Food

King Faces Revolt Over Burger Selling Hours

Burger King Has Been Sued By Fhanchise Holders Over Requirements For Longer Hours

Lawsuit Claims Financial Hardship, Employee Risk Of Crime

MIAMI (CBS4) ― Miami's hometown burger franchise wants it's restaurants to open early and close late – really late – but they're being sued by three franchise holders who say the King should dictate when they open and close.

The franchisees operate a total of 57 restaurants around Florida, and their lawsuit claims they shouldn't have to
comply with a Burger King Corp. mandate to keep restaurants open
starting at 6 a.m. most days and until 2 a.m. on others, a requirement initiated in May.

Burger King took the action in response to decisions by other chains, including top burger seller McDonalds to remain open well into the night, and in many locations round the clock.

A previous requirement started in 2007 had kept the restaurants open until at least midnight. The franchisees, however, say that for nearly 20 years their contracts had stated only that they had to be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and that the new hours pose a
financial and security hardship.

Burger King said in a statement it believes it has the right
under its franchise agreement to set the required hours of
operation and that the vast majority of its franchised restaurants
have complied. The nation's No. 2 hamburger chain said it has not
formally been served with the lawsuit and could not comment
further.

The franchise holders say staying open longer costs them money and puts employees at greater risk of being robbed.

The lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court asks that Burger King not require the later hours but instead make the hours
a suggestion or recommendation.

According to Burger King, 90 percent of its some 11,400
restaurants worldwide are owned by franchisees.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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