Gahyun Lee was dismissed from her job at a McDonald’s outlet in Yeokgok, Gyeonggi Province on September 15 following her visit to Los Angeles earlier that month to support the national action by US fast food workers.
Management had previously warned her about union activity in May - citing a phone call from the head office - after she denounced wage and scheduling manipulation and unsafe workplace practices at a May 15 Seoul rally in support of global fast food workers. Management refused to provide her with an explanation of why her contract was terminated, instead telling her to reapply for the job. Her application was rejected.
The Arbeit Workers’ Union (which organizes precarious workers) is demanding her reinstatement and publicizing her case. You can support them - USE THE FORM BELOW TO SEND A MESSAGE to McDonald’s Korea corporate management calling on the company to reinstate Gahyun Lee, recognize union rights and representation and enter into good faith talks with the union over unfair practices.
Here is the message you are sending :
To Joe Erlinger, Managing Director McDonald’s Korea
CC Eunyeong Lee, Senior Director of Human Resources
Dear Sirs
I am outraged to learn that Gahyun Lee, who worked at a McDonald’s outlet in Yeokgok, Gyeonggi Province, was dismissed from her job on September 15 following her visit to Los Angeles earlier that month to support US fast food workers. She had been previously warned by management to refrain from union activity after she spoke at a rally in support of global fast food workers on May 15. Management refused to provide her with an explanation of why her contract was terminated, instead telling her to reapply for the job. Her application was rejected. It is evident that her employment was terminated in retaliation for her exercising the internationally recognized human right of workers to form and join unions and to negotiate the conditions of their employment. I therefore call on McDonald’s to immediately reinstate Gahyun Lee, to recognize the right of McDonald’s workers to union representation and to enter into good faith talks with the Arbeit Workers’ Union to address their concerns about employment practices.
Yours sincerely