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Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy.</s>Workers at two restaurants in England have voted to strike in what would be the first industrial action taken against the fast-food chain in Britain

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

McDonald’s could face its first strike on British soil after workers at two of the fast-food chain’s outlets backed a call for industrial action.

Staff at restaurants in Cambridge and in Crayford, south-east London, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike amid concerns over working conditions and the use of zero-hour contracts.

The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union said staff were demanding a wage of at least £10 an hour and more secure working hours alongside the recognition of the right to form a trade union as employees of the company.

In a statement, the BFAWU said: “Workers have found themselves living on low wages with no guarantee of hours. This has been viewed by some as punishment for joining a union, and has seen employees struggle to meet their rent payments, whilst some have even lost their homes.”

The UK “national living wage” stands at £7.50 for workers aged 25 and over. Those aged 21 to 24 are entitled to the national minimum wage of £7.05.

McDonald’s staff in the US are leading a campaign to be paid $15 (£11.65) an hour, supported by the Service Employees International Union.

Ian Hodson, BFAWU national president, said: “We at the BFAWU fully support the historic decision by these brave McDonald’s workers to stand up and fight back against McDonald’s, a company that has let them down one too many times.

“McDonald’s has had countless opportunities to resolve grievances by offering workers a fair wage and acceptable working conditions. This is a call for change.”

McDonald’s, which employs around 85,000 staff in the UK and 1 million worldwide, announced in April that workers would be offered a choice of flexible or fixed contracts with minimum guaranteed hours.

The move followed trials in 23 restaurants, which will be extended to 50 more sites before being rolled out nationally.

It also promised that by May workers paid by the hour will have received an average hourly pay increase of 17% over the past two years.

A spokesman for McDonald’s said: “We can confirm that, following a ballot process, the BFAWU have indicated that a small number of our employees representing less than 0.01% of our workforce are intending to strike in two of our restaurants.

“As per the terms of the ballot, the dispute is solely related to our internal grievance procedures. 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.”</s>US fast-food giant McDonald’s could face its first strike on British soil after workers at two restaurants backed a call for industrial action.

Staff at restaurants in Cambridge and Crayford, near London, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike, amid concerns over working conditions and the use of zero-hour contracts.

The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) said staff were demanding a wage of at least £10 per hour and more secure working hours, alongside the recognition of the right to form a trade union as employees of the company.

In a statement the BFAWU said: “Workers have found themselves living on low wages with no guarantee of hours.

“This has been viewed by some as punishment for joining a union, and has seen employees struggle to meet their rent payments, whilst some have even lost their homes.”

The UK National Living Wage stands at £7.50 for workers aged 25 and over, and £7.05 for those aged 21 to 24.

McDonald’s staff in America are leading a campaign to be paid 15 US dollars (£11.65) an hour, supported by the Service Employee’s International Union.

Ian Hodson, BFAWU national president, said: “We, at the BFAWU, fully support the historic decision by these brave McDonald’s workers to stand up and fight back against McDonald’s – a company that has let them down one too many times.

“McDonald’s has had countless opportunities to resolve grievances by offering workers a fair wage and acceptable working conditions. This is a call for change.”

McDonald’s, which employs around 85,000 staff in the UK and one million worldwide, announced in April that workers would be offered a choice of flexible or fixed contracts with minimum guaranteed hours.

The move followed trials in 23 restaurants, which will be extended to 50 more sites before rolling out nationally across the year.

It also promised by May that hourly-paid workers will have received an average hourly pay increase of 17% over the past two years.

A spokesman for McDonald’s said: “We can confirm that, following a ballot process, the BFAWU have indicated that a small number of our employees representing less that 0.01% of our workforce are intending to strike in two of our restaurants.

“As per the terms of the ballot, the dispute is solely related to our internal grievance procedures.

“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.

Rebecca Long-Bailey, Labour’s Shadow Secretary for Business, Environment and Industrial Strategy, said: “The strike at McDonald’s is motivated by working people coming together to fight for decent pay and working conditions.

“The next Labour government will stand up for workers and transform the workplace by introducing a £10-an-hour minimum wage by 2020 and enforcing all workers’ rights to trade union representation.”</s>Employees at two McDonald's restaurants in the UK have voted in favour of industrial action, meaning the fast-food chain could be about to face its first ever strike in Britain.

The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) said staff wanted more secure working hours and a £10 an hour wage. It added that workers wanted the recognition of the right to form a trade union as employees of the company.

Workers in restaurants in Cambridge and Crayford, near London, voted overwhelmingly for strike action.

Read more: A new Night Tube map will help Londoners find a midnight McDonald's

"Many workers have said they feel they have no alternative but to take action due to this unfair treatment, and in line with their basic workplace rights and company procedures," the BFAWU said.

McDonald's employs around 85,000 staff in the UK and one million worldwide.

A spokesman for McDonald's said: "We can confirm that, following a ballot process, the BFAWU have indicated that a small number of our employees representing less than 0.01 per cent of our workforce are intending to strike in two of our restaurants.

"As per the terms of the ballot, the dispute is solely related to our internal grievance procedures."

In April, the company announced staff would be given a choice of flexible or fixed contracts with minimum guaranteed hours.

Read more: Tasty results push McDonald's shares to an all-time high</s>Workers at a Cambridge McDonald's have voted to go on strike, in the first walkout in the food giant's history.

The result of a ballot of 40 workers at two stores was announced today (August 18), with 95.7 per cent of employees in favour of the walkout.

The workers in Cambridge and Crayford, London, are striking over McDonald's not dealing with their grievances and using zero-hours contracts.

They are also calling for a £10 minimum wage, less insecure working hours, acceptable working conditions and the right to form a trade union.

The strike, organised by the Bakers', Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), will be the first in the UK history of McDonald's.

A meeting is being held over the coming weekend to decide when the strike action will take place, with the outcome set to be announced early next week.

The decision comes after the "Fight for $15" campaign in the USA pressured McDonalds to improve wages.

Ian Hodson, national president of the BFAWU: “We, at the BFAWU, fully support the historic decision by these brave McDonald’s workers to stand up and fight back against McDonald’s – a company that has let them down one too many times.

“McDonald’s has had countless opportunities to resolve grievances by offering workers a fair wage and acceptable working conditions. Instead, they have chosen to ignore their workers by tightening their purse strings – filling their CEO’s pockets, at the expense of workers here in the UK and across the world.”

“This is a call for change. Our members demand to be listened too - they have a right to get their voice heard. Hopefully, senior figures at McDonald’s will be listening, because this behaviour cannot go on any longer.”

A McDonald's spokesperson told the News : "We can confirm that, following a ballot process, the BFAWU have indicated that a small number of our employees representing less than 0.01% of our workforce are intending to strike in two of our restaurants. As per the terms of the ballot, the dispute is solely related to our internal grievance procedures.

“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."</s>Workers at a Cambridge McDonald's are set to strike in what would be the first UK walk-out in the fast food giant's history

The Cambridge store is one of two across the UK where a total of 40 workers are being balloted by the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU). The other store is in Crayford, London.

If the ballot is successful, it will be the first time in the company's history that McDonald's workers have taken strike action in the UK.

The union claims that members have been left with no alternative after the company radically cut employee hours, and workers made bullying allegations.

McDonald's workers are also unhappy with the company's continued use of zero-hours contracts, despite promises of guaranteed hours.

The union claims its members have been forced out of their homes after finding themselves unable to meet their rent payments.

Workers will be striking for a fair wage of £10 per hour, and the recognition of their right to form a trade union as employees of the company.

Tom Holliday, a McDonald’s worker at the Cambridge store, said: “McDonald’s is a multinational corporation with unacceptable working conditions.

“We are asking to be treated with dignity and to be paid a decent wage, and for our right to form a union to be recognized by our employer.

“McDonald’s must consider reinvesting its huge amount of net profits back into its work force.

“We believe it is our right to ask for a fair treatment for the hard work we perform.”

The strike forms part of a growing global workers movement fighting for fairness.

In the USA, McDonald's have come under significant pressure as part of the “Fight for $15” campaign – supported by the Service Employee’s International Union (SEIU). More than 10 million workers in the USA find themselves currently on the path to $15 an hour as a result of the efforts of the campaign.

The outcome of the strike ballot is thought to be announced next week.

McDonald's has been contacted for comment by the News.

However, a spokesman told Vice.com : "We can confirm that the BFAWU are balloting a small number of our employees about possible industrial action. We have been told that the dispute is solely related to our internal grievance procedures.

"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. "</s>40 McDonald's workers from two restaurants (one on Cambridge and the other in Crayford) are on the road to going on strike, after the Bakers', Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) announced it was balloting members. If that ballot is successful, it'll be the first time any of the fast food giant's employees have gone on strike in the UK.

The union says its been left with no alternative following allegations of bullying and reduced hours. Workers are apparently also fed up with zero-hour contracts, and despite the promise of guaranteed hours the union claims employees have been forced out of their home after they were unable to pay rent. Striking workers will also call for a £10 wage, and the right for employees to unionise.

McDonald's employees in the UK seem to be taking inspiration from their US colleagues, who have been campaigning for a $15 per hour wage for quite some time.

McDonald's contacted VICE with their own statement, saying:

"We can confirm that the BFAWU are balloting a small number of our employees about possible industrial action. We have been told that the dispute is solely related to our internal grievance procedures. 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. "
Workers at two British McDonald's restaurants overwhelmingly vote to authorize a strike over working conditions and the use of zero-hour contracts, which would be the first such labor action against the fast-food chain in the U.K.