7-ELEVEN: Did NCASEF Initiate the 7-11 Franchisee Protest in Vegas?
General Counsel of the National 7-Eleven Franchisee Association claims its Executive Officers did not vote for or endorse a franchisee protest at the company convention in Las Vegas, nor did they warn CEO Joe DePinto or 7-11 execs that they intended to protest. An anonymous franchisee insider claims the association’s Executive Officers were an integral part of the protest plans, that they notified a company executive via conference call and delivered the ultimatum to DePinto in person.
Why the conflicting accounts? Who is telling the truth?
It’s Valentine’s Day, but the 7-Eleven franchisees involved with the Las Vegas protests of alleged franchisor discrimination and illegal store seizures ain’t feeling the love from their National Association.
February 12th: UnhappyFranchisee.Com received and published a statement from a franchisee insider that stated “The National Franchisee board decided to hold a protest rally at 7-Eleven Experience in Las Vegas Nevada on February 11-2015. The National Franchisee Board also brought this information to the attention of 7-Eleven executive team and CEO Joe DePinto…”
Read the February 12 post here: 7-ELEVEN Franchise Experience Protest Update and Photos [UPDATED]
February 14th: UnhappyFranchisee.Com received a letter from Eric H. Karp, General Counsel for the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF), stating that the message we received and posted contained a “number of grossly inaccurate statements about the National Coalition.”
Karp’s letter stated: “Neither the Executive Officers nor the Board of the National Coalition decided to hold a protest rally at the recent 7-Eleven Experience in Las Vegas Nevada. Neither the Executive Officers nor the Board of the National Coalition decided or voted to hold, participate in or endorse any such protest rally.
“Neither the Executive Officers nor the Board of the National Coalition informed Joe DePinto or any other 7-Eleven executive that the National Coalition had voted to hold, participate in or endorse any protest rally.”
Mr. Karp demanded that we retract the “gross misstatements” or UnhappyFranchisee.com will be held responsible (yikes!).
Read Mr. Karp’s Valentine’s Day letter here: 7-ELEVEN: NCASEF Letter re Franchisee Protest in Vegas
February 14th: After posting Mr. Karp’s letter, we received a follow-up statement from the anonymous 7-Eleven franchisee insider. He seems to be claiming that NCASEF Executive Officers were integrally involved with the formation of the planned protest, and had warned a 7-Eleven executive and CEO DePinto of the possible protest both by phone and in-person.
7-Eleven Franchisee Insider Claims NCASEF Officers Were Integral in Protest Plans
UnhappyFranchisee.Com received the following statement from “7-Eleven Franchisee Insider,” who stated “I was given these detailed accounts by Presidents of the FOA’s and are true facts of Jan -20-2015 as stated. I stand behind these statements that I was given.”
The statement reads:
Subject: accounts of Executive officers to hold protest
Executive Officers of 7-Eleven National on 20 January in Pechanga held a meeting. National 7-Eleven officers present were, Joe Galea, Chairman, Jivtesh Gill, Executive Vice Chairman, Serge Haitayan, Vice Chairman, Ken Patel representing Hashim Syed, Vice Chairman, Jas Dhillion, Vice Chairman, Maninder Walia, Treasurer.
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Executive officers present decided after much debate and discussion that Joe DePinto CEO 7-Eleven has failed to solve any of their five issues that they had given to him and all they were receiving “was lip service”. Executive Officers decided to hold a protest at the 7-Eleven Experience 2015 at the MGM Grand. All Executive board members were to take part in the protest.
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The Executive Officers decision to hold a protest was conveyed to 7-Eleven in a conference call.
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President of the Chicago FOA Ken Patel set up a conference call for 1:30pm on January 20th, 2015 between Jeff Schenck 7-Eleven Senior Vice President of Franchising and the Executive officers all present except Hashim Syed who was visiting Pakistan.
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The call which took place at 1:30pm PST January 20th 2015 was between 7-Eleven Inc and National Executive Officers:
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Ken Patel put the call on speaker phone for all Executive Officers to listen and speak. Jeff Schenck was told by by Executive Officers that the CEO Joe DePinto has failed to respond to any of the points that were given to him by the 7-Eleven National Franchisee Association. It has been a “lip service” from 7-Eleven and the CEO to address our issues which remain standing. We will hold a protest at 7-Eleven Experience is the message that was given to Jeff Schenck.
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After the call it was decided by 7-Eleven for the National Executive officers to hold a meeting with the CEO of 7-Eleven on Feb-04-2015 in Dallas TX.
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Before the meeting the Executive officers met in Dallas and discussed that if the CEO works and accepts any two issues out of the original five of their issues they would call off the protest.
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Present at the Dallas meeting was Joe Galea, Chairman, Jivtesh Gill, Executive Vice Chairman, Serge Haitayan, Vice Chairman, Hashim Syed, Vice Chairman, Jas Dhillion, Vice Chairman, Maninder Walia, Treasurer.
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During the meeting with the CEO in Dallas on Feb-04-2015 much was discussed and nothing was resolved (except on the low volume store issue the CEO said he will at the 7-Eleven Experience disclose the policy).
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The Executive team left Dallas empty handed and their decision to go on with their original plans.
Why Isn’t the NCASEF Supporting Franchisee Protesters?
February 15, 2015: UnhappyFranchisee.Com responded to Mr. Karp’s letter and asked for substantiation of his claims:
7-ELEVEN: Unhappy Franchisee Response Letter to NCASEF General Counsel
UnhappyFranchisee.com has several questions for Mr. Karp and the NCASEF leadership.
We ask him to explain the conflicting accounts between his version and the much-more detailed version provided by Franchisee Insider.
We also wonder, even if the NCASEF was not the driving force behind the Las Vegas protest – or if its officers had a change of heart at the last minute – why not express support for its members who chose to exercise their right to speak out about the issues I assume NCASEF itself has raised with Mr. DePinto? Their website states “NCASEF’s goal to represent the interests of franchisees.” Aren’t those interests best served when a national franchisee association supports its franchisees – even if it disagrees with their tactics?
Third, on a personal note, we wonder why would the General Counsel of the NCASEF send a threatening letter to a website that clearly is sympathetic to the challenges facing its franchisees, one that has called for fair treatment of 7-Eleven franchise owners on multiple occasions?
The heavy-handed, unnecessary threat in Karp’s letter (“We demand that www.unhappyfranchisee.com retract that portion of the article quoted above, failing which we will hold you and unhappyfranchisee.com responsible for any damages caused by these gross misstatements.”) is the kind of thing we would expect from an association representing a particularly vindictive franchisor, not something we would expect from fellow advocates for franchisees.
We hope that Mr. Karp and the NCASEF leadership will address these questions fully and directly.
We invite all involved to share their opinions and insights into these important issues with a comment below.
ALSO READ:
Has 7-ELEVEN Declared War on its Franchisees? (Index of 7-Eleven Posts)
7-ELEVEN Franchise Experience Protest Update and Photos [UPDATED]
7-ELEVEN Franchise Owners Protest 2015 “7-Eleven Experience” [PHOTOS]
7-ELEVEN Covering Up Illegal Plot to Purge Indian Franchisees, says Attorney
7-Eleven Franchise, CEO Joe DePinto Under Fire by Angry Franchisees
7-ELEVEN Franchise Lawsuit Alleges Exploitation of 7-11 Franchise Owners
FRANCHISE DISCUSSIONS by Company
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE 7-ELEVEN FRANCHISE? IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR 7-ELEVEN FRANCHISEES TO PROTEST AT THE CONVENTION? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
TAGS: NCASEF, National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees, Eric Karp, 7-Eleven, 7-Eleven franchise protest, 7-Eleven Experience 2015, 7-Eleven franchise discrimination, 7-Eleven litigation, 7-Eleven protests, 7-Eleven franchisee dispute, 7-Eleven franchise opportunity, 7-Eleven franchise complaints, 7-Eleven franchisees, 7-Eleven unhappy franchisee, Joe DePinto, Joseph DePinto,
Just reminded me of seeing Julius Caesar drama and it ended something like what just took place in Dallas and MGM. Joe must be licking his wounds as National played their part very well. Except the Attorney of National just either flat out lied or did he not read the minutes of the meeting or the National pays well to write letters on a holiday.
I guess billing dollars rule and we all need to make a house payment. Thanks UNHAPPY for keeping us safe.
You are welcome, Jim John.
However, I am completely confused as to what is going on here, why the NCASEF is so concerned about distancing itself from the protesters (whom I assume it represents) and why a franchisee advocacy association would think it needs to threaten a franchisee advocate website in order to get its version of events posted.
Eric Karp is a highly respected franchisee attorney who has represented numerous franchisee groups. He should know by now that I will gladly publish any rebuttal, clarification, correction or statement from any person or group discussed here… that goes for franchisee associations, franchisees or franchisors. Threats are neither necessary nor effective.
I will chalk it up to the fact that he had to spend Valentine’s Day drafting a letter to an impudent and irreverent franchisee blog. At least HE is able to bill for it ;)
Eran Krap said no on from NCASFE ever did anything in Pachanga and then to read minute by minute what was taking place inside described a diffrent story. I beleive not in Eran Krap and I thank the people who reported the true story and events. How can we belive the NCASFE and leaders when they even forget what they were doing. Eran protect your good name and resign as they made a total ass out of you and your law company.
Not sure what is happening ,
Why is Eric Harp saying that the National is not involved in the protests. One of the Executive Officers of NCASEF is clearly participating in the protests. Is it not or am I mistaken, not sure The photographs speaks a thousand words. How can anyone deny it ?
Why is NCASEF silent ? They should speak out. Are they not the representative body of the franchisees?
This has been the problem all along.
They convince you they’re with you and deny it to the corp.
Nothing is going to change, believe that!
Are you saying that NCASEF is having it’s own agendas. This is a sad day for the franchisee community.
They always have. Without the FZs “all” banding together
it will never change. And sadly that will never happen.
Come on Jerry~let’s be real! I totally agree with you that we (the FZ) need to ban together, unit, and become one voice. However, have you not seen changes in the last couple of yrs all of which are in support of the franchisees. I have seen so many positive changes. Changes take time. Give it time. But let’s be real. We the franchisees do vote in who will represent us (BOD). And if change is needed then make it happen. But change does take work and does take time
We need to stay positive and Expect change when change is needed. I believe we are on the right path for a better future. I hope u feel that way also. :)
Until the NC has a paid professional, permanent non franchisee executive director it will not change. The National Chairman whether it be Joe or Bruce or Dennis or Tariq will always be ‘influenced ‘ by SEI execs through threats intimidation or bribery.
A non franchisee paid executive responsible to the e-board and the BoD…cannot be bought off. The NC needs to enter the age of professional management.
With all my being Carrie, I am ecstatic that you see change
in your area. As for myself the only changes have been in aa
favor of SEI. As one of my stores literally falls apart in front of
my eyes and my guests.
Good luck to you and yours, I must go put bailing wire around
my vault shelves again. lol
Serious allegations have been made regarding board members receiving special treatment in exchange for dismantling the protest:
http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/7-eleven-ncasef-board-members-sold-7-11-franchisees/
Hasn’t been verified but we’ve asked each board member to respond.
What do you all think?
If it’s true or not, I have no idea. I can tell you though it was
my first thought, honestly.
that protest was a joke……please ..There was more fz in trade show getting free stuff than at protest…besides here in ny wawa is kicking 7-11 ass….we need to look at foa as joke and say ha ha foa is in joe pocket….I say FZ protest by selling no coffee Tuesdays and no slurpee Friday and maybe read your contract…..stop complaining and say thank you to joe for letting you have store
The only reason this protest might have been joke is because NCASEF sold out the franchisees. They are the bad joke and so are FZ’s if we trust them to do anything more then protect their own asses. We can thank JAS DHILLON and his merry band of idiots for allegedly tanking us. Sell outs.