The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.62/No.17           May 4, 1998 
 
 
McDonald's Workers In Ohio Strike For Dignity  

BY TONY PRINCE
MACEDONIA, Ohio - "This strike was about respect. It really wasn't about money." That is how 15-year-old striker Mike Madeja summed up the five-day walkout a group of workers carried out against a McDonald's restaurant in this suburb of Cleveland. According to the Lorain Morning Journal, this may have been the first strike at a McDonald's in the United States.

The strikers, most of whom are in their teens, walked out April 12 in protest against management's continued mistreatment of the workers. Madeja explained, "The boss called my friend names. He also harassed an older lady, Margaret, and made her cry. He grabbed her arm and yelled at her because she put a garbage bag in the wrong place." The young workers were also angry that they were being paid $5.85 per hour to train new employees who were being paid $6.50 per hour.

Jamal Nickens, 20, described what happened after the incident with the older worker. "We talked to the younger workers and got everyone to agree on walking out. Then on Sunday morning [April 12] we all walked out. It took them three hours to find enough people to get the store open. Management was taken completely by surprise. They had to call their corporate office in Chicago."

McDonald's initial response through its regional spokeswoman, Sue Hennessey was to say, "The owner-operator of the Macedonia McDonald's is eager to meet with the employees one-on-one and in small groups to listen to their concerns."

"I thought we were going to get fired when we went out on strike," Madeja admitted. Nickens pointed out, "When the union came in it made management understand." He was referring to the fact that a representative of the Teamsters union dropped by the picket line a day or two into the strike and offered the union's support. Twenty of the workers signed union cards.

The group was surprised by the amount of support they received in the five days they were on strike. Madeja said, "A lot of the community supported us, and most of the truck drivers. Plus we got donations." Striker Matt Casserlie, 17, said, "All the support helped our morale a lot, especially the honking. The truckers especially honked a lot."

The restaurant can easily be seen from the southbound lane of Interstate Highway 271, and tractor trailers on the highway were honking in support as we stood on McDonald's front lawn.

The strike became national news. It was covered by CNN and featured on Jay Leno's Late Night Show, as well as on nationwide radio talk shows.

On April 16 the strikers turned back a truck delivering buns to the restaurant that was driven by a Teamster member, and McDonald's ran out of buns. A United Parcel Service driver also turned around without making his delivery.

That afternoon, management came to an agreement with the workers. Josh Jones, 15, explained that a couple of the main points were that "we get one week vacation after working one year, and the company is going to even out the wages." Management will also post weekly work schedules four days in advance. Most of the other points in the agreement include employee-of-the-month recognition, anniversary pins, and annual employee summer outings. Jones commented, "They say they'll put their employees first. It's hard to say if I believe that."

Steve Stem, a 19-year-old worker, said the agreement was "a compromise. They gave in on some things and we gave in on some things. We wanted them to fire one of the bosses and we gave in on that. The agreement is in writing and it's signed by six of us and three people from management, including the owner. It's not a union contract, though. There's no way McDonald's would let a union in here."

Jones added, "We're not members of the Teamsters union. We're associates. We don't have to pay dues. But they told us that if we have any more problems to give them a call."

Some of the workers have had previous experience with unions. Nickens said, "I support unions. I used to be in UFCW [United Food and Commercial Workers] Local 880. Unions are good for full-time workers." Stem added said, "My dad has been a member of the UAW [United Auto Workers] and the Machinists. He worked at Ohio Crankshaft. They were locked out for nine years, and they had some big fights on the picket line. My grandfather was a union man too."

Jones summed up the experience this group of young fighters went through by saying, "This gives us confidence. Management didn't take us seriously, but they do now."

Tony Prince is a member of United Steelworkers of America Local 188 and Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. Congress from the 10th Ohio District.  
 
 
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