Workers in Indonesia and the Philippines took action to support the New Zealand fast food workers in their campaign against zero hour contracts by holding solidarity pickets outs9ide local McDonald’s store in both countries. Messages of support were also received from Kong Kong and Korean union activists involved in the international campaign to win union rights in the fast food industry.
PHILIPPINES
VALENTINE’S Day was celebrated today by youth members of the Alliance of Progressive Labor by picketing a bustling McDonald’s outlet in Quezon City as part of the Philippine leg of the international campaign against “zero hour” work contracts.
Activists of the APL-Youth, an affiliate of the national labor centre Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), staged their protest outside the McDonald’s branch near MRT Quezon Ave. station to denounce the global fast food chain giant’s penchant for contractualization and other precarious work arrangements like the zero hour job practices.
According to the global union IUF zero hour contracts are those with no specified work hours and which do not guarantee jobs or income, but which are now becoming rampant in the rapidly expanding fast food industry. The IUF is supporting the campaign by the Unite Union New Zealand against zero-hour work.
– See more at: http://www.sentro.org/?p=451#sthash.9ldAVDg9.dpuf
INDONESIA
These Indonesian workers printed up a banner using a web design from Unite NZ to show their support on February 14, the day of our national fast food workers meeting against zero hours!
HONG KONG
Message of support from the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions
KOREA
A fast food workers’ protest action also took place February 8 in Korea. The Arbeit (part-time) Workers Union occupied a McDonald’s outlet as part of the campaign for the reinstatement of Sister Gahyun Lee who was unfairly terminated by McDonald’s Korea for her organising activities. Background here: http://www.iuf.org/w/?q=node/3814
FINLAND
Finland’s trade union centres and their affiliated members are vigorously promoting a citizens initiative which would oblige Parliament to debate and adopt a law banning zero-hours contracts. Young union activists in particular have been the driving force behind Operaatio vakiduuni (Operation steady job), which aims to collect 50,000 voter signatures and, if accepted by Parliament, would compel lawmakers, to start drafting legislation to outlaw the contracts, which have spread to all employment sectors.
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