A flood of emails from hundreds of Dandenong Ranges residents has been the response to McDonald’s refusal to meet Matthew Guy, the Victorian Planning Minister. Mr. Guy wants to discuss his concerns with the looming construction at Tecoma of McDonald’s first outlet in the Dandenong Ranges.
A social media campaign on Sunday resulted in over 400 emails awaiting McDonald’s Aust. CEO Catriona Noble on Monday morning, all asking her to meet Mr. Guy.
“This operation shouldn’t have been necessary, but was only brought about because of the refusal of McDonald’s to meet the minister” said campaigner Garry Muratore. “For over a week Ms. Noble refused to take our calls or reply to emails requesting her to meet Mr. Guy, so we had to send a strong message that McDonald’s arrogance does not go unnoticed.”
The email to Ms. Noble was also copied to senior McDonald’s executives in the USA, as well as to No Maccas In The Hills so that this group could keep count of what was sent. Organiser Karl Williams declared “Within a hour we had mobilized almost 100 people to send emails then 400 by Monday morning and they’re still flooding in. For an organization that paints itself as a good corporate citizen, McDonald’s really needs to know how its bullying behaviour has outraged so many people. If this doesn’t evoke a proper response, then all McDonald’s claims of “extensive community consultation” seem rather empty.”
The group has vowed to keep up the pressure on McDonald’s. “We’re aware of how McDonald’s mail server diverts emails from disgruntled citizens like us, so we gave instructions on how to sidestep the server. McDonald’s can expect more complaints from an even wider audience if it continues to behave in the same manner” said Mr. Muratore.
