McDonald’s says it has walked out of a bargaining meeting to end zero hour contracts because the union representing food workers was being unreasonable.

McDonald’s on Wednesday confirmed it walked out of negotiations with Unite Union on Tuesday because its representatives did not feel the meeting would achieve anything.

“We did feel like it was a meaningful conversation and then they basically reneged on a previous claim,” the chain’s communications manager, Kim Bartlett, told NZ Newswire.

Bartlett said McDonald’s representatives had made a revised offer around ending zero hour contracts.

The offer was in line with a request made by the union at a previous bargaining meeting.

Unite says it thought the offer was “meaningful” but wanted to know whether McDonald’s offer would result in a secure hours regime with secure shifts.

Bartlett said the union chose a sticking point that revolved around the use of the words “worked hours” as opposed to “scheduled hours”.

“That’s when things soured a little,” she said.

According to the fast food giant, the offer it put on the table provides 80 per cent security of hours up to a 32 hour cap based on an average of the previous 12 weeks’ worked hours.

“To be clear, this further formalises the end of what has become known as zero hours contracts at McDonald’s NZ,” it said in a statement.

The chain says they left the bargaining table because they did not feel continuing the meeting would bring the sides closer to agreement.

Unite says its members at McDonald’s will go on strike on May 1, which is International Workers Day.

McDonald’s says the planned industrial action makes it question the union’s commitment to the bargaining process.

“Unite need to stop making excuses and negotiate in good faith.”

AAP