Questions answered
There are 24 questions about “Unions” in the “How do you operate?” topic.
Click on a question to read our answer.
- 1. So you let your UK employees join trade unions. Hurrah. I know for a fact that if a US employee even hints at joining a union, (s)he is summarily fired. Explain this inconsistantcy!
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Firstly, many apologies for the very slow response to your question, the site is undergoing technical changes and updates and as such some questions had slipped through the net so thank you for your patience. Regarding your question, as you say McDonald's UK employees are free to join a union if they wish. McDonald's follows all UK and European employment law guidelines strictly. However, McDonald's UK cannot comment on policies of McDonald's US, so these issues would need to be addressed to them directly, please try the ‘Contact Us’ section on the US McDonald's website www.mcdonalds.com.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 2. On average, how many people working in McDonalds are joined with a Trade Union?
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Unfortunately, McDonald's UK does not keep any records of whether any of its employees are members of Trade Unions or not, sorry.
(November 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 3. I want to set up a workers union, can you help
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No. This is an individual choice for McDonald's employees. McDonald's has strong and open channels of communication, including crew meetings, annual opinion surveys, an open door policy and a HR Helpline. As a result, there are many ways and opportunities to support communication with employees and to resolve any problems that may arise from time to time. You may be interested to know that McDonald's has in place a European Communication Council, to which they invite applications from employees to represent the UK workforce. The next selection process is in 2007.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 4. How many of people who work for McDonald's (or any company running a McDonald's Restaurant) are in a TUC-recognised trade union?
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McDonald's don’t have any objections to anyone joining a trade union. In fact, McDonald's understands that many employees may already be trade union members. However, the amount of employees who are in a recognised union or TUC is not tracked by McDonald's.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 5. Why are McDonalds so vehemently anti trade union?
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McDonald's UK is not anti trade union. It believes in good, open dialogue between employees and the company and works with employees and franchisees to make sure this happens both in restaurants and within the organisation as a whole. Employees are free to join a union if they wish. McDonald's follows all UK and European employment law guidelines strictly.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 6. Do your workers have the right to unionise? Both in the UK and the US.
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McDonald's don't have any objections to anyone joining a trade union. In fact, McDonald's understands that many employees may already be trade union members. For further information about McDonald's US, please go to www.mcdonalds.com.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 7. Yousay staff DO belong to a Union. What is Mcdonalds negotiating policy with Unions.(ifyou have one). and do you recognise staff are legally entitled by EU law represented by a Union. I ask this question becuase a stuent friend was 'harrassed out of her summer job for displaying and distributing union litrature young staff
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The company is aware that some of its employees may already be members of a union and McDonald's has said that it has no objections to individuals joining a union and being active members. McDonald's works hard to create very good relationships with its employees as witnessed by its inclusion in the Financial Time's Top Fifty Employers list this year and its continued support of the Investors in People programme. It also won't tolerate bullying so the company suggests that your friend contacts the HR department on 0870 600 5120 so that her treatment during her summer job can be investigated fully. (June 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 8. You state that you have no objections to employees joining a trade union of their choice. But if you don't recognise any union, what would be the point. For information, unions were formed to prevent exploitation of employees, and collective bargaining. You state that most issues are resolved by direct communication between employer and employee;but what chance of a fair outcome between a lone employee and the might of the macdonalds corporation? I look forward to your response.
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McDonald's people policies follow current best practice and follow all legal directives and employment legislation.
McDonald's has been awarded 'Investors in People' Status for the past eight years and, this year, was also named as one of the UK's Top 50 workplaces in the Financial Times. In addition, the company is a Gold certified member of 'Race for Opportunity' 'Opportunity Now' 'Employers Forum on Age' and the 'Employers Forum on Disability' all of which serves to illustrate its commitment to fairness, diversity and equality in the workplace.
(July 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 9. You seem to think that a "third" party such as a union is not required at Mcdonalds.Surley a "third" party would help your employeys.Or perhaps Mcdonalds is frightened if people knew their rights.How true is it that where people have tried to set up a union at a Mcdonalds branch,the union busting management have either tried to thwart it or even shut the branch down ?.Go ahead deny it Mcdonalds you hate unions.......at least be honest.
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McDonald's does not hate Trade Unions. Rather it regards membership of such organisations as a personal choice and one that should be decided by the individual employee. As a result, many employees are already members of a union. The company also aims to protect the rights of employees through its own procedures and a good open dialogue between members of staff and the company.
(May 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 10. Are your staff free to join a trade/employment union if they choose to do so? If they are not then please could you explain the reason for this. I know that you will tell me that your staff are treated well & enjoy good working conditions but I worked at Mcds for 5 years at several different levels in-store & know that this is often not the case. Every employee should have the freedom & right to union representation should they wish.
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Yes, McDonald's staff have the right to join a trade/employment union.
McDonald's UK is not anti trade union. It believes in good, open dialogue between employees and the company and works with employees and franchisees to make sure this happens both in restaurants and within the organisation as a whole. Employees are free to join a union if they wish. McDonald’s follows all UK and European employment law guidelines strictly.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 11. All evidence shows that employees in recognised trades unions are better treated, better paid, happier at work, more productive and will have better future prospects. If McDonnalds wants to shed the McJob image, why does it still refuse to recognise independent workers' unions? When will you move out of the nineteenth century?
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McDonald’s does not have any objections to anyone joining a trade union. In fact, McDonald’s knows that many of its employees may already be trade union members. McDonald’s believes in an open relationship between the employees and management staff and this can be done just as effectively without a third party such as a trade union.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 12. I am a trade union activist. If I approached your employees as they entered or left your restaurants and issued them with application forms to join the union what would you do?
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McDonald’s does not have any objections to anybody joining a trade union or already having a membership of one. The company sees it as a personal choice for individual employees.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 13. Your response that you understood staff had joined trade unions - so you dont know ? Dont you negotiate with them ? Do you understand the point of trade unions
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McDonald’s regards trade union membership as a personal choice for individual employees. McDonald’s helps protect the rights of its employees with its own procedures, which function in a similar way. It is not mandatory for companies to recognise or consult with unions. As McDonald’s does not recognise trade unions the company does not keep a record of which employees are members. McDonald’s employees are permitted to bring a TU official to any grievance or disciplinary situations should they wish.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 14. Do you allow your staff to join trade unions? Yes or No.
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The answer to your question is yes, workers are allowed to join trade unions: McDonald’s doesn’t have any objections to anyone joining a trade union. In fact, McDonald’s understands that many employees may already be trade union members.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 15. What trade unions have a recognition agreement within the UK orgainisation and are they involved in recruitment at new employee induction stage?
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McDonald's UK doesn't recognise any particular union, so therefore unions are not involved with employees at induction days.
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