Advocacy
The mission of the FBS government relations team is to preserve and enhance the legislative and regulatory climate for Buffalo Wild Wings® franchisees by providing advocacy services and representation.
Advocacy
Our efforts to shift public policy for the benefit of small-business owners include monitoring legislative and regulatory activity, conducting lobbying and grassroots campaigns, participating in national coalitions, providing legislative summaries and action alerts, and promoting positive relations between franchisees and government officials.
FBS is also a member of the Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA). Founded in 2007, the CFA is committed to providing vital support and assistance to the franchisee community at large.
Legislative Updates and Action Alerts are sent to the FBS membership when important legislative measures occur within the federal government on issues that could impact your business.
OSHA ETS Update – What Should Franchisees Be Doing Now?
CLICK HERE to view the recorded FBS webinar with Hagood Tighe and Andria Ryan of Fisher Phillips. CLICK HERE to view the PowerPoint presentation.
What Franchisees need to know about President Biden’s planned workplace vaccine mandates
CLICK HERE to view the recorded webinar from the Coalition of Franchisee Associations — Hagood Tighe, Andria Ryan, and Patrick Dennison
Oppose the “Protecting the Right to Organize” Act!
In early March, 2021 the “Protecting the Right To Organize (PRO) Act” passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 225-206, with five republicans voting in favor and only one democrat—Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28)—opposing the legislation.
Among other anti-business provisions, the PRO Act would:
- Ban state right-to-work laws.
- Repeal a workers’ free choice in union elections.
- Increase damages for NLRA violations.
- Bar employer standing in union election cases.
- Codify the joint-employer standard that allows for indirect and potential control.
- Reinstate the “Ambush” or “Quickie” Election Rule which requires pre- and post-union election hearings within 8 and 14 days, respectively; and
- Codify the “Persuader” Rule, which requires employers to disclose privileged discussions on union-related matters to the Department of Labor.
Quite simply, this bill represents an unprecedented effort on behalf of democratic leadership to appease unions.
Because the PRO Act (along with many other pro-union proposals) is not likely to pass the Senate while a filibuster is in place, several Democrats and President Biden are considering amending or even eliminating the 60-vote threshold for passage. If the filibuster is removed, FBS members should prepare for the PRO Act to be one of MANY anti-business measures to be passed into law.
ACT NOW and tell your senators to vote against the “Protecting the Right to Organize” Act!
Save the Tip Credit!
Over the next several weeks, Congress will be considering its first COVID relief package of the year. Because this package only needs a majority of votes to pass in the senate (rather than the 60-vote threshold), lawmakers are trying to include a variety of provisions which would not otherwise be considered. One such provision centers around the incorporation of the “Raise the Wage Act” which increases the minimum wage to $15/hour and eliminates the tip credit.
As current law allows servers to count tips towards their salaries, tipped servers generally earn between $19- $25 dollars per hour. By more than doubling a servers’ base salary and eliminating the tip credit, customers will not be motivated to offer tips and servers will have no incentive to provide the high-quality service that is associated with the Buffalo Wild Wings brand. In fact, most waitstaff oppose an elimination of the tip credit, as they will most certainly face a decrease in income – contrary to the bill drafters’ intent.
ACT NOW and tell Congress to oppose all efforts to eliminate the tip credit!