PARLIAMENTARY candidates in Southampton protested outside city branches of a fast food giant over zerohour contracts.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalitions’ Test and Itchen candidates Nick Chaffey and Sue Atkins, and Labour Itchen candidate Rowenna Davis protested outside the WestQuay Shopping Centre and Shirley Road branches of McDonalds.

It was part of a global campaign in support of a strike by fast food workers striking in the United States.

Mr Chaffey said: “I am supporting the day of action today because I am a trade unionist who has spent years fighting against poverty pay. The trade unions have to fight all the mean attempts by bosses to reduce workers’ share.”

Ms Davis said: “Fast food workers, carers and young people have seen a huge increase in insecurity at work over the last few years, and too often wages have not increased with the cost of living.”

McDonalds has said the organisation “prides itself” on being a flexible employer, adding: “for the majority of our employees, flexibility is one of the main things that they value about their job at McDonald’s”.

In a statement the firm said all employees have permanent contracts of employment and all hourly-paid employees receive benefits such as sick pay, training and holiday pay.