New Zealand fast food workers strike over theft of holidays

Wendy’s workers from five restaurants in two cities walked off the job on February 10 over the company’s denial of their right to alternative days off for working on public holidays.

Unite Union has denounced Wendy’s use of scheduling changes immediately before public holidays to evade their legal responsibility to offer a day off in lieu of working the holiday. The existence of zero hours contracts, which offer no guaranteed hours or shifts, facilitates the abuse. The union is demanding the company provide alternative holidays for every public holiday worked in this year’s collective agreement negotiations.

Two US McDonald’s activists from Los Angeles who travelled to New Zealand to support Unite Union’s campaign against zero hour contracts in the fast food industry joined protesting workers in Auckland. They will also take part in a national fast food workers’ gathering in Auckland on February 14. The IUF is organizing solidarity rallies through the region.