The Filipino workers claimed they were illegally fired in February after organizing a petition for higher wages and better working conditions. INQUIRER FILE

The National Labor Relations Board brought charges against Honeybee Food Corporation, the North American arm of the Philippines-based Jollibee fast food restaurant for violating federal law.

The U.S. federal labor agency found merit to the unfair labor practices complaint made by 9 workers in Jollibee’s Journal Square, Jersey City, New Jersey location.

The Filipino workers claimed they were illegally fired in February after organizing a petition for higher wages and better working conditions.

Jollibee workers and local community members launched the Justice for Jollibee Workers campaign in response to the alleged illegal termination.

The complaint requires Jollibee to comply with the Journal Square workers’ demands, including reinstatement of the nine illegally terminated workers, back pay for wages lost due to termination, and a letter apologizing to the workers for their termination.

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

Jollibee must also ensure that workers are informed of their rights to organize as enshrined in federal law by various means including posting their rights in the workplace, holding meetings with workers to read them their rights, and emailing these rights to all workers. Jollibee has until September 7th to respond to the NLRB.

Last February, Jollibee-owned Smashburger was ordered to pay damages to 241 employees after being found to have violated New York City’s paid and sick leave laws.

“The NLRB filing a complaint affirms the charges that we put forward. We encourage Jollibee workers to voice your concerns. Don’t let big corporations like Jollibee frighten you. We only want a better workplace for everyone,” said Mary Taino, former Jollibee worker.

Jollibee responded to the workers’ complaints by claiming financial difficulties. However, the Journal Square location reportedly hired 13 employees within a month of firing the 9 workers.

It also has more than 6,000 locations worldwide and plans to open 500 locations in North America within the next decade.