{~_~} Раиса
2014-04-26 03:01:04 UTC
"A moratorium" does not mean any of these foreign workers are going to
be let go. Until Canadians start talking with action, McDonalds will
continue as it's doing.
Boycott McDonald's - until the foreign workers are sent home and
Canadians are working again in Canadian restaurants.
_______________________________________________
CBC News Posted: Apr 24, 2014
McDonald's Canada CEO calls foreign worker controversy 'bullshit'
In a recording of a conference call to franchisees, CEO John Betts rails
against CBC stories
The CEO of McDonald's Canada has branded recent criticism of its use of
temporary foreign workers "bullshit" in a conference call to franchisees
that was given to the CBC.
His remarks from earlier this week came before federal Employment
Minister Jason Kenney announced an immediate moratorium on the food
services sector’s access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program late on
Thursday, as a result of CBC Go Public's inquiries.
===>> Listen to McDonald's CEO conference call
Three McDonald's franchises in Victoria and a pizza restaurant in
Weyburn, Sask., are at the centre of program abuse allegations involving
Canadian employees alleging foreign workers were given priority work
status or more hours.
A federal investigation into McDonald’s use of the temporary foreign
worker program was launched recently, after a Go Public story about a
Victoria McDonald’s franchise.
Tuesday's conference call was scheduled to address franchisees' concerns
that McDonald's Canada had decided to put its temporary foreign worker
program on hold, while a third party conducts an audit on its use of the
plan.
McDonald's initiated that independent audit in response to the
government investigation.
In a recording of the call given to the CBC, McDonald's Canada CEO John
Betts discusses recent CBC stories on the company's use of temporary
foreign workers and his resulting meeting with federal Employment
Minister Jason Kenney.
"This has been an attack on our brand. This has been an attack on our
system. This is an attack on our people. It’s bullshit OK! I used those
words when I described my conversation with the minister last week. He
gets it."
John Betts
The CBC has been given a recording of McDonald's Canada CEO John Betts
calling stories about its temporary foreign worker policy 'bullshit'. (CBC)
Betts says he was "incredibly impressed" with the minister, adding, "He
really knows his stuff. And I’ll say he knows his stuff from a business
person’s perspective."
Responding sarcastically to how his company has been portrayed in the
media, Betts said, "The fact of the matter is we are a big bad company,
corporate, you know, bad company and these poor maligned employees are
who they are."
"Yes, they are disenfranchised. Some of them don’t work for us anymore.
But in the scheme of things, it doesn’t matter."
"This story has been brewing for a lot of years. And you know at the end
of the day we just happen to be the business that got tapped into it and
we weren’t the first. Obviously, RBC was," said Betts, referring to a
previous CBC Go Public story.
"The reality is that we have learned internally that we haven’t done a
very good job in a lot more places than we thought and that’s just us on
the phone talking."
McDonald's Canada responds
In a statement released Thursday, McDonald’s Canada said it acted
“swiftly and forcefully” to investigate allegations some of its
restaurants have misused the foreign workers’ program.
“We do not tolerate any misuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program,
any breach of employment standards or any infractions of any kind
against our employees,” the statement said.
McDonalds also accused CBC News of being unfair and unbalanced in its
reporting of the story, saying the network had “relied on a handful of
disgruntled individuals, mostly ex-employees, to attempt to tarnish the
reputation of one of Canada’s leading employers.”
However, CBC News stands by its stories.
CBC News received information from dozens of current and former
McDonald's Canada employees and managers, who gave us a substantial
amount of information beyond the people who were quoted in our stories.
Much of our reporting relied on documentation including payroll records,
contracts and other internal McDonald's documents supplied to us by
employees or former employees.
CBC News submitted a total of six requests for on-camera interviews with
McDonald's Canada. Before we broadcast the three stories outlining the
workers' allegations, CBC News made several requests for information. In
total, we sent approximately two dozen emails to McDonald's Canada and
its franchisees asking for information.
While the company declined our requests for an on-camera interview,
McDonald's Canada did provide partial information via email.
In one email, sent on April 11, McDonald's Canada senior vice president
of communications and public affairs Richard Ellis told CBC News the
company would not comment publicly until a "comprehensive review" had
been completed.
"If, at the completion of this review, we decide to share our findings
publicly, I will commit to sharing that information with you first
before speaking with any other media. At that time I may also consider
providing more specific context via an on camera interview," Ellis wrote.
"In the meantime, as we undertake this extensive review, I would ask
that you respect our process and refrain from further outreach to
McDonald’s and our franchisees so we can get to the job at hand."
Ellis again responded to CBC News after April 11, when we asked for
information about allegations from a foreign worker who said he and his
co-workers were effectively forced to share an expensive apartment, then
deducted almost half their take-home pay as rent.
Ellis responded by saying the employee was disgruntled after being let
go after two months on the job.
"I suggest the input of an obviously disgruntled former employee is
hardly the type of information you should be using to base your report,"
Ellis said at the time.
This information was accurately reported in CBC's coverage.
Franchisees fear losing staff
During Tuesday's conference call with McDonald's Canada's CEO, one
franchisee in Alberta expressed concern about employees — temporary
foreign workers — who won't be able to get their work permits renewed.
"When that happens, every single foreign worker in Alberta is going to
leave us. They are scared. The restaurants are going to fall apart. This
is how it is on the ground," said the franchisee.
'We are a big, bad company...and these poor maligned employees are
who they are'- McDonald's Canada CEO John Betts, responding
sarcastically to how the company has been portrayed in the media
Another franchisee was worried about money he had just paid to Actyl,
one of the international recruitment agencies McDonald's pays up to
$2,000 for every worker they bring in.
"I paid Actyl Group probably $14,000. So am I out the $14,000 now and
the whole nine yards?" asked the franchisee.
The restaurant chain's vice-president of human resources Len Jillard,
also taking part in the conference call, is heard replying, "Believe me,
we are doing everything we can to get everything back on the rails."
Later on, Betts comments "This is a big one for us and it is critical
because of our brand image and because of your need to make profits and
our systems need to take care of our people."
'Element of truth'
Betts spends much of the conference call railing against the CBC's
coverage of the controversy — but admits there is truth to the stories.
"Here’s the kicker. The kicker is there’s an element of truth in each of
these stories," Betts said.
McDonald's accused of favouring foreign workers
McDonald's Canada has agreed to a third-party investigation of all
locations that use temporary foreign workers. (CBC)
"What we’ve got to do is fix what we have in the restaurants concerning
the temporary foreign workers.
"But what we’ve also learned is that we have other opportunities in the
people area that we also need to take care of. Violations of labour law.
And those are the kind of things that suddenly become compounded because
we have another issue over here, that’s very emotional in Canada."
With regard to the company's decision to halt its Temporary Foreign
Worker Program, Betts told concerned franchisees that, "In dealing with
the government, the smartest move was to pre-empt their move in terms of
suspending us."
"I think the relationship we build with the minister here is a
politically astute one to be taking. Because they're feeling the heat
big time before this story broke and now it's bigger and bigger," he
went on.
"They need to see us as partners in this as a brand that can help them
make some progress on this and at the same time give us an opportunity
to clean ourselves up."
At no point during the recording does the CEO mention hiring Canadians
instead of temporary foreign workers or go over the rules of the federal
Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Moratorium on food services industry
As a result of CBC Go Public's inquiries, federal Employment Minister
Jason Kenney announced late Thursday an immediate moratorium on the food
services sector’s access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Jason Kenney
Employment Minister Jason Kenney has announced a moratorium on the food
service sector's access to temporary foreign workers. (CBC)
"Our Government has been clear: Canadians must have the first chance at
available jobs. We have repeatedly warned employers that the Temporary
Foreign Worker Program must only be used as a last and limited resort
when Canadians are not available," said the minister in a statement.
The minister said that despite an ongoing investigation into serious
allegations of abuse of the program, the suspension of LMOs and the
blacklisting of the employers in question, there remained serious
concerns relating to the use of temporary foreign workers in the food
services sector.
"As a result, I am announcing an immediate moratorium on the Food
Services Sector’s access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
"Accordingly, ESDC [Employment and Skills Development Canada] will not
process any new or pending LMO applications related to the Food Services
Sector. In addition, any unfilled positions tied to a previously
approved LMO will be suspended."
The moratorium will remain in effect until the completion of the
on-going review of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
be let go. Until Canadians start talking with action, McDonalds will
continue as it's doing.
Boycott McDonald's - until the foreign workers are sent home and
Canadians are working again in Canadian restaurants.
_______________________________________________
CBC News Posted: Apr 24, 2014
McDonald's Canada CEO calls foreign worker controversy 'bullshit'
In a recording of a conference call to franchisees, CEO John Betts rails
against CBC stories
The CEO of McDonald's Canada has branded recent criticism of its use of
temporary foreign workers "bullshit" in a conference call to franchisees
that was given to the CBC.
His remarks from earlier this week came before federal Employment
Minister Jason Kenney announced an immediate moratorium on the food
services sector’s access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program late on
Thursday, as a result of CBC Go Public's inquiries.
===>> Listen to McDonald's CEO conference call
Three McDonald's franchises in Victoria and a pizza restaurant in
Weyburn, Sask., are at the centre of program abuse allegations involving
Canadian employees alleging foreign workers were given priority work
status or more hours.
A federal investigation into McDonald’s use of the temporary foreign
worker program was launched recently, after a Go Public story about a
Victoria McDonald’s franchise.
Tuesday's conference call was scheduled to address franchisees' concerns
that McDonald's Canada had decided to put its temporary foreign worker
program on hold, while a third party conducts an audit on its use of the
plan.
McDonald's initiated that independent audit in response to the
government investigation.
In a recording of the call given to the CBC, McDonald's Canada CEO John
Betts discusses recent CBC stories on the company's use of temporary
foreign workers and his resulting meeting with federal Employment
Minister Jason Kenney.
"This has been an attack on our brand. This has been an attack on our
system. This is an attack on our people. It’s bullshit OK! I used those
words when I described my conversation with the minister last week. He
gets it."
John Betts
The CBC has been given a recording of McDonald's Canada CEO John Betts
calling stories about its temporary foreign worker policy 'bullshit'. (CBC)
Betts says he was "incredibly impressed" with the minister, adding, "He
really knows his stuff. And I’ll say he knows his stuff from a business
person’s perspective."
Responding sarcastically to how his company has been portrayed in the
media, Betts said, "The fact of the matter is we are a big bad company,
corporate, you know, bad company and these poor maligned employees are
who they are."
"Yes, they are disenfranchised. Some of them don’t work for us anymore.
But in the scheme of things, it doesn’t matter."
"This story has been brewing for a lot of years. And you know at the end
of the day we just happen to be the business that got tapped into it and
we weren’t the first. Obviously, RBC was," said Betts, referring to a
previous CBC Go Public story.
"The reality is that we have learned internally that we haven’t done a
very good job in a lot more places than we thought and that’s just us on
the phone talking."
McDonald's Canada responds
In a statement released Thursday, McDonald’s Canada said it acted
“swiftly and forcefully” to investigate allegations some of its
restaurants have misused the foreign workers’ program.
“We do not tolerate any misuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program,
any breach of employment standards or any infractions of any kind
against our employees,” the statement said.
McDonalds also accused CBC News of being unfair and unbalanced in its
reporting of the story, saying the network had “relied on a handful of
disgruntled individuals, mostly ex-employees, to attempt to tarnish the
reputation of one of Canada’s leading employers.”
However, CBC News stands by its stories.
CBC News received information from dozens of current and former
McDonald's Canada employees and managers, who gave us a substantial
amount of information beyond the people who were quoted in our stories.
Much of our reporting relied on documentation including payroll records,
contracts and other internal McDonald's documents supplied to us by
employees or former employees.
CBC News submitted a total of six requests for on-camera interviews with
McDonald's Canada. Before we broadcast the three stories outlining the
workers' allegations, CBC News made several requests for information. In
total, we sent approximately two dozen emails to McDonald's Canada and
its franchisees asking for information.
While the company declined our requests for an on-camera interview,
McDonald's Canada did provide partial information via email.
In one email, sent on April 11, McDonald's Canada senior vice president
of communications and public affairs Richard Ellis told CBC News the
company would not comment publicly until a "comprehensive review" had
been completed.
"If, at the completion of this review, we decide to share our findings
publicly, I will commit to sharing that information with you first
before speaking with any other media. At that time I may also consider
providing more specific context via an on camera interview," Ellis wrote.
"In the meantime, as we undertake this extensive review, I would ask
that you respect our process and refrain from further outreach to
McDonald’s and our franchisees so we can get to the job at hand."
Ellis again responded to CBC News after April 11, when we asked for
information about allegations from a foreign worker who said he and his
co-workers were effectively forced to share an expensive apartment, then
deducted almost half their take-home pay as rent.
Ellis responded by saying the employee was disgruntled after being let
go after two months on the job.
"I suggest the input of an obviously disgruntled former employee is
hardly the type of information you should be using to base your report,"
Ellis said at the time.
This information was accurately reported in CBC's coverage.
Franchisees fear losing staff
During Tuesday's conference call with McDonald's Canada's CEO, one
franchisee in Alberta expressed concern about employees — temporary
foreign workers — who won't be able to get their work permits renewed.
"When that happens, every single foreign worker in Alberta is going to
leave us. They are scared. The restaurants are going to fall apart. This
is how it is on the ground," said the franchisee.
'We are a big, bad company...and these poor maligned employees are
who they are'- McDonald's Canada CEO John Betts, responding
sarcastically to how the company has been portrayed in the media
Another franchisee was worried about money he had just paid to Actyl,
one of the international recruitment agencies McDonald's pays up to
$2,000 for every worker they bring in.
"I paid Actyl Group probably $14,000. So am I out the $14,000 now and
the whole nine yards?" asked the franchisee.
The restaurant chain's vice-president of human resources Len Jillard,
also taking part in the conference call, is heard replying, "Believe me,
we are doing everything we can to get everything back on the rails."
Later on, Betts comments "This is a big one for us and it is critical
because of our brand image and because of your need to make profits and
our systems need to take care of our people."
'Element of truth'
Betts spends much of the conference call railing against the CBC's
coverage of the controversy — but admits there is truth to the stories.
"Here’s the kicker. The kicker is there’s an element of truth in each of
these stories," Betts said.
McDonald's accused of favouring foreign workers
McDonald's Canada has agreed to a third-party investigation of all
locations that use temporary foreign workers. (CBC)
"What we’ve got to do is fix what we have in the restaurants concerning
the temporary foreign workers.
"But what we’ve also learned is that we have other opportunities in the
people area that we also need to take care of. Violations of labour law.
And those are the kind of things that suddenly become compounded because
we have another issue over here, that’s very emotional in Canada."
With regard to the company's decision to halt its Temporary Foreign
Worker Program, Betts told concerned franchisees that, "In dealing with
the government, the smartest move was to pre-empt their move in terms of
suspending us."
"I think the relationship we build with the minister here is a
politically astute one to be taking. Because they're feeling the heat
big time before this story broke and now it's bigger and bigger," he
went on.
"They need to see us as partners in this as a brand that can help them
make some progress on this and at the same time give us an opportunity
to clean ourselves up."
At no point during the recording does the CEO mention hiring Canadians
instead of temporary foreign workers or go over the rules of the federal
Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Moratorium on food services industry
As a result of CBC Go Public's inquiries, federal Employment Minister
Jason Kenney announced late Thursday an immediate moratorium on the food
services sector’s access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Jason Kenney
Employment Minister Jason Kenney has announced a moratorium on the food
service sector's access to temporary foreign workers. (CBC)
"Our Government has been clear: Canadians must have the first chance at
available jobs. We have repeatedly warned employers that the Temporary
Foreign Worker Program must only be used as a last and limited resort
when Canadians are not available," said the minister in a statement.
The minister said that despite an ongoing investigation into serious
allegations of abuse of the program, the suspension of LMOs and the
blacklisting of the employers in question, there remained serious
concerns relating to the use of temporary foreign workers in the food
services sector.
"As a result, I am announcing an immediate moratorium on the Food
Services Sector’s access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
"Accordingly, ESDC [Employment and Skills Development Canada] will not
process any new or pending LMO applications related to the Food Services
Sector. In addition, any unfilled positions tied to a previously
approved LMO will be suspended."
The moratorium will remain in effect until the completion of the
on-going review of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.