Judge orders Chipotle to rehire worker fired after tweets

An administrative judge has ordered Chipotle to rehire a Philadelphia-area employee who was fired after criticizing the company on Twitter last year.

Philly.com reports the judge on Monday found that Chipotle’s social media policy violated the National Labor Relations Act. Chipotle was ordered to pay back wages to James Kennedy and post notices telling employees some of its past policies violated labor laws.

Kennedy had tweeted about the company’s “cheap” labor policies. He was fired two weeks later after circulating a petition asking managers to allow workers to take their breaks.

The 38-year-old Upper Darby man has since found a job with American Airlines. He says he doesn’t want his job back but is willing to accept his back pay in food vouchers.

Colorado-based Chipotle didn’t immediately comment Wednesday.