Bakers Union (BFAWU) blames McDonald’s for sexual harassment of female staff
ZERO HOURS = SEXUAL HARASSMENT
CLEAR LINKS NOW EVIDENT IN LOW PAID WORKPLACES
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AND – McDonalds continues to victimise trade union members.
Today the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union spoke out about McDonald’s poor record on Sexual Harassment and their use of Non-Discloure Agreements (NDA’s) to hide a problem which they believe is rife in the company. In July 2019 BFAWU worked with the Independent to produce this news piece:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mcdonalds-sexual-harassment-protests-abuse-workers-a8937186.html
Sarah Woolley,General Secretary of the BFAWU says
“McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinsk says ‘Sexual harassment in the workplace is an affront to everything we stand for’. But sexual harassment is caused by the very structures within McDonald’s. This is caused by a system of zero hours contracts, when crew members must depend on the good will of managers to be allocated hours, when low pay is endemic and working women are expected to live pay cheque to pay cheque. There’s a culture of cover up with the use of NDAs and McDonald’s continuing to victimise members of trade unions when unions form anywhere in McDonald’s”.
Ian Hodson, National President of the BFAWU says,
“It’s shameful that one of the richest corporations on the planet doesn’t take sexual harassment seriously until we raise it. How can a company of its size, power and resources not understand it has a sexual harassment problem? I pay tribute to all our members who have spoken out on this issue and encourage McDonalds to work with us in ending sexual harassment. The question I would like to ask McDonald’s is ‘Why are they so hostile to recognising our trade union to represent its members formally?’”
A McDonald’s Worker says
“Often the victim was too scared to raise the issue, as they would be reporting it to someone who is friends with the manager. McDonalds needs to recognise the trade union as an important part of ending sexual harassment at work”
Christine, a survivor says
“McDonald’s needs to understand it’s not OK, this is a big problem. If like me you’re a survivor in McDonald’s stand up speak out now, think of those young women working there”
Martin Mayer, Secretary of Sheffield Trade Union Council says:
“Zero hours contracts means low paid workers dare not complain about sexual harassment or bullying or they won’t be allocated work next week. In our research for our Sheffield Needs a Pay Rise project 80% of young women on zero hours who were interviewed said they had been sexually harassed at work by the boss. Nearly all of them said they hadn’t dare complain. We demand an end to zero hours contracts immediately. McDonalds is an industry leader in fast food and should be setting a high standard. Instead, it has been found wanting and too many other companies are following their example”
SHEFFIELD NEEDS A PAY RISE!
Many workers on the lowest pay aren’t in a union and can’t fight back. They are really suffering now as the cost of living crisis hits them the hardest. Sheffield TUC says all workers should join a union, especially workers on low pay. Our Sheffield Needs a Pay Rise campaign is there to help. We are helping to fund a Union Organiser in Sheffield with our partner the Bakers and Allied Food Workers Union to help low paid workers get organised and fight to raise their pay and conditions, including by strike action. Low pay not only means workers cannot live to an acceptable standard, it makes our working-class communities poorer and is bad for the local economy. For Sheffield to prosper we must end low pay now!
Please contact our Union Organiser Jesse Palmer 07808 198150 or email tucsheffield@gmail.com