[Denver]

The staff of McDonald's in areas of Cambridge and London are planning the fast food retailer's first ever strike action.

Up to 40 staff members across two outlets in Cambridge and Crayford, Greater London will ballot for a strike as members of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), to protest the conglomerate's zero-hour contract policy and other "internal grievances".

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.

"We can confirm that the BFAWU are balloting a small number of our employees about possible industrial action," a McDonald's rep told VICE.

"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."


The BFAWU states that strike action was an inevitable result of drastic cuts to employee hours and the continued use of zero-hours contracts, despite promises of guaranteed hours.

"Workers have found themselves living on low wages with no guarantee of hours," the BFAWU said (via The Guardian).

"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."

http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/news/...time-ever-why/