Lewisham McDonald’
s strikers join March on Downing Street
Lewisham McDonald’s workers join strike March yesterday on Downing Street to protest at low wages and zero-hour contracts. The strike was named the ‘Mcstrike’ by the distressed employees of McDonald’s.
It was reported that eight stores across south London have been affected by the strikes, with their aim being to cause major disruption to the Catford, Deptford and Downham stores, all in Lewisham. Other London outlets were also affected.
The ‘McStrike’ was caused due to the industrial action taken in taken in 2016 and 2017 against the fast food chain. The protestor’s feel that the minimum wage is not enough to live on in London, and that a zero-hour contract does not provide employees with job stability.
“We just want the bare minimum, that’s all we ask” said Jessica Hastings, a McDonald’s worker and striker, “I just want to be able to feed my children, have gas and electric and be able to get on the train.”
McDonald’s came to the defence of their company stating, McDonald’s said: “We frequently review pay and benefits to ensure we are rewarding our workers, and we pay well above the government minimum wage. Our pay rates are extremely competitive within our industry and are ahead of many of our competitors.”
The crowd was joined by the Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who gave a speech to the workers. The Shadow Chancellor told the crowd of protestor’s that if Labour were to win the general election on December 12, he would be inviting all of yesterday’s McDonald’s strikers into Number 11, instead of letting them protest outside in the rain.
He stated: “In that first Queens Speech there will be legislation that gives trade union workers employment rights and trade union rights from day one of the Labour government.”
