McDonald's McAngry with dictionary word "McJob"



CHICAGO (Reuters) - Dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster has hit a McSore Spot with McDonald's over the inclusion of the word "McJob" in its latest Collegiate Dictionary.

The latest edition of the dictionary defines "McJob" as "a low paying job that requires little skill and provides little opportunity for advancement."

In an open letter sent to the media on Friday, Jim Cantalupo, chairman and chief executive of the world's largest fast-food chain, took issue with the inclusion of the word and definition.

The definition "is not only an inaccurate description of restaurant employment, it's also a slap in the face to the 12 million men and women who work hard every day in America's 900,000 restaurants," Cantalupo said.

More than 1,000 people who own McDonald's restaurants got their training serving customers behind the counter, he said, taking issue with the notion that work in the fast-food outlets is a dead-end job. Cantalupo also pointed to members of McDonald's top management, including President and Chief Operating Officer Charlie Bell, who began their careers working as crew members at McDonald's restaurants.

"In fact, McDonald's trains more young people than America's armed forces," Cantalupo said.

He also said the company has a trademark on the word "McJOBS," which refers to its program for training and placing people with disabilities.

Cantalupo called for Merriam-Webster to eliminate the definition in its next edition and on its Internet site.

In a statement, Merriam-Webster stood by the definition.

"For more than 17 years, 'McJob' has been used as we are defining it in a broad range of publications, including The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Publishers Weekly, Rolling Stone, The Times (London), The Boston Globe, Ms., Harper's, The New Republic, Utne Reader, The Vancouver Sun," the statement said.

It said "words qualify for inclusion in the dictionary because they are widely and commonly used in a broad range of carefully edited sources."

have you ever noticed things looking the same wherever you go? does the homoginization of culture disturb you?

so what about biotechnology? they say it will save the world.

but is this the kind of world we want? corporate control of life itself is going too far... biodiversity is not for sale.

let them know you dream of a different future

resist the commodification of life






made by the beehive collective. you can't really see the image very well here, but go to for a better view.

we re meeting at squeaky wheel (175 elmwood avenue) at 4:30 today to go over a preliminary script for the anti-bush commercial. if youre interested, come along!

we go to miami in a little over a week. yikes! if you can spare 6 days of your life, and want to represent wny for two good causes (stop ftaa! and close the soa!), AND be in warmer weather, lemme know..

in case you didn't know, a bunch of b-lo folks are getting together this evening to plan to do something from buffalo for the moveon.org bush commerical campaign (http://www.bushin30seconds.org)

i don't have lindsay's no. but just show up at squeaky wheel (175 elmwood ave.) at 730 pm tonight (tuesday).

it's confirmed that Amy Goodman is coming to Buffalo on Wed. December 3rd between 4 - 6:30 for a fundraising reception at Hallwalls to bring Democracy Now to Buffalo. There will be other guests appearing, and we will announce them as soon as they are confirmed.

There's a month to organize to do the mailing and organize the event. Would you like to help change the face of Buffalo Radio? Then come to the next meeting of the Buffalo Coalition for Progressive Media on Thursday November 6 at 7 PM. It will be held at WNYCOSH (2495 Main Street, Suite 438 in Buffalo - it's in the Tri Main Building).

What if you can't attend, but still want to help? Well we need a couple of things. We need your voices to tell people about the event, the fundraising drive, and about Democracy Now! And we need names and addresses of People you know who would want to attend a fundraiser or who would contribute to bringing real progressive radio to Buffalo. Despite the reluctance of every public radio station in Western New York to to carry the fastest growing public news program, Democracy Now will be on Buffalo's airwaves come January 2004, but we need your help.

What we need:

-People to attend the meeting of the Buffalo Coalition for Progressive Media. Again it's at 7PM in the WNYCOSH offices (2495 Main Street, Suite 438 in Buffalo - it's in the Tri Main Building). IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND PLEASE LET US KNOW.

We need people to get us the names and addresses of people interested in contributing to Progressive Radio in Buffalo. We need you to talk to them and let them know about this opportunity.

We need people to work on the event and the campaign.

We need people to sell tickets.

(-contact Brian at 833-5416 or email me (emily@elmwoodstrip.com-- it works! use it!) and i can put you in touch w him)