Jollibee workers protest ‘illegal termination’ in Jersey City, NJ

After filing a National Labor Relations Board complaint, a group of Jollibee workers and community members tried to deliver a letter to management to demand reinstatement and backpay. CONTRIBUTED

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey – Claiming illegal termination, former Jollibee workers protested at the popular fast food restaurant in Journal Square in Jersey City on July 6.

The protest occurred on National Fried Chicken Day, one of the busiest days of the year for Jollibee workers.

Before police removed them in front of the outlet, protesters tried to deliver a letter to management, demanding reinstatement, backpay and a public apology from Jollibee Food Corporation.

A week before, the workers filed a formal complaint against Jollibee to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), claiming unfair labor practices, namely the Feb. 20 termination of nine employees who petitioned management for higher wages and better working conditions. The workers claimed retaliation.

“We do our jobs right and we received this– getting laid off because we want a better workplace, holiday pay, and a $3 wage increase to support ourselves and our family,” former Jollibee worker Keyser Garganera, stated in a release.

The Philippines-based fast food chain restaurant has opened hundreds of outlets in North America, adding to the over 6,300 stores across the globe. The chain made $31 million in profit  in the US in 2022.

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Community groups including Pilipinos Organizing for Worker Empowerment and Rights (POWER) are supporting the terminated workers.

The action is part of the #Justice4JollibeeWorkers campaign, with supporters leafleting Jollibee locations in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to spread awareness about what happened to the workers at Journal Square.