Yet Another Case of Voter Intimidation

[Turtle]

Ohio McDonald's gives voting advice in paychecks

"If the right people are elected we will be able to continue with raises and benefits at or above our present levels. If others are elected we will not," said the paycheck envelope insert.

The handbill with a simple McDonald's logo at the top recommended votes for John Kasich for governor, Rob Portman for U.S. Senate, and Jim Renacci for Ohio's 16th congressional district. A Renacci campaign flier was also included. Oh, yeah, all those candidates happen to be Republicans.

The insert came from Paul Siegfried, the owner of the Canton, OH franchise of McDonald's restaurants. Siegfried contributed $500 to the John Kasich campaign in September.

Under Ohio election law it is illegal for an employer to print "handbills containing any threat, notice, or information that if any particular candidate is elected or defeated, work in the establishment will cease in whole or in part, or other threats expressed or implied, intended to influence the political opinions or votes of...its employees."

The well has been poisoned and now it's a question of whether Siegfried's employees will really feel comfortable voting for a Democrat this November if they now feel their employer may cut their wages or benefits if the results of the elections do not suit him.

It will be funny to read from people as they try to defend this, as their justifications will be very predictable. They will use the equally illegal actions of others to justify it, or they'll bring up something else entirely as a deflection.

 

[Dreamer]

Even tho I'm a Republican, and Kasich supporter..and it pains me to say it... lol.. I agree with ya Ken. Not cool. Even tho it may be true, there's a line crossed I believe. There's a big difference in personally endorsing a candidate and not so subtly saying "you better vote republican"

The truth of the statement has no bearing.

Dale

 

[chefdennis]

My dad was a union guy for most of his working life, holding positions from stewart to BA to elected office. One of his biggest complaints was that that union forced their opinions on who to vote for and used his dues to support people he wouldn't. This guy while not taking money from his employees is definitely trying to "steer" his employee to vote the way he feels they should....BS.....and he should be fined for it!!

 

[Turtle]

It's not like stuff like this doesn't happen in businesses large and small all across America. It does .Some of it's real, some is just opinion. But sheesh, you don't do it in print.

It's almost as dumb as those business who put signs of blatant support for one candidate or party out in front of their business, thereby cutting in half the number of potential customers. One guy in western KY lost a very popular BBQ joint to that kind of stupidity during the last presidential election.

 

[LDB]

Did the flyer say anything else? Did it have any candidate(s) name(s) on it?

"If the right people are elected we will be able to continue with raises and benefits at or above our present levels. If others are elected we will not"

That's about as generic as it gets. It could be said every two years no matter who is the incumbent or the challenger or which party the incumbent belongs to.

 

[RLENT]

Even tho I'm a Republican, and Kasich supporter .. and it pains me to say it... lol.. I agree with ya Ken.

Dale,

Why would it pain you (or anyone for that matter) to agree with someone when they're right ?

 

[Turtle]

Did the flyer say anything else? Did it have any candidate(s) name(s) on it?

Yes, all three candidates, plus in addition to the handbill was an included a campaign flier for Jim Renacci. There was nothing generic about it. It was very specific.

 

[Turtle]

Dale,

Why would it pain you (or anyone for that matter) to agree with someone when they're right ?

Too funny. When I read that, I thought it pained him to say that he was a Kasich supporter.

 

[layoutshooter]

Any group, union, company, etc, that holds power over others, should NOT be doing this sort of thing. No matter what their politics. It is very bad for the country.

 

[Dreamer]

Dale,

Why would it pain you (or anyone for that matter) to agree with someone when they're right ?

Tongue in cheek.... bein a smart alec... couldn't you see me smiling as I wrote it?

Dale

 

[layoutshooter]

I can honestly say that the ONLY times I have encountered work place intimidation like this was when ever I was working in a union shop. Never seen this when I was in the military/government or in retail.

 

[letzrockexpress]

Any group, union, company, etc, that holds power over others, should NOT be doing this sort of thing. No matter what their politics. It is very bad for the country.

You may be right but if McDonald's has that kind of power over you you've got bigger problems than who to vote for...

 

[layoutshooter]

You may be right but if McDonald's has that kind of power over you you've got bigger problems than who to vote for...

McDonald's has no power of me, I don't work there. They would have power over those who work there. SOME may NEED that job. Others are young and can be made to feel pushed more than a more experienced person would be. No matter what, this type of thing should NOT be taking place. BOTH parties do it. BOTH are wrong.

 

[letzrockexpress]

McDonald's has no power of me, I don't work there. They would have power over those who work there. SOME may NEED that job. Others are young and can be made to feel pushed more than a more experienced person would be. No matter what, this type of thing should NOT be taking place. BOTH parties do it. BOTH are wrong.

i didn't mean "you" personally, I meant "you" as an individual who is working there..

 

[layoutshooter]

i didn't mean "you" personally, I meant "you" as an individual who is working there..

I knew that. I did not think you did. I just stated that I cannot be forced by McDonald's, if I worked there or not. I did not say it very clear, sorry.

 

[LDB]

Ultimately nobody knows how any of those specific McDonald's employees vote nor anyone else unless the individual chooses to say how they vote. It could be argued till the cows come home and remain unresolved. I'm not suggesting an employer should be able to tell people how to vote as a condition of employment. Then again, if Joe, Bob and Mary work for company G and they talk among themselves at work saying if A wins this will probably happen and if B wins that will probably happen there's nothing wrong with that and most people at least have no problem with that. There should be the same freedom for anyone else in company G up to and including the owner to say if A wins this will probably happen and if B wins that will probably happen.

 

[cheri1122]

No, Leo, it's not ok. When someone in a position of authority [employer] makes reference to raises, benefits, and other job conditions while 'suggesting' how employees vote, that constitutes coercion, which is against the law.
As was mentioned, many of Mickey D's workers are pretty young, and more susceptible to intimidation, and the manager's actions are therefor unethical, too.

 

[layoutshooter]

Unions do this ALL the time and are JUST as wrong. NO ONE in ANY kind of position of authority should EVER be involved in this sort of intimidation. I am strong enough not to fall for this sort of thing, but many are not. THAT is what these kinds of "thugs" are counting on. As stated before, BOTH parties do it, BOTH parties are WRONG. Not that they care. It is ONLY about their power for them.

 

[LDB]

If the employer who never really communicates with his employees out of the blue says you should vote A, B, E, G and K that's wrong. If the employer regularly converses with workers about weather, religion, politics, sports, fashion, movies and various sundry topics and in the course of one of the conversations says I think if A, B, E, G and K win then Y and Z are the most likely outcomes there's nothing wrong with that if it just flows in one of many many conversations. It's no different than the same conversation between any two individuals whether they work for the same company, different companies or don't work.

 

[dieseldiva]

If the employer who never really communicates with his employees out of the blue says you should vote A, B, E, G and K that's wrong. If the employer regularly converses with workers about weather, religion, politics, sports, fashion, movies and various sundry topics and in the course of one of the conversations says I think if A, B, E, G and K win then Y and Z are the most likely outcomes there's nothing wrong with that if it just flows in one of many many conversations. It's no different than the same conversation between any two individuals whether they work for the same company, different companies or don't work.

I disagree, Leo. The employer must recognize his position of "power" and refrain from any of the above. He needs to protect his employees from his opinion and cover his own butt in case someone decides to make an issue out of it.