Chipotle At Odds with Immigration Activists

Armando Trull
March 24, 2011

Immigration and worker activists are targeting area Chipotle stores after the restaurant chain abruptly fired 40 workers suspected of being undocumented.

The protesters believe the workers' rights were violated. A few dozen people chanted they weren’t done fighting with Chipotle, but if the protest was small, the issue is huge.

How should a company deal with employees it believes are undocumented?

The workers say Chipotle showed them the door with no notice or explanation. They claim they're owed vacation pay and two weeks severance.

Herlinda Mendoza spoke through an interpreter, quoting the company's slogan: "Where is that integrity of theirs?"

D.C. Council Member Michael Brown says Chipotle can fire workers, but there are standards.

"Once you have hired them then you have an obligation to pay them in full," Brown says.

William Buchanan has little sympathy for the fired workers saying they’re taking jobs from Americans.

"The unemployment rate among blacks in Ward 8 is 50 percent. Now where are these people going to get jobs if not in places like this?" he asks.

Chipotle says it has paid employees what they are owed and is willing to discuss any worker's claims.

http://oneoldvet.com/

http://wamu.org