Lessons From the McDonald’s Strike: Make the Bosses Burger-off by Joining the NSSN

Last September McDonald’s workers took strike action at two of the food giants stores, and in doing so made history. This was the first time that McDonald’s workers had ever taken strike action in Britain.

Since then many more people have joined the Baker’s Union which is presently campaigning to organise all McDonalds’ staff by demanding for a decent living wage of £10 for all workers, and for McDonalds to finally recognise their trade union for the purpose of future negotiations over the pay and conditions of all staff.

Last month, on International Workers Day (May 1), members of the Baker’s Union once again took strike action. But this time industrial action took place at five stores not two. As one local newspaper reported:

“‘Hold the burgers, hold the fries, we want our wages supersized’ was the cry as McDonald’s workers in Manchester went on strike in a row over pay. Staff walked out of the Oxford Street restaurant at midnight, kicking off the May Day #McStrike, which calls for better wages, working conditions and an end to zero-hours contracts.” (May 1, Manchester Evening News)

Last night Channel 4 News released a short film which provided some useful background to the strike that took place in Manchester, which told the passionate story of how workers, against all the odds, are uniting to fight for not only their own rights, but also those of their co-workers.

Many critical lessons must be learned from the bravery of these inspiring young workers, especially within trade unions that are being held back by stilted bureaucrats who are attempting to block their members from leading a vigorous fight-back against greedy bosses, Tory austerity, and the corporate establishment more generally.

On Saturday (June 16) at 3pm, activists from the Baker’s Union will be speaking on Belgrave Road in Leicester to shed further light on their unions McStriking efforts. The “Leicester Needs a Pay Rise” meeting is being organised at the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre by the Leicester branch of the National Shop Stewards Network and the event aims to explore the “Lessons from the McDonald’s strike.”

Come along and find out workers across our city can fight back to reject poverty pay and demand a £10 an hour minimum wage for all.

On Saturday July 7th, a coach will be travelling from Leicester to London to attend the 2018 National Shop Stewards Network Annual Conference. If you are interested then please get in contact with michaelb8@excite.com The event will be running from 11am-4.30pm in Conway Hall – 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. There is a £6 attendance fee and it is open to all trade union and anti-cuts campaigners.