McDonald’s Class Action Launched
In December 2021 workers launched a landmark class action against McDonald’s over the failure by the company to provide paid 10 minute rest breaks. The class action is the culmination of the RAFFWU and Shine Lawyers investigation following the historic litigation launched and run by RAFFWU and member Chiara Staines which in September 2020 saw Chiara compensated over $1800 for not receiving full paid 10 minute breaks every shift of 4 hours or longer.
RAFFWU is proud to support, and continues to assist Shine Lawyers in the class action against McDonalds, over the company’s failure to provide workers with full paid 10 minute breaks.
RAFFWU encourages every single past and present McDonald’s worker who has worked at a McDonald’s Corporate outlet from December 2015 and/or a McDonald’s Franchisee outlet since September 2017 to find out more about the class action at the special website: https://mcdonaldsclassaction.shine.com.au/Registration
Historic Win for RAFFWU in Federal Court Against McDonald’s
The Federal Court has found major McDonald’s franchisee, Tantex Holdings, broke the law when stripping workers of paid 10 minute breaks, threatening workers over toilets and water, coercing workers to not take breaks and misrepresenting the workplace rights of workers. We know this is just the tip of the iceberg. Our case has shown that McDonald’s has failed workers but now RAFFWU is fighting back. The Federal Court has agreed our member, Chiara, deserved compensation. Chiara has been paid over $1800 in compensation for 2 years of breaks – averaging about 2 shifts per week.
AWARD RIGHTS NOW APPLY
In May 2020, a group of international unions launched a bold and historic case against McDonald’s in The Netherlands for its actions in permitting widespread sexual harrassment and assaults in its stores across the world. Members can find out more by contacting the union.
In May 2020, RAFFWU also fought McDonald’s and SDA trying to smash worker rights at McDonald’s. In the end we were successful, with some of their attacks expiring at the end of July 2020.
In December 2019, RAFFWU won the case to return penalty rates and other Award conditions to McDonald’s workers.
Minimum Award rights include:
- 25% casual loading (paid in addition to penalty rates below)
- 25% Saturday loading
- 35% Sunday loading (50% for supervisors)
- 10% weeknight penalty rate (10pm to 12am)
- 15% weekday morning penalty rate (12am to 6am)
- $22.70 per hour non-casual for 21+ crew trainers
- free uniforms
- uniform allowance where your uniform isn’t washed for you
- consultation over major changes
- part-time worker rights to minimum weekly hours and set days of work with start and finish times known and not changed without agreement
These conditions and more were smashed by past exploitative deals made by SDA and McDonald’s.
For 20 years the SDA and McDonald’s teamed up to make dodgy back room deals which smash worker rights.
In October 2018 we exposed the ruthless churn of young workers perpetrated by McDonald’s to save through exploitative junior rates. Check out the ABC 7:30 Report on our Facebook
In November 2018 we exposed the outrageous practice of not providing rest breaks – with over 90% of workers reporting they don’t get minimum 10 minute paid rest/drink breaks for four hour or longer shifts. Take our special survey here
In December 2018 we launched our campaign to bring back the 10 minute rest breaks and members who have RAFFWU list their store are already winning. In January 2019 we exposed the ruthless attack on workers by McDonald’s with threats of banning workers insisting on their 10 minute breaks from accessing toilets or water. See more here
We fought back with the first ever rally by Australian workers at McDonald’s which was reported across media outlets
We’re leading the #maccasrevolution – get on board!
RAFFWU fought the rotten new deal in the Fair Work Commission and won. McDonald’s backed down and withdrew their agreement to avoid the embarrassment of losing. Read about the case here
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