Further McDonald’s strikes could sweep across the UK next year, according to the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union.
Its national president Ian Hodson said it was looking at grievances at branches across Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire and the north-east and north-west of England.
However, he emphasised there wouldn’t be a need for strike action if the company met their demands.
“At this moment in time, we’ve got a number of grievances going on at a number of shops across the country which we’re hoping that the company will resolve,” said Hodson.
“There’s quite a number of them, significantly more than what happened the last time round, which was two shops. We’re expecting double figures but the exact numbers I couldn’t honestly tell you.”
A key point of contention is the guaranteed hours contract, which Hodson says offers inflexible hours with a limit of 30 hours a week and reduces the number of shops staff can work in.
He also flagged up health and safety concerns, saying that burns were a real occupational hazard with staff working at speed in close quarters.
Hodson added that the last strikes had triggered security improvements and the provision of personal protective equipment.
“These workers are determined to have union representation and to improve their conditions. The best thing for McDonald’s would be to meet the trade union and start having a dialogue with us as to how we can improve things together,” Hodson added.
McDonald’s told The Grocer it was unaware of any planned strikes.
“Health and safety is of paramount importance to us and we place great emphasis on our employees’ safety. We have robust training and processes in place for our staff and our restaurants are regularly inspected by environmental health officers to ensure our high standards are upheld,” said a McDonald’s spokeswoman.
This follows McDonald’s first-ever UK strike in September, which involved about 40 staff at its restaurants in Crayford and Cambridge.
At the time, the trade union called for guaranteed hour contracts, £10 an hour and formal trade recognition from McDonald’s.
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