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all Burger King news
Earthquake information: Employer Responses
Tue 1 Mar 11
Unite has contacted all employers of Unite members in the Christchurch area. The email we sent out is copied below.
These are some of the shorter responses we have received or had forwarded to us from Christchurch employers. We will update information as we receive it.
If any Christchurch member has not heard form their employer about pay and working hours please contact Unite asap on 08002UNITE or support@unite.org.nz
For detailed responses see the following pages:
Millenium Hotels
McDonalds
Restaurant Brands (KFC, Starbucks and Pizza Hut
ISS and First Security
Accor Hotels
Final written warning for Facebook comments outrageous
Fri 11 Feb 11
Unite Union National Director Mike Treen described as outrageous the decision by Burger King to give a final written warning today to a young worker who posted “Real jobs don’t underpay and overwork people like BK does” on a private Facebook page.
BK worker faces sack over private facebook use
Fri 4 Feb 11
Unite Union is appalled that a union member employed by fast-food company Burger King faces the sack for posting the words “Real jobs don’t underpay and overwork people like BK does” on a private page of Facebook.
The 27-year-old from BK in Dunedin is upset and stressed at facing a charge of serious misconduct for the posting which is not available for public view.
“It’s a comment most New Zealanders know to be true about the fast-food industry in any case,” says Unite National Director Mike Treen. “We all know these companies are tied at the hip to the minimum wage and workers are frequently run off their feet.”
Burger king and Mcdonalds workers: what do you want?
Tue 14 Dec 10
Negotiations are quickly approaching for two of the largest fast food industry staff contracts. Unite will be negotiating over wages and conditions with McDonald’s and Burger King from March 2011.
Delegates from both of these companies attending Unite’s inaugural conference in Auckland recently raised discussed what they would like to see change at work and in their contracts. Here are some of their suggestions:
McDonald’s:
- $15 per hour start rate
Security of hours and recognition of the full time position
Graveyard allowance applied to all staff and for the entire shift.
McCafe training and allowances
A union noticeboard in each restaurant
Security provided during night shifts
At least 2 maintenance staff rostered at all times
Short till? Don't get forced to pay
Tue 30 Jun 09
Unite recently got a Pizza Hut worker $100 back after they had been pressured to reimburse for a till that was short. Unite members are advised not to offer to personally reimburse for till shortfalls. Get in touch with the union if you come under pressure to make up the difference yourself.
BurgerKing Kiwisaver contributions
Tue 30 Jun 09
Burger King workers belonging to the KiwiSaver scheme found in April that wage increases, where applicable, had been reduced or foregone to pay the employers Kiwisaver contribution. This was never agreed to in contract negotiations with Unite.
This means that Union members should still have recieved their negotiated rates but didn't. Unite organisers have pressured the company to change this and the company has agreed to make their contribtuion in addition to wages and with backpay to April 1st. The company is not compelled to do this for employees who are not covered by the Unite agreement.
Contact your delegate or Unite organiser if you are concerned that your Kiwisaver contributions are not right.
Rosters and Hours of work in Restaurants
Mon 18 May 09
Over the last month several issues have been raised with Unite organisers regarding security or hours and roster protocols, the following is a summary of what your contract says about these important issues.
BK’s Kiwisaver rip-off – thank you for your contribution
Mon 18 May 09
Earlier this year Unite negotiated a new agreement with Burger King which gave staff some gains in pay and security of hours. Burger King, however, is doing everything possible to ensure that remuneration stays as low as possible. In early April members received a letter stating the following.
Burger King agreement breaks new ground with redundancy for fast-food workers
Thu 2 Apr 09
Unite union members have this week ratified an agreement with Burger King which breaks new ground for fast-food workers.
It is the first agreement in the industry which has redundancy payments for workers in the case of a store closure.
It also represents the absolute end of youth rates in all Unite agreements with fast-food companies and cinemas where young workers predominate.
The redundancy clause is a modest start, giving two weeks pay for a worker employed for a year and a weeks pay for each subsequent year in cases where a store closes and an employee cannot be redeployed to another store.
Whangarei fast food workers urge MP to raise the minimum wage
Fri 16 Jan 09
Thirty-eight Whangarei fast food workers at McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King have signed an open letter to their Member of Parliament Phil Heatley urging him and his government to raise the minimum wage by $1 a hour.[1]
The workers are members of the Unite Union which is asking the government to give poor workers a respite from the soaring cost of living this year by lifting the minimum wage.
“Phil Heatley got a $10,000 pay rise in 2008, so he will be an absolute hypocrite if he and his government refuses to move the minimum wage by just $1, and help improve the lives of thousands of Northland workers who are paid at minimum wage or just above it,” said Unite Union National Director Mike Treen.
