Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 13) — Jollibee North America addressed claims of illegal dismissal of nine employees of its branch in New Jersey, saying the store in Journal Square terminated the workers due to its financial issues.
The Jollibee branch earlier drew flak for its alleged illegal firing of the nine employees.
In a statement on Tuesday, Jollibee North America said the Journal Square branch, which is located near a commuter hub, has “not recovered from customer behavior changes after the pandemic.” This includes decreased foot traffic in the area now that more people are working from home.
“The Jollibee Journal Square store in the US implemented a workforce reduction that unfortunately affected nine store crew members who were selected on a last-in first-out basis of hiring,” it added. “The action was due to financial circumstances specific to this store and not related to other claims being circulated online.”
Last week, the labor group Justice for Jollibee Workers went viral after it claimed that the branch illegally dismissed nine employees after it discovered the workers’ plans to demand higher wages, double holiday pay, and payment for “borrowed workers” or those assigned to work for another employer for a period of time.
Why so quiet @Jollibee?
48 hours ago, illegally terminated Journal Square Jollibee workers sent a letter to management. Press asked for a response. Silence.
The workers, the people want answers, @Jollibee.
We won't let you brush this under the rug. #Justice4JollibeeWorkers pic.twitter.com/LmJMsY2SZd
— Justice for Jollibee Workers (@JollibeeWorkers) July 9, 2023
Justice for Jollibee Workers later penned a letter to demand the reinstatement of all the terminated employees, backpay and compensation, a public apology, and recognition of worker rights.
“We know the truth. We know that in fact, you were trying to undermine us, workers who are simply trying to improve our conditions in the workplace,” the demand letter read.
Former Jollibee workers and more than 50 supporters also protested at the Journal Square, with some reading the demand letter out loud for the management to hear.
SHAME ON JOLLIBEE! Jollibee workers who were illegally terminated for organizing for higher wages at Journal Square marched into the restaurant to deliver a letter of demands.
Instead of hearing their demands, management collaborated with NJPD to kick them out of the restaurant. pic.twitter.com/DHz5yALHmi
— Justice for Jollibee Workers (@JollibeeWorkers) July 8, 2023
Justice for Jollibee Workers also claims that there have been cases of wage theft, worker mistreatment and misclassification, casualization, and chronic understaffing in Jollibee branches all over the globe.
