This could total about 60,000 current and former employees and millions of dollars. Unite Union, which had worked with the global fast food giant to resolve the issue, said they were “very pleased” with the agreement. This means McDonald’s will go back to November 1, 2009 as opposed to other companies that have agreed to go back six years as they are legally obligated to do. McDonald’s has also worked with the Ministry of Business Innovation and Enterprise (MBIE) to resolve the issue.
Unite Union is also working with Burger King and other top 100 employers that the MBIE has not approached yet. Burger King had not promised to pay back workers as of last month. The union contends that 90% of private-sector employees will get zero compensation unless the government steps up.