Subject: Upcoming Events, October 95
Date: Oct 10, 1995
From: McLibel Support Campaign, London
McLibel Support Campaign
c/o 5 Caledonian Road
London N1 9DX UK.
Tel/Fax +44-171-713 1269
PRESS RELEASE Issued 9th October, 1995
Seven Days That Shook the Corporation
12th - 18th October, 1995 (and beyond)
(1) 12th Oct - National Day of Solidarity With McDonald's Workers.
(2) 14-16th Oct - actions worldwide protesting against McDonald's.
(3) 18th Oct - McLibel Defendants begin calling ex-employees to
expose reality of working conditions at McDonald's.
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DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH McDONALD'S WORKERS
12th October, 1995
This will be the third anniversary of the death of Mark Hopkins, a
worker electrocuted at McDonald's Arndale store in Manchester.
During the Mclibel Trial, Jill Barnes (McDonald's UK Safety
Officer) was challenged by the Defendants over a previously
confidential internal Report into Mark's death. The Report had
not been disclosed at Mark's inquest and was only disclosed by
McDonald's to the Defendants days before Jill Barnes took the
stand. The inquest had decided that Mark's death was an
'accident'. But the McDonald's Report had catalogued a number of
company failures and problems, and had made the damning
conclusion: "Safety is not seen as being important at store
level".
Parents of Electrocuted Worker Demand New Inquest
Maureen Hopkins (Mark's mother) is organising a picket at the
Arndale Centre store Noon-1pm:
"I think the Report should have been put before the inquest. It
may have made a difference. I have never been down to the branch
where Mark died and it will be hard for me. But I am doing this
in his memory." - Maureen Hopkins
The discovery of the Report and other documents also not shown to
the inquest jury has lead the Hopkins' family to DEMAND THAT A NEW
INQUEST BE HELD.
There will also be a picket in Central London, organised by the
Support Network for McDonald's Workers. The Network is run by a
group of trade unionists in Hackney, aiming to provide advice and
information, and to promote solidarity for all McDonald's workers
wanting to fight for their rights. The picket will be outside
McDonald's on the Strand (next to Charing Cross station) 5pm-6pm.
In addition, many other stores across the country are being
leafletted with information about employment rights (particularly
concerning health and safety) by trade unionists and labour
movement activists and supporters.
"I want every McDonald's worker to stand up for their rights,
which is why I am backing this support campaign 100%. In this
way, Mark's death will not have been in vain." - Maureen Hopkins
Support Network for McDonald's Workers
56 Clarence Road, LondonE5, UK; Tel 0181-533 7111
Maureen Hopkins, Tel 0161-682 0238
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WORLDWIDE DAY OF ACTION AGAINST McDONALD'S
16th October, 1995
Over Half of McDonald's UK Stores to be Leafletted
October 16th is the 11th annual Worldwide Day of Action Against
McDonald's (also UN 'World Food Day'). Many people around the
world will be handing out the "What's Wrong With McDonald's" or
similar leaflets, or will be protesting against McDonald's in some
other way on or around that day. In the UK, the McLibel Campaign,
and Veggies in Nottingham, are coordinating the leafletting of as
many of the 600 UK McDonald's stores as possible. Over a million
"What's Wrong With McDonald's" leaflets have so far been handed
out on the streets in the UK since the writs were served on the
Mclibel Two. McDonald's attempt to suppress freedom of speech has
completely backfired.
There is a demonstration at McDonald's European Headquarters, High
Road, London N2 (by East Finchley tube), between 4.30pm and
6.30pm. This was recently the scene of a residents' victory:
McDonald's failed in their attempt to obtain planning permission
for an outlet at the HQ following fierce local opposition to their
plans.
- McLibel Support Campaign Tel 0171-713 1269
- Veggies (Patrick Smith) Tel 0115-958 5666.
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Meanwhile...
30 EX-EMPLOYEES TELL THE REAL STORY OF WORKING FOR BIG
MAC
From 18th October, through November 1995
The McLibel Trial is now 15 months old, already the longest libel
trial in UK history, and soon to become the longest civil trial of
any kind. Over thirty ex-McDonald's workers will be called by the
Defendants to testify about the poor pay and conditions at
McDonald's, from 18th October. This includes trade union
officials and activists from around the world who will give
evidence about their experience of organising in the face of
McDonald's hostility to trade unions, for example:
(a) officials from the CFDT union in Lyon, France who will relate
how five McDonald's managers were arrested for trying to rig union
elections in July last year;
(b) a 17-year-old Canadian worker who last year organised a union
branch in McDonald's Ontario - in response, the franchisee got
some of the workers in that store to lie outside in the snow
forming the word 'NO' (to unions);
(c) two McDonald's union activists from the successful 1979
Dublin strike for union recognition;
(d) a McDonald's worker from Norway, representative of the newly
recognised union branch and secretary of the Oslo TUC;
(e) a London TGWU official will testify on conditions in the
catering industry;
(f) a union organiser involved in the last known major union
organising campaign in McDonald's USA (Detroit, early 1980's).
All happenning at Court 35, Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2
(Temple or Holborn tube), most days from 10.30am. Ring 0171-713 1269 for
details.
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ANTI-CORPORATIONS FAYRE
Saturday 28th October, 1995
called by London Greenpeace & the McLibel Support
Campaign
11am-8pm, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1 (nearest tube
Holborn).
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Campaign Statement: The McLibel Support Campaign was set up to
generate solidarity and financial backing for the McLibel
Defendants, who are not themselves responsible for Campaign
publicity. The Campaign is also supportive of, but independent
from, general, worldwide, grassroots anti-McDonald's activities
and protests.
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U.S. McLibel Support Campaign Press Office
PO Box 62 Phone/Fax 802-586-9628
Craftsbury VT 05826-0062 Email dbriars@world.std.com
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