It was a stormy cut for McDonald's, with public health scandals, a change in politics – and now, a boycott.
Last fall, a fast food giant landed in hot water after Deadly flash E. coli He was traced to a fresh, cut onion supplied to a quarter of hamburgers. As a result, McDonald's suffered from a significant reduction in sales and visits to customers, forcing the company to cause control over damage by launching a new Chicken Big MackProviding more than 60 million dollars franchisee In the affected states and spending additional 35 million dollars for marketing To promote transactions such as its cost $ 5.
Then, in January, McDonald's decided Increase some of your initiatives in the field of diversity, justice and inclusion (Dei)Following in the footsteps of several corporations that abandoned their programs after the Donald Trump elections. The company said that it is retired of its specific goals of diversity, including the suspension of external surveys that measure corporate diversity and require suppliers to take part in certain DEI promises. McDonald's also changed the name of its diversity team to the global inclusion team.
After his recent headlines, McDonald's now was the goal of the continuing boycott, initiated by initiated People's Union of the United StatesMass advocacy group. The founder of the trade union, John Schwartz, explained in the message on Instagram that the trade union requires “fair taxes, the end of pulling out prices, real equality and corporate responsibility.”
The boycott began on June 24 and, as expected, will continue until next Monday, June 30.
“This is more than the fries and potatoes of Free, this is about power”, “The US People’s Union” I wrote on InstagramThe field “When we unite and fall into the corporation in their wallets, they listen … This is a demonstration of strength, solidarity and people who contributed to the change. Let them feel it. Let them hear us. ”
Earlier this month, Schwartz provided a list of the reasons for the boycott, saying that McDonald's is guilty of “exploitation of tax loopholes”, participating in “pollution of prices, while wages remain low”, “suppressing the rights of workers and efforts of trade unions”, “support for political figures that threaten democracy”, “practicing executive DEIs without significant changes” and “Priority profits, as well as credibility.”
Schwartz is not lonely in his criticism of a fast food chain. In October last year, the sensation of Elizabeth Warren from Massachusets, Bob Casey from Pennsylvania and Ron Widen from Oregon McDonald's slapped For a substantial weekend of menu prices.
“Earlier this year, McDonald's USA President Joe Erlinger tried to accuse the company’s menu price regarding inflationary pressure and contribution costs, but the data tells another story,” the letter written by three senators says and is considered in the corporate leadership of the company. “McDonald's operating profit in the same year amounted to 52%, which is the highest of the ten largest state -owned companies.”
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“Corporate profit should not come at the expense of people's ability to put food on the table,” the letter added.
In the statements of NBC News, Casey also accused McDonald's “Greedy Textbook”, and Warren said that McDonald's “squeezes customers to make mass profits, paying billions of shareholders wealth, and then turning and accusing high -cost inflation.”
As for whether the continuing McDonald's boycott will have a significant impact remains unclear at present. The US People’s Union previously called for boycotts of other large corporations, including Amazon, Nestlé, Walmart, General Mills and Target.
“The truth is that McDonald's built a global empire from low wages, smart accounting and aggressive lobbying,”- Schwartz said NewsweekThe field “They report a profit record, almost $ 9 billion this year, while many of their employees still cannot afford basic medical care or rent. This is not an opportunity. This is an exploitation dressed as a service. This boycott is not about fast food. We are talking about accountability. The Union of the People’s Union advocates the growing number of Americans who patiently corporate greed, inequality and empty promises. ”
In response to a boycott, McDonald's said Newsweek: “We welcome an honest dialogue with the communities that we serve, but we are disappointed to see these misleading statements that distort our values and distort our actions. Ours is focused on serving our customers and communities. We are ready to serve here. ”
McDonald's released a similar application for CNNSaying: “The McDonald's system also generates billions of federal, state and local taxes annually, and we will continue to pay our fair share.”
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