McDonald’s is coming under significant pressure. Your article (McDonald’s offers staff the chance to get off zero-hours contracts, 15 April), came as a real boost. As it was published we were celebrating the previous day’s successful global day of action targeting McDonald’s. Our fast-food members took to the streets dressed as evil Ronald McDonalds, making front-page news, as they linked with the US Fight for $15 strikes, and fast-food worker protests in 40 countries. Here, Fast Food Rights, led by the bakers’ and food union, BFAWU, has been protesting at McDonald’s and organising fast-food workers for over two years, calling for zero-hours contracts to be scrapped.
We congratulate the Labour party NEC on the decision to refuse McDonald’s a stall at Labour conference. Our members at McDonald’s agree. The move has increased pressure on McDonald’s. We see McDonald’s’ decision to offer all staff a contract of four, 16 or 30 hours as a major shift. Protest has an impact. We will continue fighting for a £10 an hour minimum wage for all and union rights. We say to McDonald’s: if you can rebrand so much in your stores, from store layout to children’s meals, surely you can adapt your business model, with the mega profits generated by your workforce, to recognise your workers’ union and meet with the BFAWU now.
Ian Hodson National president, Bakers, Food & Allied Workers Union
Ronnie Draper General secretary, BFAWU
Julie Sherry National coordinator, Fast Food Rights
Michael Bradley Unite the Resistance
Rob Williams National Shop Stewards Network
Claire Laker-Mansfield Youth Fight for Jobs
• As part of Responsible Business Week we are calling on UK businesses, regardless of size or sector, to join the B Corporation movement. We are a global community of companies, aiming to redefine what it means to be “successful” in the 21st century. It is no longer legitimate for businesses to measure success by profit alone. Today’s consumers, and employees are increasingly demanding that business make a positive impact on wider society – from local communities to the environment. Certified B Corporations make a legally binding commitment to equally weight their impact on people and planet alongside profit when they measure their success.
This is not yet another CSR initiative; it is a radical new way to fundamentally alter how we run our businesses – from the ground up. To succeed in the global race to attract talent and build a loyal customer base, the UK’s business community must make a genuine commitment to create benefit for its broader community as well as its shareholders. We have a unique opportunity to reimagine business as a force for good. Let’s not waste it.
Paul Lindley Founder and chairman, Ella’s Kitchen
Dominic Jackman Co-founder, Escape the City
Edward Perry Founder and CEO, COOK
Duncan Goose Founder and managing director, One Brand
Michelle Wright Founder and CEO, Cause4
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• The first letter above was amended on 20 April 2016. An earlier version referred to Jeremy Corbyn’s decision to refuse McDonald’s a stall at Labour conference; one of the signatories contacted us after the letter was published to say that was a mistake.
