Carl’s Jr. Shift Leaders Say CKE Restaurants Suppresses Wages

CKE Restaurants Inc. suppressed fast-food restaurant workers’ pay when it prohibited franchisees from hiring each other’s staff or corporate staff, according to a lawsuit filed in California state court by a pair of current and former shift leaders (Bautista v. Carl Karcher Enterprises LLC, Cal. Super. Ct., No. BC649777, complaint filed 2/8/17).

“Our impression is that this is a widespread practice that’s reducing wages within the fast-food industry,” Nina DiSalvo, an attorney for the current and former Carl’s Jr. shift leaders bringing the case, told Bloomberg BNA Feb. 9. “If the market is not free enough to allow ...