Burger unrest
For the first time in 40 years, UK Mcdonald’s staff are considering a strike
MCDONALD’S could be about to face its first strikes in the UK with staff at two outlets voting for industrial action in a row over zero-hours contracts and claims of workplace bullying.
Workers at the fast-food restaurants in Crayford, near Dartford, and Cambridge were balloted after claims the company failed to provide job security by delivering on contracts ending the controversial zero-hours agreements, according to the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU).
Union officials also said staff were unhappy about grievances procedures and claimed that some felt they were being punished for joining a union.
Employees at the restaurants also want pay to be increased to £10 an hour, up from the minimum wage of £7.50 for staff aged 25 and above.
BFAWU said its fight for higher wages followed on from a campaign in the US, where staff are fighting for $15 (£12) an hour.
The vote was overwhelmingly in favour of strikes, securing 95pc support, and dates for industrial action are expected to be announced soon.
Ian Hodson, BFAWU national president, said: “We fully support the historic decision by these workers to stand up and fight back against Mcdonald’s, which has had countless opportunities to resolve grievances by offering workers a fair wage and acceptable working conditions.”
If the strikes go ahead – which will be limited to just the two affected stores, and not the 1,250 outlets the company has in the UK – it will be the first time the company has suffered industrial action in Britain since first opening in 1974. “A small number of our employees representing less than 0.01pc of our workforce are intending to strike in two of our restaurants,” a Mcdonald’s spokesman said in a statement. “As per the terms of the ballot, the dispute is solely related to our internal grievance procedures.”