Workers at two British McDonald’s restaurants are set to make history next week when they are due to become the first ever to go on strike in this country.
Staff at outlets in Crayford in south-east London and Cambridge will walk out amid a row over conditions and the use of zero-hour contracts.
The action, scheduled to take place on September 4, is being co-ordinated by Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), the UK’s biggest food sector trade union, who are demanding a minimum wage of £10-an-hour as well as more secure working hours.
Staff at McDonald’s in Crayford (pictured) in south-east London are set to make history when they become the first of the restaurant’s workers to strike in the UK
Crayford workers will be joined by colleagues from the Newmarket Road McDonald’s in Cambridge (pictured)
The UK National Living Wage is currently at £7.50 for workers aged 25 and over, and £7.05 for those aged 21 to 24.
The striking McDonald’s workers, who voted overwhelmingly to strike, are being backed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Ian Hodson, national president of the BFAWU: ‘We, at the BFAWU, fully support the historic decision by these brave McDonald’s workers to stand up and fight back against McDonald’s – a company that has let them down one too many times.
‘McDonald’s has had countless opportunities to resolve grievances by offering workers a fair wage and acceptable working conditions.
‘Instead, they have chosen to ignore their workers by tightening their purse strings – filling their CEO’s pockets, at the expense of workers here in the UK and across the world.
‘This is a call for change. Our members demand to be listened too – they have a right to get their voice heard.
‘Hopefully, senior figures at McDonald’s will be listening, because this behaviour cannot go on any longer.’
The fast food giant is embroiled in an ongoing row with workers. The dispute revolves around conditions and the use of zero-hour contracts
Unions are demanding a pay rise for the restaurant chain’s 85,000-strong UK work force
The action is linked to a national demonstration in London.
Shen Batmaz, a McDonald’s worker at the Crayford store said: ‘In spite of being a global giant and a household name, the conditions McDonald’s workers are subjected to across the world are simply not up to scratch.
‘This strike in the UK is part of a global movement advocating for fair salaries and decent working conditions. McDonald’s should listen to all its employees around the world, and take immediate action.’
A McDonald’s UK confirmed action was taking place that would involve less than 0.01% of their UK workforce in two of their 1,270 restaurants in this country.
They added the dispute is based on ‘internal grievance procedures’ but did not concern pay or contracts.
And in April they confirmed workers would be offered contracts that guaranteed them a minimum number of hours.
The spokesman said: ‘McDonald’s UK and its franchisees have delivered three pay rises since April 2016, this has increased the average hourly pay rate by 15%.
‘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.’