Here's why McDonald's staff are striking for first time
McDonald's staff are staging the fast food retailer's first ever strike action.
Employees across two outlets in Cambridge and Crayford, Greater London are striking as members of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), to protest the conglomerate's zero-hour contract policy and other "internal grievances".
It is the first time in the company's history that McDonald's workers have taken strike action in the UK.
Strikers at Cambridge McDonalds are proud to be on strike #McStrike #Solidarity @FastfoodRights @IanBFAWU @Ronniebfawu pic.twitter.com/4KXiIm1Yqw
- Unite the Resistance (@resistunite) September 4, 2017
A spokesperson for the company said: "We can confirm that, following a ballot process, the BFAWU has indicated that a small number of our people representing less than 0.01% of our workforce are intending to strike in two of our 1,270 UK restaurants.
"As per the terms of the ballot, the dispute is solely related to our internal grievance procedures and not concerning pay or contracts.
"McDonald's UK and its franchisees have delivered three pay rises since April 2016, this has increased the average hourly pay rate by 15%."
The BFAWU states that strike action was an inevitable result of drastic cuts to employee hours and the continued use of zero-hours contracts, despite promises of guaranteed hours.
"We fully support the historic decision by these brave workers to stand up and fight back against McDonald's, a company that has let them down one too many times," said Ian Hodson, the union's president.
"For far too long, workers in fast food restaurants such as McDonald's have had to deal with poor working conditions, drastic cuts to employee hours, and even bullying in the workplace – viewed by many as a punishment for joining a union."
The workers and their supporters have also taken to social media to document the strike action:
Stephanie: first #McWorker to walk out in 1st ever UK #McStrike Making history! #McSolidarity for £10 an hour, no zero hours, union rights pic.twitter.com/5nw3ZaA6P4
- Hungry for Justice (@FastfoodRights) September 3, 2017
We make some British working class history tomorrow- the first #McStrike begins- for £10ph, an end to youth rates and zero hour contracts! pic.twitter.com/mYvArrxScG
- McStrike (@McStrike1) September 3, 2017
Solidarity with everyone taking a big step today in demanding a fairer deal from work at McDonalds, in the first UK #McStrike pic.twitter.com/H5v08sbZ5s
- TradesUnionCongress (@The_TUC) September 4, 2017