McDonald's workers stage first UK strike over zero-hour contracts

Employees at two McDonald’s restaurants in the UK have gone on strike in a dispute with the US fast food chain over zero-hour contracts.

Around 40 workers will go on a 'McStrike' at the restaurants in Cambridge and Crayford, south-east London in the first such action by employees of the company since it arrived in Britain in 1974.

The dispute originated from McDonald’s use of zero-hour contracts and staff complaints of low wages. Nine out of every ten McDonald’s employees in the UK work on zero-hour contracts.

The US fast food giant has rejected the claims that the strike action is being taken in relation to staff working conditions, saying instead it was stemming from internal grievance procedures.

Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn released a statement backing the striking employees, who are members of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union.

"Our party offers support and solidarity to the brave McDonald's workers, who are making history today," Çorbyn said.

"Their demands - an end to zero hours contracts by the end of the year, union recognition and a £10 per hour minimum wage - are just and should be met."

Last month, the union notified McDonald’s that workers from the two stores were being balloted with a view to authorise a strike.

"This ballot is all about fighting for a £10 per hour minimum wage, and the need for McDonald’s to recognise their worker’s right to form a trade union, as employees of the company," the union said in a blog post.

McDonald’s employs around 85,000 people in the UK in its 1,270 restaurants.

In the US McDonald's has faced wage pressure from the Service Employees International Union, which launched a campaign that has helped more than 10m workers move towards a $15 minimum wage, and with 20m workers having won wage increases since 2012.