Local Union Protest Against McDonald’s

Social campaigners fight for￡10 per hour wages and improved working conditions for McDonald’s workers.

Cardiff Trades Union held a demonstration in front of McDonald’s, Queen Street on 12 February. They protest against low wages and poor working conditions in this powerful fast-food corporation.

It is necessary for McDonald’s to recognize the Union and they should offer a fair deal to their workers, according to one Cardiff campaigner.

Around 30 people stood outside the front door of McDonald’s. There are several campaigners offered strong statements on the issue.

“We saw earlier this year, McDonald’s workers went on strike for the first time in the UK history…Two months later, the organisation announced a pay increase for McDonald’s workers of all wages,” says Rich Edwards, the secretary of Socialist Party and significant member of Bakers Union. “Joining in a trade union and taking strike actions. It works and it gets results”.

In September 2017, two McDonald’s restaurants organised historic strikes. They were calling for the growth of payment and improved conditions in the workplace. These strikes led directly to the increase in wages.

However, this increase has not yet met the￡10 per hour target, a key aim for the campaigners.

“Last year they actually organised a successful strike for the first time ever. So we stand in solidarity with McDonald’s workers and we demand decent working conditions for everybody, regardless of where they work,” says the Mia Hollsing, the candidate of UNISON Action. “They don’t know how many hours they will be working from one week to the next. It means you can’t plan your life because you don’t know when you’re going to be working and you don’t know what your income is going to be.”

A spokesman for McDonald’s said, “We are proud of our people at McDonald’s. They are at the heart of all we do and we work hard to ensure that our teams are treated fairly. Our internal processes underpin that commitment.”