McStrike

McDonald’s workers face poverty wages, insecure hours and abuse at work. Workers are coming together in the McStrike to build power in numbers and win better working conditions, including through bold strike action.

Workers in the fast-food industry face poverty even when they work full time. Insecure hourly contracts mean living with the constant threat of not getting enough hours to pay the bills. Workers also face bullying and sexual harassment on the job, without a recognised trade union to give them respect and a voice at work.

McDonald’s makes billions every year, but fails to give back to the communities where it operates. It doesn’t pay living wages or it’s fair share of taxes. In 2017, workers in the McStrike made history when they joined the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (BFAWU) and went on strike for the first time. They won McDonald’s workers across the UK the biggest pay rise in over ten years.

McDonald’s workers are now calling for a New Deal: a real living wage of £15 an hour, guaranteed hours, and recognition of their trade union.

We support fast-food workers in the McStrike to speak out. We raise up their demands, and challenge McDonald’s unaccountable power. We stand with the global movement of fast-food workers who are fighting for a living wage, job security and respect for their trade union rights.

Discover more

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McDonald's £295 million tax dodge banner image

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Our new report ‘Secrets and Fries’ exposes how McDonald’s has been driving billions in global profits through the City of London, but not stopping to pay its share of UK tax.

McDonald's workers strike outside a London store. Photo: TUC/Jess Hurd

Seventy years fighting against global poverty

Labour Research magazine covers our 70th anniversary

Workers take strike action on 4 November 2019, protesting in front of a McDonald's restaurant. Photo: War on Want

McStrike days of action 2019

As McDonald's workers from 6 south London stores went on strike, supporters took to the streets

Christine speaking outside McDonald’s HQ in Chicago.

#MeToo McDonald's week of action

McDonald's saw a full week of union action on sexual harassment

TGI Fridays, McDonald's and Wetherspoons workers take action in a protest outside a TGI Fridays in central London. Photo: War on Want.

Fast Food Shutdown FFS410

4 October 2018 was an historic strike of hospitality workers

A Deliveroo rider at a demonstration with an IWGB flag and a placard that reads 'Every worker matters'. Credit: Owen Espley

Celebrating our work with trade unions

Standing shoulder to shoulder with working people wherever they are

United Voices of the World (UVW) demonstration. A group of people, mostly women, march behind a UVW banner and hold placards, one of which reads "Reinstate Alba".

Migrant and precarious workers are winning Britain a pay rise

They are leading the fights to get organised

Theresa May’s promise to protect workers’ rights rings hollow for migrant workers

Theresa May’s promise to protect workers’ rights during Brexit will mean nothing if migrant workers are neglected

#SportsDirectShame: Turning tragedy into change for migrant workers

Now is the time to demand an end to precarious contracts

A protestor holds a placard that says 'End Precarious Contracts' outside of a Sports Direct store in Hackney. Credit: War on Want.

Stand With Migrant Workers: End Precarious Contracts

Migrant workers across the UK face racism, abuse and exploitation

Take action

Demand HMRC investigates McDonald's

HMRC must launch a thorough investigation into McDonald’s tax affairs

Act now!

Resources

Secrets and Fries

How McDonald's abuses the UK tax regime to dodge its global taxes

BFAWU leaflet #FFS410

"Workers at JD Wetherspoons will take part in strike action on the 4th of October alongside McDonald’s, TGI Fridays and Uber Eats workers. Wetherspoons and McDonald’s workers are striking for £10 an hour, union recognition and respect on the job."

Leaflet: Stand With Migrant Workers

War on Want believes in decent work and a living wage for all, regardless of immigration status. Only by protecting equal social and labour rights for all workers can we stop a race to the bottom where employers drive down working conditions for everyone.&nb...

Infosheet: Stand With Migrant Workers

Migrant workers across the UK face prejudice, abuse and exploitation. In the wake of Brexit, the call to ‘control our borders’ risks being used to not only restrict freedom of movement but to weaken the rights of migrant workers.