FAST food workers gathered in protest over zero hour contracts with an Unhappy Meals picnic outside McDonalds.

The workers, from the newly formed Glasgow Fast Food Rights Open Branch, and from activist group Better Than Zero, staged their sit down 'picnic' outside the Argyle Street eaterie, dressed as Ronald McDonald clowns.

They were giving out unhappy meals to passers-by with information on working conditions and their lacks of rights.

The workers are calling for an end to zero hour contracts and a £10 an hour wage.

They staged the action to mark the Global Day of Action for Fast Food Rights, called by the global Fast Food Rights (FFR) campaign.

Lorna McKinnon said: “Our newly established FFR branch has been growing significantly with young workers at the front of it, leading the battle to win £10 an hour, and end to zero hours and union rights and recognition.

"We are but one example of similar FFR branches that are springing up all over the country. "The campaign targets issues that are widespread, low pay, zero hours, lack of dignity and respect, so the scope of the type of workers involved has been far and wide. Workers in many different industries have been rallying behind the campaign building it in strength and in numbers."

Last year, the boss of McDonald’s defended the company’s continued use of zero-hours contracts for about 80,000 employees in its British restaurants.

Paul Pomroy said staff loved the flexibility of the contracts, which have been criticised for exploiting workers.

He told the BBC: “We still have zero-hours contracts and they are very flexible contracts, so people at McDonald’s get their shifts two weeks in advance and we allow employees to go and work elsewhere.

“We have a very good system of feedback from our employees and having surveyed our employees they still love the flexibility.”

McDonald’s said about 80% of the 100,000-plus employees at franchised and company-owned restaurants in the UK were on zero-hours contracts

The new Fast Food Rights Open Branch was launched in the city last month and a spokesman said membership had tripled in the past few weeks, with more than 50 members. All are aged under 30.