A FAST FOOD worker has said that working at McDonald's is not a menial job.

Second assistant manager at the Great Western Way branch of the burger chain, James Murray, has added his name to a petition to have the word McJob removed from the Oxford English Dictionary.

The term, first coined in Douglas Coupland's novel Generation X, is defined by the dictionary as: "An unstimulating, low-paid job with few prospects, especially one created by the expansion of the service sector."

The term was added to the dictionary in 2006 but workers for fast food giant want it removed.

"Working at McDonald's is nothing like I expected," said James.

"People do have perceptions about what it is like working here but I'm really proud of my job.

"There are great prospects here and it is like a family. I felt offended when I heard that the word McJob was being put in the dictionary.

"McJob is and unfair reflection of what it is like working here.

"My job gives me some great management skills which I could take on to somewhere else, or hopefully progress through the company to the point of becoming a franchisee."

James, 26, from Liden, explained that he had got his job after seeing an advert for a restaurant manager, then went on a management training course.

"I came here as a trainee manager. After four months I qualified as a shift manager and just before Christmas got promoted to second assistant manager.

"Staff come here without any experience and get all the training they need.

"The pay is good. For the guys in the kitchen, the pay is competitive. They get over minimum wage. I'm not sure how much our competitors pay, but I think it's about the same as Burger King.

"And for managers the pay is pretty good."

James also wanted to dispel the myth that McDonald's staff do not stick with the jobs long term.

"A number of the staff here have been here five years or more. We have a lot of students, who come and go, but at least half dozen people have been here five years."

James said that 60 people work at the Great Western Way branch of the chain, and they are currently recruiting 10 more.

The fast food chain started a petition last year to have the expression removed from the dictionary.

Swindon Mayor Michael Barnes is among those who have signed.

"I signed it because I believe that a career at McDonald's can be very worthwhile for some people," he said.

"There are possibilities of travel and promotion. I know someone who took a job in McDonald's here to a new job in Canada.

"And I think that having a word in the dictionary demeans the work of some people, particularly those who feel they are doing a worthwhile job."