Jeremy Corbyn supports McDonald's strike

01 September 2017 by
Jeremy Corbyn supports McDonald's strike

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has thrown his support behind the McDonald's workers who are set to become the first ever staff in the firm's UK arm to strike.

Staff at two sites in Cambridge and Crayford have voted to strike over working conditions and the use of zero hours contracts.

The action is due to take place on 4 September. The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) said staff were demanding a wage of at least £10 an hour and more secure working conditions, as well as the recognition of the right to form a trade union as employees of the company.

Prior to the strike action, BFAWU members and other trade unions and a number of fast food workers from across the country will protest outside McDonald's headquarters in East Finchley on Saturday, 2 September.

Commenting on the planned strike action, a statement from the opposition leader said: "Our party offers support and solidarity to the brave McDonald's workers in the BFAWU bakers' union, who are making history today. They are standing up for workers' rights by leading the first ever strike at McDonald's in the UK.

"Their demands - an end to zero hours contracts by the end of the year, union recognition and a £10 per hour minimum wage - are just and should be met.

"Their actions remind us that when people come together, organise and campaign for a better world, they can change history. Now it the time for all fast food workers, the young, the low-paid and the unorganised to join trade unions and organise in their workplaces to improve their lives.

"Labour will stand with them as we build country that works for the many not the few."

McDonald's announced in April that workers would be offered the choice of flexible or fixed contracts with minimum guaranteed hours. The move was trialled in 23 restaurants and will be extended to 50 more sites before being rolled out nationally.

McDonald's, which employs around 85,000 staff in the UK, also promised that by May workers paid by the hour will have received an average hourly pay increase of 17% over the past two years.

Following the vote for strike action, a spokesman for McDonald's said: "We can confirm that, following a ballot process, the BFAWU have indicated that a small number of our employees, representing less than 0.01% of our workforce, are intending to strike in two of our restaurants.

"As per the terms of the ballot, the dispute is solely related to our internal grievance procedures. We are proud of our people at McDonald's. They are at the heart of all we do and we work hard to ensure that our teams are treated fairly. Our internal processes underpin that commitment."

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