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Agence France-Presse

McDonald’s workers staged the first ever strike in Britain on Monday in protest at pay and working conditions at the US fast-food giant.
About 40 workers gathered outside two outlets in Crayford, southeast London, and in Cambridge before attending a protest outside parliament.

Workers are demanding an hourly wage of £10 (US$13), union recognition and an end to zero-hours contracts, under which employees are required to be available for work but have no guaranteed minimum hours.

“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,” Ian Hodson, president of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, said in Cambridge.
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, lent his support, saying the demands “are just and should be met”.

McDonald’s said those on strike made up less than 0.01 per cent of its workforce and that 86 per cent of its workers had opted for flexible 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 per cent,” it said in a statement.


McDonald’s staff stage first ever strike in Britain over pay and working conditions

Protesters dressed as Ronald McDonald at a rally against working conditions and the use of zero-hour contracts at British outlets of the US burger chain. Photo: AFP

Demonstrators participate in a protest over working conditions and the use of zero-hour contracts at British outlets of US burger chain, outside one of the chain's outlets in central London on September 4, 2017. McDonald's staff have gone on strike for the first time in Britain in two of the chain's outlets in a dispute over pay and conditions. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMEN

Members of staff and trade union members leave a strike, the first industrial action by staff of the American fast-food chain in the U.K., outside a McDonald's Corp. fast-food restaurant in Cambridge, U.K., on Monday, Sept. 4, 2017. Workers at this restaurant, and one in Crayford, voted in favor of the strike following a dispute over the use of zero-hour contracts and the company’s handling of internal grievances. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Demonstrators participate in a protest over working conditions and the use of zero-hour contracts at British outlets of US burger chain McDonalds, in central London on September 4, 2017. McDonald's staff have gone on strike for the first time in Britain in two of the chain's outlets in a dispute over pay and conditions. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMEN

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