McDonald's accused of racist hiring practices

McDonald's accused of racist hiring practices

Unite union will be holding a protest outside Lunn Avenue McDonald's at 1pm today Friday, exposing racist and discriminatory hiring policies, that harm both migrant workers and local people desperate for jobs say Unite Union organiser Joe Carolan.

"There is huge unemployment of Maori, PI, Pakeha and other groups in Glen Innes, yet seven new hires this week in McDonald's Lunn Avenue all come from only one ethnic group, the same ethnic group as the anti union store manager.

"This is part of a systematic hiring policy that makes a mockery of McDonald's claims to be an equal opportunities employer.

"This discrimination hurts both local people AND the migrant workers hired - because the reason they are hired is that they are in a situation of dependency and feel unable to to speak out when their rights are violated. These workers routinely miss out on breaks, have their hours cut without warning, and are victims of petty workplace bullying.

"We have experienced again and again that whenever stores rely on one migrant ethnic group it results in that group being taken advantage of by managers often also from the same ethnic group. We even have evidence of managers accepting bribes to facilitate promotion and visa sponsorship.

"Our local delegates are Fijian Indian and Maori and they are furious that there is not even one other worker from another ethnic background. They will be joining supporters from the local community at a picket outside the store today at 1pm."

ENDS

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