How employees can improve their lot:Although I have taken to defend McDonald's, I am aware that the
employees have many complaints. My answer: look to Sarah Inglis
of Orangeville, Canada. Form a union.Sarah Inglis tried to get a local union formed for the McDonald's
she worked at. The attempt did not succeed, because of several
factors: The union organizers did not set out a plan so the workers
could see what they would gain; interference from parents and other
teens; and a strong campaign by management over the inability of
protesting employees to get their union cards back.The union organizers only told the employees that they could get
many benefits from joining the union, without explaining exactly
what their plan was to give the workers the benefits. Nor did the
organizers explain to the workers the process of certifying a union
local. Had they done this, the union may have won and McDonald's
would be paying more to its workers.Parents of the many teen workers, not understanding the potential
benefits of the union, told their children to refuse the union.
This is a mistake. In fact, they would have been well-advised to
counsel the opposite. Most unions have been around enough for their
good influence to have waned. But a union in McDonald's would still
have a good reason to exist.Finally, management used a strong advertising campaign to halt the
union, based on the union's organizers lack of telling the workers
how certification worked and what they planned to give to the workers
in a simple little list. Therefore, it can be said that once again a
lack of foresight on the part of the organizers of the union is mostly
responsible for its failure.However, I applaud the actions of Sarah Inglis and hope that other
workers may form unions under McDonald's, instead of workers simply
complaining of work conditions. You can't just complain! You have
to DO something. And a labour union is the best way to do it.
None.