Fast food
workers went on strike against McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King and other
restaurants in 158 American cities Thursday, according to organizers.
Supporters
held solidarity
actions in some 93 cities spread across 36 countries, according to FastFoodGlobal.org. The organization
did not report any strikes taking place in Minnesota Wisconsin Minneapolis
“These are
billion-dollar companies that can afford to pay their employees better,”
organizers said in a statement. “Low-wage jobs are the fastest growing jobs in
the nation, and they need to pay more so that workers like us can make ends
meet, and so that we can rebuild the middle class and get the economy working
again.”
Demands of
the strikers include a wage of at least $15 an hour and the right to organize
without employer interference.
Thursday
marked the most coordinated, sophisticated and biggest fast food protests to
date. The group that organized the Minneapolis rally, 15 Now Minnesota,
said it hopes to build on the momentum from Thursday – and on recent successes
like the passage of a $15 an hour minimum wage in Seattle – to raise wages in
Minneapolis.
According
to a recent Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development study,
the average Twin Cities family four needs two full-time workers making at least
$18/hour to meet basic living expenses. With an ever-widening equity gap
in cities like Minneapolis
The Minnesota Legislature recently raised the state’s minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, phased in over a period of three years.
The Minnesota Legislature recently raised the state’s minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, phased in over a period of three years.
“$9.50 is a
step in the right direction, but achieving a living wage for all will require a
grassroots movement of working class people and a broader dialogue,” said Ty
Moore, whose campaign for city council highlighted the need for a $15 an hour
minimum wage.
> The article above was written by Barb Kucera and is reprinted from WorkdayMinnesota.
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