John McDonnell demands meeting with McDonald's boss over strike
3 min read
John McDonnell has demanded a meeting with McDonald’s bosses as staff at the burger giant walk out in a bitter pay dispute.
The Shadow Chancellor said it was “not too late to address the problems” raised by striking workers.
Angry employees in Manchester, Watford, Crayford and Cambridge are calling for a £10 an hour minimum wage and more control over their hours.
The zero-hours staff - who have launched what they are branding a “McStrike” - want the choice of fixed hours contracts, an end to unequal pay for young workers and union recognition.
But concerns have been raised that the global firm has taken too hard a line in its approach to workers who have signed up to the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union.
In a letter to McDonald’s CEO Stephen Easterbrook, Mr McDonnell said the demands of the workers were both “fair and reasonable”.
He said the union had informed him of “allegations that McDonalds is pursuing what could be described as union-busting policies and possibly acting illegally in its treatment of workers joining the union”.
“I am writing to request that you investigate these claims seriously in order to ensure that any anti-union practices are not being undertaken,” Mr McDonnell wrote.
“I would like to take this opportunity to say that it is not too late to address the problems your workers have raised and to secure a reputation for your company as a good employer.
“I am writing to invite you to meet with me to discuss these matters further.”
And he added: “You should be aware that under a Labour government people will be respected, will have a wage they can live on, and will be able to lead a life worth living.”
Just 11 people are officially involved in the strike across branches in the four towns. McDonald’s said only one person walked out this morning while a maximum of five others could do so this afternoon.
A spokesperson told the Guardian: “The vast majority of our employees - across all stores, franchised and company-owned - received the annual pay rise in January, and the increase... started back in 2015.
“Union recognition did not feature on the ballot paper, there is no suggestion this strike is calling for McDonald’s to recognise the union.
“We offered all 120,000 employees the chance to move to fixed hours contracts, more than 80% of them opted to stay on their existing contracts.”
Staff at the burger chain won a major victory in January when they were granted their biggest pay rise in 10 years - although it was banded by position, region and age.
McDonald’s has recorded an impressive 12 years of quarterly growth in the UK.
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