McLibel Support Campaign
5 Caledonian Road, London, N1 9DX, UK
Tel/Fax 0171 713 1269
E-mail: mclibel@globalnet.co.uk
Internet info - http://www.mcspotlight.org

 
Solidarity with McDonald's Workers
Leaflet 1
 

DO YOU WORK FOR McDONALD'S?
(OR KNOW ANYONE WHO DOES? - IF SO, PASS THIS ON)

ARE YOU SICK OF LOW WAGES?

Would you prefer a decent pay rise, guaranteed hours, overtime pay and an end to humiliating "performance reviews"?
ARE YOU SICK OF SEEING PEOPLE INJURED?
Even McDonald's admit that burns, slips and falls etc are BIG problems.
ARE YOU SICK OF BEING BOSSED AROUND?
Do you want RIGHTS, and freedom from being constantly watched and treated like being in the Army? Do you want an end to harassment and unfair dismissals?
ARE YOU SICK OF POOR WORKING CONDITIONS?
Do you want relief from continual pressures to work hard, to 'hustle', to cut corners with safety procedures? Do you want decent breaks, and to smile when YOU feel like it?
ARE YOU SICK OF McDONALD'S?
Are you fed up with all the crawling to bigwigs from Head Office, the company's inane propaganda, and their processed food?


DO YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ?

Did you know that McDonald's spends well over $2 billion worldwide every year on ads and promotions to boost their image - yet they can't, for example, find a single penny to pay overtime. The aim is: get profits UP, and wage costs DOWN.

No wonder so many chuck the job in. But those who stay can fight to improve things....Read on for details of what you can do.

ANNUAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH McDONALD'S WORKERS OCTOBER 12th
This day marks the anniversary of the death in 1992 of Mark Hopkins, a worker electrocuted at a McDonald's store in Manchester.  (On 8th March 1996, a crew member from Wollongong in Australia, also died from electrocution in controversial circumstances). We are again calling for a Day of Solidarity With McDonald's Workers on that day, following the success of this event in the past.  WE CALL FOR LEAFLETING AT LOCAL STORES (leaflets available from McSpotlight Campaigns section.) "I want every McDonald's worker to stand up for their rights, which is why I am backing this campaign 100%. In this way, Mark's death will not have been in vain." - Maureen Hopkins, Mark's mother.

STANDING UP TO McDONALD'S

There have been disputes and strikes in a number of countries, and in some the company has been forced to accept trade unions and workers' rights. In Canada a few years ago, a 16 year old crew member, keeping it secret from management, single-handedly signed up over half of the workers in her store into a trade union.

At the end of the 1990s a Union drive at the Saint-Hubert store in Quebec, Canada resulted in 82% of crew members joining the union and demanding Union rights and a similar union drive in Macedonia,
Ohio, USA, led to over half joining.

In 1994 in France, five Store Managers were arrested for refusing to recognise crew members' rights and trade union elections in their stores. A strike has also taken place there.

McDONALD'S ON TRIAL AT THE HIGHCOURT
 
 

The company's business practices were under the spotlight in a mammoth libel trial at the High Court in London. Two supporters of London Greenpeace defended leaflets criticising McDonald's, including a whole section criticising crew pay and conditions. 35 ex-workers came forward to help them by giving evidence of what really goes on inside the stores. This has benefitted all McDonald's workers by forcing the company onto the defensive. So now's the time to organise!
"It's their right to join a Union if they so choose."
Paul Preston
McDonald's UK President in the High Court, 5th July 1994



 
 
 
 

WHAT YOU CAN DO - Obviously you'll need to be careful. But you can: 
  • copy these leaflets to give secretly to your mates, including at other stores 
  • find out and demand your legal rights, and use company grievance procedures 
  • anonymously tip off local press and others about in-store conditions (including food quality and hygiene) 
  • refuse to play the 'hustle' game 
  • build up solidarity amongst staff by getting together in the crew room, or better still by socialising together or organising meetings outside the store to talk about problems 
  • secretly join a trade union and get others to do so as well. 
Why not access the 'McSpotlight' Internet site (http://www.mcspotlight.org/). Join the many McDonald's workers and managers sharing their views and experiences by contributing to the McSpotlight on-line discussion forum - the Workers' Debating Room. 

 

HOW WE CAN HELP

We are trades unionists and low paid workers like yourselves who've clubbed together to set up the Support Network for McDonald's Workers. We can provide information on your legal rights - industrial tribunals, health and safety rights, employment and anti-discrimination laws.

We can send you more of these leaflets (free to workers), plus more detailed ones. Also general advice on standing up to McDonald's - we've had the same sort of experiences as you! Most importantly we're building up a nationwide support network to provide information and to promote solidarity for all McDonald's workers wanting to fight for their rights. We know that people gain confidence and strength when they have back-up.

Some McDonald's workers have already contacted us about getting involved. How about you and your workmates? For more details, fill out the tear-off slip or contact us on the number below. Send us your ideas or grievances! All info treated confidentially.

Please send me more information about the Support Network for McDonald's Workers.

Name:
 

Address:
 
 

Phone:
 
 

Send to: Support Network for McDonald's Workers, c/o MSC, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX. Other contacts: 01603 611072 (south) / 0161 231 8177 (north)