Jovel's fight against Burger King

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Jovel's fight against Burger King

DanChurchAid's local partner in Honduras, ASJ, is short for Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa. That means the Association for a more Just Society. They have helped Jovel file a lawsuit against Burger King.

15.07.2011 by Maria Nitzsch Hastrup Intern, DanChurchAid Central America

Jovel was fired from Burger King, because he attempted to organize a union. Jovel filed a lawsuit with the help of ASJ and won.

One of the stories on ASJ’s website, revistazo.com, is the story about Jovel, a single father who fought the international food chain, Burger King.

Every morning Jovel got up early to go to work at Burger King, and when he left work in the afternoon, his working day had not yet ended, because after that he would sell food on the street in is neighbourhood.As a single father the economical burden is very big.

In August 2006, Burger King fired Jovel for wanting to organise himself in a union and fight for better working conditions.

Working for a fair society

Jovel decided to take legal action against Burger King, and he was helped by ASJ. This resulted in four and a half years of legal action.

”But winning is not the most important thing”, says Jovel, ”fighting is the most important thing”. In December 2010, the case ended and Jovel won. He received 150,266 lempiras (almost 7,700 USD) from Burger King.