(NEW YORK CITY) - A Franchisee operating Taco Bell and Dunkin’ locations in New York City will pay $1.5 million in restitution to more than 760 Workers under a settlement reached with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) for violations of the City’s Fair Workweek Law.

On a livestream filmed inside City Hall while lunching on Crunchwrap Supremes, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine said the Franchisee Salz Management LLC violated the rights of Workers across 24 Dunkin’ and Taco Bell locations in Manhattan and Queens by failing to provide Workers with schedules 14 days in advance and failing obtain consent for schedule changes.  

“The Workers didn't have predictable schedules,” Levine said. “They were forced to close the store, then open it the next day without compensation. That's why we're getting money back in their pockets.” 

As part of a second Fair Workweek settlement reached by DCWP that was announced by the duo, more than 60 Workers at two Manhattan locations of the Fashion Retailer Theory LLC will receive more than $277,00.

The Franchisee and Fashion Retailer will also pay $176,000 in civil penalties directly to the City for legal violations. 

Individual payments for some Workers covered by the settlements, Mamdani said, will be over $10,000. 

“Too often, there are Workers who are either not informed of these protections, or it is made clear to them that were they to use these protections, they would face retaliation,” the Mayor said. “And that is illegal under the law here in New York City. And we don't just pass laws and sign them. We also enforce them.” 

Since Mamdani took office at the beginning of the year, the DCWP has secured more than $8.5 million in restitution for workers in New York City, including $5 million for more than 49,000 wrongfully-deactivated Delivery Workers and $500,000 for late payments to 350 Freelancers. 

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: Fast food, retail workers to receive $1.8 million in from settlements - The Chief