Danish Unions Forced McDonald’s to Pay $22/hr

It's not a miracle; it's union solidarity.

Dockworkers refused to unload containers that had McDonald’s equipment in them. Printers refused to supply printed materials to the stores, such as menus and cups. Construction workers refused to build McDonald’s stores and even stopped construction on a store that was already in progress but not yet complete. The typographers’ union refused to place McDonald’s advertisements in publications, which eliminated the company’s print advertisement presence. Truckers refused to deliver food and beer to McDonald’s. Food and beverage workers that worked at facilities that prepared food for the stores refused to work on McDonald’s products.

In addition to wreaking havoc on the company’s supply chains, the unions engaged in picketing and leaflet campaigns in front of McDonald’s locations, urging consumers to boycott the company.

Once the sympathy strikes got going, McDonald’s folded pretty quickly and decided to start following the hotel and restaurant agreement in 1989.