Subject: GUELPH: McDonald's Protest a Success
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 14:01:17 -0400 (EDT)
From: Mark McAlpine <mmcalpin@uoguelph.ca>
Animal Liberation Collective
c/o CSA, Level 2 U.C.
University of Guelph
Guelph Ontario,
Canada
Yesterday the Animal Liberation Collective held a picket/protest at one
of Guelph's four McDonalds resturants. We were joined by union activists
and ex-McDonald's workers, and spent three hours distributing
anti-McDee flyers and information on vegetarianism. At one point during
the demonstration, activists lowered the Canadian and McDonald's flags to
half-mast to mark the 3rd anniversary of the death of Mark Hopkins and in
memory of the millions of animals slaughtered by the fast food corp. each
year. We had amazing feedback from people on the streets and in cars
going by, and all but three people going into and coming out of
McDonald's took the flyers to read. A number of young
McDonald's workers who were going inside to start their shift stopped to
chat with us and gave us the "thumbs-up."
Here is the report of the demo from the local paper, the Guelph Mercury.
-------------------------
PROTESTERS TARGET DOWNTOWN McDONALD'S
by Richard Dooley
The Guelph Mercury
Would you like fries with your protest?
A small but dedicated group of protesters passed out leaflets and waved
placards in front of a downtown Guelph McDonald's restaurant in an
attempt to "alert workers of their rights."
About a dozen protesters identifying themselves as animal rights
activists, environmentalists and trade unionists staged the peaceful
demonstration.
"We are telling people that by eating at McDonald's they are investing in
a cancer future," said Richard Brooks, spokesman for the Animal
Liberation Collective.
The Collective, a loose organization of people concerned with animal
welfare issues, is one of about 50 clubs found on the campus of the
University of Guelph.
Although some of the demonstrators are concerned with animal rights, the
main focus is on worker's rights.
Mark McAlpine, a bargaining committee member for the newly formed teaching
assistants union at the university, said the protest is timed to coincide
with the anniversary of the the death of a McDonald's worker in England
three years ago.
"We have information for employees if they want it," said McAlpine. "Its
about knowing your rights."
McAlpine said he spoke to a number of labour groups in town before the
protest and has the blessing of the the teaching assistant's union, CUPE
Local 3913, to participate in the demonstration.
McAlpine said the protest is not a union-organizing drive but an attempt
to educate workers and the public.
A former Kitchener McDonald's employee joined the demonstration because
he said McDonald's workers are taken advantage of because of youth and
inexperience.
"I'm just telling people to be aware of their rights," said Sam Eby,
adding that before he was able to work at McDonald's he had to sign a
contract with a clause preventing union organizing.
"I know what it is like to be 15 years old and needing money and working
in substandard conditions with no benefits," he said.
But McDonald's manager Steve Ford wants to know "Where's the beef?"
Ford, who's father Grant owns four McDonald's restaurants in the area
with three in Guelph and one in Fergus, said theirs is simply a family
business trying to get by.
"I don't know what this is all about or what they are hoping to do," he said.
Ford added he has not received any complaints from workers and said his
employees are well treated.
Workers showed little interest in the protest hurrying past the
demonstrators as the shift changed. Workers behind the counter appoached
by reporters referred questions to Ford.
Customers by and large accepted the leaflets - which appear to have
originated in England - but few were deterred from eating at the popular
restaurant. Some who were contacted said they supported the protest.
"It's a good idea," said Scott Mount, while waiting in the drive-through
for his meal order. "It's about time somebody did something."
Mount, who said he was a regular customer of McDonald's, said he might
think twice about coming back.
Mandy Rogers, also in the drive-through line-up, agreed. "I guess it's
the right thing," she said.
Rogers described herself as not a regular customer but someone who was
"just hungry."
Another man who declined to give his name, said "I think they (the
protesters) are just trying to correct what's wrong."
However, not all agreed. A couple of seniors leaving after their meal
said the protesters "should get jobs."
It's low-cost food and good for seniors and students who can't afford
more, said the man, who wouldn't give his name.
****************************************
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