International Socialists

The SuperSizeMyPay.Com fast food campaign is being spearheaded by the Unite Union but is supported by the widerunion movement and a broad range of community groups. Amy Valk, a 19-year-old worker from McDonald's GlenfieldRd, said after the meeting that it was "awesome that we are not alone and the community supports us. It is ridiculoushow much wages had been slashed since the 1980s and we will have to take widespread industrial action to win ourdemands. This meeting gives me the confidence that we can strike in my store." Campaign coordinator SimonOosterman said the meeting represented a big step forward in community support for these workers. "Low paid andminimum wage workers are challenging some of the largest international companies (McDonalds, KFC, Starbucks,Pizza Hut, and Wendy's) and the more support they can get the stronger our campaign will be", he said.

Unite President Matt McCarten told the meeting that fast food workers real wages had halved in the last 20 years - a consequence he blamed on the fact thatworkers in the fast food industry have notbeen unionised for a generation. "There comes a time in our lives when we have tomake a stand for justice. Today is one ofthose moments', he said.

Mr Oosterman said that fast-food workersat the meeting voted unanimously to take further action, including industrial action,to support their claims for $12 minimumper hour, an end to youth rates and securehours of work.

"This action will unfold in coming days while negotiations continue with McDonalds, Restaurant Brands (KFC,Starbucks and Pizzahut) and Burger King. A major day of action across the whole fast-food sector is planned for Saturday 18 March and has been dubbed "The Big Pay Out". This will involve a march up Queen Street, Auckland, anda free concert with supporting artists at Myers Park. A website for the day is already established atwww.bigpayout.co.nz" he concluded.

The Town Hall meeting also threw its support behind Green MP Sue Bradford's private members bill to abolish youth rates which will be debated in parliament next week.