Last year, unionized fast food workers bravely went on strike to expose an ongoing rat infestation at a popular McDonald’s located in downtown Oakland. Management posted signs in the kitchen stating: “No Videos No Photos No Recording” to try to hide the problem, but workers documented and shared the safety hazards to protect themselves and customers.
And now, right before the holidays, the store owner has announced that this McDonald’s will close its doors for good. Workers were only given 10 days' notice of the store's sudden closure, and will be left without work and necessary income over the holidays. Many of these workers are career McDonald’s workers, and have worked for this McDonald for over 15 years.
McDonald’s has responded to several media inquiries stating that workers should apply to work at other locations, while blindly ignoring the responsibility that employers should have to career workers! Their jobs should be guaranteed!
This GoFundMe will support five McDonald’s workers to help pay their rent this month - Martha, Barbara, Antonia, Elizabeth and Karina.
Martha has worked at this McDonald’s location for 17 years. “I have given my best years to McDonald’s, and to just be given a 10 day notice of no longer having my job… it’s been beyond heartbreaking. We need rules in place to prevent this from happening to other workers because now I don’t know how I will pay my rent next month. My coworkers and I just want to work, we know how to do our jobs and we do them well but without an immediate transfer, there’s no knowing if we’ll ever even get an interview to work at McDonald’s again.”
Barbara has worked at this McDonald’s for more than 18 years. Her husband and 10 year old daughter are currently dependent on her salary because her husband is temporarily on disability for losing a finger.
Antonia has worked at this McDonalds for 8 years. “Employees should be treated with more respect, and we should have been given more notice and employment options at other stores. Instead of celebrating this holiday season, I will be looking for work.”
Elizabeth has worked at this McDonald’s for 4 years, and supports her three kids and her mother with her income from this work. “I expected to be treated with more dignity and respect than this after four years of hard work.”
Karina is a single mother of one young son. She has two fast food jobs but depended on additional hours from McDonalds to make ends meet. Now, without the hours at McDonalds, Karina says she’s not going to be able to pay rent and bills for the month of December. “It feels like they don’t care. McDonald’s is a big chain with a lot of options, so we are just asking for employment.”
More news coverage:
Closure of Oakland McDonald’s that went viral leaves dozens without jobs
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Oakland McDonald’s Closure Prompts Concerns ABC 7 - Bay Area
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