McDonald's workers escalate campaign - Hot summer to begin

The world's biggest fast food corporation McDonald's is facing a summer of strikes, pickets and a boycott as 1300 union members escalate their campaign in the wake of yesterdays conference of McDonald's bosses refusing to lift pay rates or offer the same security of hours that Restaurant Brands union members get. Unite has set up a web page for workers to share stories of work at McD's.

As company bosses met at the Hyatt Hotel, around 100 strikers from across Auckland and Hamilton rallied outside Queen Street McDonald's before marching on the conference. Angry workers clashed with cops and security guards until a bus parked in front of the protest was moved. 'Ronald' was spared burning after the company agreed a delegation could address the conference. After the delegation entered the Hotel, a breakaway march headed back to Queen Street, where the door was blocked for half-an-hour by a rowdy crowd of workers and a security guard attacked picketing workers.'Ronald' will now accompany workers on picket-lines over the summer.

In Wellington union crew walked off the job for the first time at Lambton Quay and turned hundreds of supportive customers away at the door during the lunch rush.

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