Wausau Man Claims He Was Fired From Fast-Food Restaurant For Joining Strike

A Wausau fast food worker has filed a claim with the National Labor Relations Board after he says he was fired for participating in last month’s strike to raise the minimum wage.

The claim was filed by Jessy West, a 32-year-old man who worked for Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken of Wausau. West said that after two years, he was working part-time and making a near-minimum wage rate of $7.45 an hour.

“I’ve always had to borrow money from people,” said West. “I couldn’t pay my bills on time. I’ve always had to resort to government help.”

West said he’s being evicted, had to sell his car, and can’t afford presents for his eight-year-old daughter.

On May 15, he was the only one at Lee’s to participate in a national fast food workers strike.

“A strike notice was given to the manager, and he came back and he threatened me, and said, ‘If you leave, you’re pretty much not going to have a job here anymore.’ Those were his exact words,” said West.

Jennifer Epps-Addison, executive director of the organizing group Wisconsin Jobs Now, said he was the only striker in the state to be fired.

“Out of all of the workers who went on strike on May 15, Jessy is the only one who’s been terminated,” said Epps-Addison. “So his employer is the only one who has chosen not to follow federal labor law in this state.”

Since being fired, West said he’s gotten a new, full-time job at more than $10 dollars an hour. He said he also wants to go back to work at Lee’s, to supplement his income.

“I would love my job back,” he said. “I loved that job. I loved being around those people. The owner was great. She was a great woman, and she helped me out, and I’ve always wanted to do anything I can for her.”

Editor’s Note: The owner of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, Cynthia Ecklund, refused to comment for this story on the advice of her attorney.