McDonalds jumping before they are pushed on offers of guaranteed working hours

GMB Southern region commented on the changes to contracts offered to workers announced by McDonald’s. McDonald’s staff will now be offered a choice of flexible or fixed contracts with minimum guaranteed hours.

Paul Maloney GMB Southern Regional Secretary said, “McDonald’s has jumped before they were pushed. 

“McDonald’s has seen the writing on the wall since the GMB success in the courts against UBER and other Gig economy employers against whom GMB are litigating.

“Workers at McDonald’s should be offered hours of work up to 40 hours per week, permanent contracts and include annual leave, sick pay and a pension scheme.

 “Government has been examining possible changes to made precarious employment more secure. A sensible reform would be to deem average hours worked over the past 12 weeks as the minimum contracted hours as is currently the case for arriving at maximum hours under the Working Time Directive. 

“Precarious workers don’t need tokenism. They need to be treated with dignity and respect and have proper security at work.

“GMB will continue to organise McDonald’s staff into the union for support and representation.”

Contact: Paul Maloney 07901343839.

Notes to editors 

1) Copy of the story on Press Association. 

Workers at restaurant giant McDonald’s are to be offered a choice of flexible or fixed contracts with minimum guaranteed hours.

25 Apr 2017 – 18:10
By Alan Jones, Press Association Industrial Correspondent

Workers at restaurant giant McDonald’s are to be offered a choice of flexible or fixed contracts with minimum guaranteed hours.

The company said the move followed trials in 23 restaurants, which will be extended to 50 more sites before rolling out nationally across the year.

During the trial, four out of five members of staff chose to stay on their existing flexible contracts.

Paul Pomroy, chief executive officer at McDonald’s UK, said: “The vast majority of our employees are happy with their flexible contracts, but some have told us that more fixed hours would help them get better access to some financial products.

“Thanks to the support of our franchisees, we are able to respond to our people’s needs and will begin to roll out fixed hours contracts, including new joiners, across the course of the year.”

McDonald’s also announced that by May, hourly paid workers will have received an average hourly pay increase of 17% over the past two years.

Mr Pomroy said: “The hard work of our restaurant teams has enabled us to deliver 44 consecutive quarters of growth in the UK.

“It’s right that we continue to invest in our people so they can deliver the experience that our customers want and expect.”