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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) made a very strange decision last week to rule that McDonald's MCD -0.23% the corporation, was a joint employer of the staff in the franchised restaurants. It was, of course, at the urging of those labour activists who would like to union organise in the sector. Dealing with one national company is obviously going to be easier than dealing with thousands of independent business owners. There’s a number of problems with this decision ranging from the way that it overturns what has long thought to be settled law, to it obviating already signed contracts...

In a decidedly unhappy meal, three men were charged with first-degree burglary after they climbed through a McDonald's restaurant drive-through window and fought with employees, according to charges filed in Ramsey County District Court. The three also were accused of third-degree riot for the benefit of a gang in the incident early July 24. According to the criminal complaint: The three -- Willie Charles Lassiter, 18, St. Paul; Evan Kasadine McMillan, 18, St. Paul; and Keith Lamar Garrett Jr., 20 -- were in an SUV at the McDonald's at 1388 E. Maryland Ave. when they argued with a 24-year-old employee...

A Brazos County jury on Wednesday awarded a $27 million in a lawsuit against McDonald’s relating to the 2012 deaths of two Blinn College students.Jurors found McDonald’s negligence to be 97 percent responsible for the deaths of Denton Ward, 18, of Flower Mound, and Lauren Bailey Crisp, 19, of Flower Mound, both of whom died in the early morning hours of Feb. 18, 2012. The remaining 3 percent of liability was laid on the men who violently attacked Ward and his friend, Tanner Giesen, 21, in the parking lot of the McDonald’s at 801 University Drive. The jury’s verdict reflects...

Just days after the taking Chicken McNuggets off its menu in the light of the China food scandal, McDonald’s Japan has unveiled a brand new, rather unusual product: Tofu Shinjo Nuggets and Ginger Sauce, a combination of bean curd, fish and vegetables shaped into bite-size pieces and deep-fried. Turning to tofu–a food that has long been a favourite in Japan and known for its health benefits–is certainly a wise move, and McDonald’s is undoubtedly in need of something new to entice customers back with, but while we’ve no doubt all craved deep-fried chicken at some point in our lives, we’d...

Another day, another radical move from the Obama administration. In a big win for the more opportunistic corners of the organized-labor movement, the National Labor Relations Board decided this week that, in a range of labor cases involving McDonald’s, it will consider the corporate parents of franchise businesses liable for the labor agreements reached between franchises and their employees. The NLRB has maintained otherwise for 30 years, refusing to consider corporations with franchises to be part of a “joint employer” arrangement. Why decide that corporations are employers of employees whom they don’t hire, don’t pay, and can’t fire? Because the...

Once again, one man has dictated a major change of federal law that can cost American families dearly. It may double the price of your Big Mac, Whopper, fried chicken, donuts or other purchases at your local fast-food restaurant. Where’s the beef coming from? Surprise! This time it’s neither President Obama nor Attorney General Eric Holder who is twisting the law like a pretzel from Auntie Anne’s. It’s Obama appointee Richard Griffin, the president’s hand-picked choice for the all-powerful position as general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Mr. Griffin has declared that millions of Americans who work...

McDonald's is coming under intensifying pressure for labor practices at its U.S. restaurants. The National Labor Relations Board said Tuesday that the world's biggest hamburger chain could be named as a joint employer in several complaints regarding worker rights at franchise-owned restaurants. The decision is pivotal because it could expose McDonald's Corp. to liability for management practices in those locations. It also comes as protests for higher pay have captured national attention, with labor groups calling for pay of $15 an hour and the right to unionize. Organizers had been pushing to get McDonald's named as a joint employer at...

Sick film of a McDonald's worker wearing burka hood beating a customer.

Nearly a quarter-century after McDonald’s startled and delighted Soviets with their first taste of American fast-food culture, the company’s now facing a suit that could ban it from selling some of its signature products. The Russian consumer protection agency said Friday it is taking the company to court for selling foods that contain more fats and carbohydrates than are allowed by national regulations. McDonald’s did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The suit comes amid especially high tensions between Moscow and Washington over the Ukraine crisis; the United States has slapped an array of sanctions on Russia over...

Fast food chain McDonald’s has suspended sale of chicken nuggets and some other products in Hong Kong. It said it had imported chicken and pork from Shanghai Husi Food, the Chinese firm that allegedly supplied out-of-date meat to fast food firms. China has suspended operations of Shanghai Husi after local media reports claimed it reprocessed expired meat. McDonald’s had removed nuggets from its menus at its Japanese outlets earlier this week over the same issue. …

We think Cheryl Cole’s missed a trick with her quickie wedding on Macaroni Beach in Mustique. Just look at what she could have had – her very own McWedding (Drive Thru or marry in). Yes, McDonald’s has the answer for all those normcore brides out there. Well, at least the ones willing to travel to Hong Kong. The fast food chain has been slowly expanding its wedding party program since 2011 and now boasts 11 restaurants that double up as budget wedding venues, all in Hong Kong. And not only can you have the wedding ceremony there, they’ll also host...

The Habit Burger and In-N-Out lead the pack. Chick-fil-A also has lots to squawk about. Turns out nobody’s loving it. The standard McDonald’s hamburger — the one that claims to satisfy “billions and billions” — finished dead last in a new Consumer Reports taste test. The Hamburglar’s favorite meal earned a score of just 5.8 out of 10 from the magazine’s readers, putting it far behind West Coast chains The Habit Burger Grill and In-N-Out Burger, which scored 8.1 out of 10 and 8 out of 10, respectively. The top fast food burger available locally was Five Guys Burgers and...

The woman who police say viciously attacked a New Jersey mother in front of her two-year-old son has turned herself into authorities. Latia Harris, 25, surrendered to police on Monday night in relation to last week's brutal that was captured on video.

An Ohio dad lost his job at McDonald's and may face jail after he reportedly believed his son got on a church van Sunday, but instead, the boy popped up at a nearby Family Dollar store. [....] Williamson was arrested at the scene and could be charged with child endangerment, the report said.

A man shocked the breakfast crowd at a Queens McDonald’s Tuesday when he strolled in with a knife stuck in his back while chatting on a cellphone. Andrew Hardy, 53, his shirt drenched in blood, appeared remarkably composed as he paced about the Jamaica restaurant at around 10 a.m., witnesses said. “He was cool and calm. But you could tell he was shaken up,” said Hardy’s pal, Michel Green, 43, of Jamaica. “I went to pull the knife out, but someone said, ‘No, no! It might have hit an artery!’ ” Another customer said Hardy seemed to be saying his final...

SNIP McDonald’s Uruguay was quick to react to the opportunity with a little “real-time” marketing, inviting Mr. Suarez for a Big Mac hamburger via Twitter. “Hello @luis16suarez, if you are hungry come to have a bite of a big Mac,” a loose translation of the message read. SNIP

Up and down the foodservice spectrum, breakfast is heating up. Here are some recent developments: •Taco Bell introduced a breakfast menu trading on ubiquitous locations and a massive promo of the Waffle Taco. The Bell blitzed social media and took direct aim at rival McDonald’s, including an ad campaign making fun of Ronald the clown. •McDonald’s countered with an offer for free morning cup of McCafe and started promoting its McGriddle pancake wrapped breakfast sandwich. •Not to be forgotten, runner up, Burger King took a different approach, and announced it would serve burgers as well as breakfast fare each morning....

Hundreds of McDonald's workers and community activists staged a protest Wednesday near the fast-food chain's headquarters in Oak Brook, seeking a wage increase to at least $15 per hour for employees.

Having secured its fashionable standing among millennials by giving a clown a vest, McDonald’s has since focused its rebranding efforts on young children, in the hopes that—through the fresh repurposing of trademark properties and targeted marketing—it can somehow get them to want colorful boxes full of toys and hamburgers. To that end, today it’s introducing American kids to “Happy,” a character and “ambassador for balanced and wholesome eating.” As part of promoting that healthy diet, Happy will terrify children into never eating McDonald’s again. “Happy” is an animated Happy Meal box who was first introduced in 2009 in France, a...