Should I team up with other franchisees to lobby our franchisor?

I’ve just started as a franchisee and have been approached by other franchisees in the same chain to get involved in networking/lobbying our franchisor. I don’t feel I have much time for this, but I also want to protect my interests. Are these groups ever worthwhile?

If there is a need for franchisees to form an independent body or lobby-group external of the franchisor in order to “corral” a movement against that franchisor, then I would suggest there has been a significant breakdown in communications between the franchisor and their franchisees.