United States Senator Charles Schumer is calling on a federal agency to investigate the sudden shutdown of nearly two-dozen Friendly's restaurants.

Two Broome County restaurants closed without advance notice this week. 21 other corporate-owned locations also ceased operations.

Schumer wants the Department of Labor to look into the actions of the Massachusetts-based company.

In a letter to Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, Schumer said he believes the corporate decision "should have triggered a notification with your agency."

Schumer said the sudden closures and layoffs of employees "seem to be a potential violation of federal workplace law that should be investigated."

The senator said the way the "abrupt closures and sudden firing went down was anything but friendly" to those who had worked at the restaurants.

A public relations firm released this statement on behalf of Friendly's Restaurants:

An especially difficult aspect of the tough but necessary decision to close certain restaurants was the impact it will have on the locations’ wonderful employees, who were informed of the news personally and are being supported with opportunities at other Friendly’s locations, severance payments or other assistance. Friendly’s has fully complied with all federal and state employee notice requirements.

This story was updated to include the statement from Friendly's Restaurants.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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