Fast food staff to protest proposed end to wage agreement

Staff at a number of fast food giants are taking to the streets later to highlight their anger at what they regard as the industry's attack on their wages.

Members of the Restaurant and Catering Workers Forum are gathering in Dublin city centre at lunchtime to protest against management at Burger King, Eddie Rockets and Supermac's.

All three businesses are part of a group which has launched a legal challenge to a system put in place by the Joint Labour Committee, setting out terms for pay and conditions.

The case is due to be heard in the High Court today.

SIPTU's Pat Ward said that these staff are already low-paid and any further cuts to their pay would be unfair.

"There’s no question or doubt that further cuts to the minium pay and conditions of restaurant workers will drive workers already struggling to survive into greater hardship and poverty," he said.

"There’s absolutely no truth to an argument that this is about saving jobs.

"Companies like Supermac’s have actually seen their profits dramatically increase and this is nothing more than an attempt to drive down the pay of low-paid workers in the catering and restaurant sector."