By Lisa Jennings
Nation's Restaurant News, Sept 20, 2016
The minimum wage, immigration reform and a call for unity are key issues for those in the restaurant industry who support Hillary Clinton’s bid for the presidency. Although the restaurant industry generally leans Republican, Clinton has won backing from many who contend she is the better choice for business owners concerned about driving a healthy economy. ...
Minimum wage
Throughout the campaign, Clinton has expressed support for a $12-per-hour federal minimum wage, as well as higher wages in certain locales, like New York City and California. The Democratic Party platform includes support for a $15-per-hour minimum wage over time and ending the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers. ...
But the International Franchise Association is concerned about Clinton’s “tacit endorsement” of a $15 hourly minimum wage and other positions. ...
Paul Saginaw, who calls himself “chief spiritual officer” of the collection of businesses that includes the iconic Zingerman’s Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, Mich., is all for a $15-per-hour minimum wage. His operation employs more than 700 people and does more than $65 million in annual sales.
“I’m one of thousands of business owners who believe we are way, way, long overdue for a federal minimum wage increase,” Saginaw said. “The current wage is worth less than it was in 1950 in real dollars, and that’s not good for business, it’s not good for the economy and it’s bad for employees.” ...
Joint-employer rulings
The National Labor Relations Board’s stand on franchisors being considered “joint employers” with franchisees is an issue not likely to be challenged by Clinton. Democrats opposed legislation that would have struck down the ruling, which some industry groups say will allow franchisors to be held liable for the employment practices of their franchisees.
Clinton is also stongly pro-union. “I’ve always believed that when unions are strong, families are strong, and America is strong,” she said in a statement, pledging to protect workers’ collective bargaining rights and to prevent wage theft.
Such issues could send business owners running to the Republican candidate. But Ken Weinstein, owner of the Trolly Car Diner and other restaurants in Philadelphia, said such leanings can be short-sighted.
“A lot of restaurant owners don’t look at the bigger picture,” he said. “They’re looking at their bottom line every month. But if we look ahead — one, two or five years — and treat our employees better, we’ll do better as an industry.” ...
Copyright 2016 Penton