WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Retail Federation (NRF) issued the following statement today from Senior Vice President Bill Thorne on the planned labor action at restaurant and retail locations:
“Today’s effort by a number of union front groups is yet more theater orchestrated by organized labor, for organized labor. The law is clear: if employees want to unionize, they can. But they are not, so unions are paying high-priced public relations firms and work centers to conduct disruptive labor activities, which would be otherwise prohibited if organized by unions themselves.
“Retail and restaurant jobs are good jobs, held by millions of working men and women, who are proud of what they do for their customers and the communities they serve across America. The planned walkout is the result of a multi-year effort by big labor to diminish and disparage these hard-working Americans by attacking the companies they work for.
“It is not in the best interest of any business to spend money to recruit, train and then penalize employees. Retail and restaurant companies pay competitive wages and many offer additional benefits. Likewise, a large number of managers in these same companies started as part time or hourly employees themselves.
“Today’s publicity stunt is just further proof that the labor movement is not only facing depleted membership rolls, they have abdicated their role in an honest and rational discussion about the American workforce.”
As the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF represents retailers of all types and sizes, including chain restaurants and industry partners, from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad. Retailers operate more than 3.6 million U.S. establishments that support one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. www.nrf.com