuters: A highly anticipated trial over whether McDonald's USA (MCD.N) could be on the hook for its franchisees' alleged retaliation against employees who participated in fast-food worker protests across the United States began on Thursday.

At issue is whether Illinois-based McDonald's is a "joint employer" of workers at its independently owned franchises, as the National Labor Relations Board says. That would make the company liable for any labor law violations by the franchisees, which operate 90 percent of McDonald's U.S. restaurants.

Read article