Anger over pay and conditions prompts national day of protest
Hospitality workers, couriers and drivers joined a noisy protest as part of a day of action in disputes over pay and working conditions.
Staff from several branches of Mcdonald’s and TGI Fridays restaurants, as well as some Uber Eats and Deliveroo couriers and Uber drivers, took industrial action yesterday.
A protest was held in Glasgow in an effort to secure enhanced minimum wages.
A rally was separately held in Leicester Square in London where workers chanted their demandsforaminimumwage of £10 an hour and union recognition.
TUC general-secretary Frances O’grady and shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell addressed the rally, offering support from the Labour and trade union movement.
Mr Mcdonnell said Labour MPS had been urged to join picket lines, adding: “Our message to exploitative employers is that we are coming for you.”
TGI Fridays worker Lauren Townsend said a change in tips policy earlier this year was costing waiting staff hundreds of pounds a month.
“The company decided to reallocate 40 per cent of tips to kitchen staff, taking from one set of low-paid workers to give to another,” she said.
Action also took place in Newcastle, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Plymouth and Southampton.
The day of action has been organised by War on Want, Unite and the Bakers, Food
0 Staff from Mcdonald’s, TGI Fridays and Deliveroo were among those striking in Glasgow’s George Square
and Allied Workers Union.
Unite national officer Rhys Mccarthy said hospitality workers were “finding their voice”. He said: “These workers have had enough of low pay and insecure work.”
Mcdonald’s, TGI Fridays and Wetherspoons workers are demanding better working conditions across the hospitality sector, pay of £10 an hour and an end to “precarious” contracts.
Ms O’grady said the protest showed workers were prepared to fight back over poor
pay and conditions. “Workers are not asking for the moon,” she said. “They just want a fair wage and guaranteed hours.”
A Mcdonald’s spokesman said: “All restaurants remain open as usual today despite frustrating attempts by protesters at a handful of locations to impact our customers and our restaurant teams.
“This is the third attempt at action and, according to our records, none of our people are on strike today.”