Ronald vs McDonnell in first McStrike
WORKERS at McDonald’s yesterday staged their first ever UK strike over ‘inexplicably’ low pay and zero-hours contracts.
Around 40 banner-waving staff at two restaurants in Cambridge and Crayford, south east London, wore ‘McStrike’ t- shirts as they demanded £10 an hour and an end to uncertain working hours. Some had dressed as the chain’s mascot Ronald McDonald.
Other branches could stage walkouts if their demands are not met. The strikers later left to go to a 200- strong rally in Westminster attended by Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell. The fast food chain pays junior staff £5.60 to £7.50 an hour, depending on their age. In April it said workers would get a choice of flexible or fixed contracts with minimum guaranteed hours. Tom Holliday, who works at the Cambridge restaurant, said: ‘I make £7.55 an hour – when it gets to the pay check I don’t have enough money to provide for my son.’
A McDonald’s spokesman said the strikes involved less than 0.01 per cent of its staff and only two of its 1,270 UK restaurants.