Unite union bargaining team has met with McDonald’s in two sessions of negotiations of a new Collective Employment Agreement (CEA) on 1st and 2nd and 17th of March. The Unite bargaining team included seven delegates from McDonald’s restaurants from Dunedin to Auckland.

Unite raised just over 30 claims with the McDonald’s bargaining team mainly around staff wages including $15 an hour rate, allowances, guaranteed hours for staff/recognition of full and part time positions and union rights. Many of the claims raised by Unite are driven by a desire to see a consistent approach towards allowances and policies throughout the company.

McDonald’s raised seven claims that they want to see in this CEA. They are requesting a 3 year term for the agreement, the introduction of a tiered rate (this would only apply to staff under 18 years old staff and would pay them 20% of the minimum wage i.e.. currently $10.20), change the breaks to echo the prevailing legislation (this would change 15min breaks to 10min), introduction of the 90 day probation period, adoption of section 20(a) of the ERA Amendment Act (No. 2) i.e. union access and for Unite to not process membership forms for 72 hours to allow a ‘suitable opportunity’ to seek independent advice.
Following the first 2 days of negotiations the Unite bargaining team was able to indicate that there were four key claims that Unite would need to consult with members. These included:

• A pathway to $15 per hour
• Higher Duties Allowance
• Guaranteed Hours
• Graveyard Matters (graveyard allowance, travel allowance and restaurant safety)

Unite Organisers and delegates will be canvassed staff throughout restaurants before 17th March and asked members to complete a survey to indicate how important each of these issues are.

The results showed that the Pathway to $15 an hour and some guaranteed hours were "very important" to nearly all those who responded (86% and 77%).

Further bargaining will be scheduled soon.

The Unite representatives who attended negotiations from the restaurants include; Lei Jin (Auckland Central), Hayden Blatch (South Auckland), Pelini Mosala (Auckland Airport), Christopher Smith (Hamilton), Adam Osborne-Smith (Wellington), Vickie Hoete-Dodd (Christchurch), Catherine Campbell (Dunedin) Matt McCarten (Unite) and Tom Buckley (Unite).