McDonald’s workers rally outside Parliament House in first UK strike

Up to 200 people yesterday protested outside the Houses of Parliament in London against poor pay and conditions at McDonald's with workers at the restaurant staging their first UK strike.

As part of an international day of action on Monday, employees, union workers and members of parliament, including the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, gathered on College Green.

About 40 staff from McDonald's restaurants in Cambridge and Crayford, staged a walk-out over the multibillion dollar company's use of zero-hour contracts and lack of union recognition.

As he addressed the crowd, McDonnell paid tribute to everyone who had joined in action or solidarity, calling them an ''absolute inspiration''.

He told The Guardian, ''These are workers who are extremely vulnerable in terms of their employment conditions. And yet at the same time, they've had the courage to come on strike. They've said, 'We've had enough and we need to negotiate.'

''If I was McDonald's management I'd be listening very carefully today. I'd contact the union and I'd get round that table.''

According to the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), the strike was being well supported and BFAWU general secretary, Ronnie Draper, told the rally they were the ''heroes and heroines'' of their generation.

The BFAWU said staff wanted a wage of at least £10 an hour and more secure jobs.

According to McDonald's, only 14 of the 33 union members balloted had joined in.

"A small number of our people representing less than 0.01% of our workforce took strike action in two of our 1,270 UK restaurants," said the company, BBC reported.

"As per the terms of the ballot, the dispute is solely related to our internal grievance procedures and not concerning pay or contracts."

However, according to Ian Hodson, the union's president, "For far too long, workers in fast food restaurants such as McDonald's have had to deal with poor working conditions, drastic cuts to employee hours, and even bullying in the workplace - viewed by many as a punishment for joining a union," BBC reported.