Strikes called off as McDonald's ends zero-hours contracts

1 May 2015 - Strikes planned for McDonald's restaurants today have been called off after the company reached an agreement with the Unite Union over zero-hours contracts. Workers will be guaranteed 80 per cent of the average hours worked over a three-month period. McDonald's is the last of the major fast food brands to address the issue, with the Union calling for the government to outlaw the practice to protect other workers in smaller chains or independent restaurants. Media reports have suggested that these are more likely to be the scene of minimum wage breaches or immigration frauds than franchised brands.