Fast food workers rally for higher wages

Workers in L.A. are marching to show solidarity with workers in other cities that do not have a $15 minimum wage, as well as to call for a union. It was actually an investor meeting in NY City. Rallies were also held in Seattle, Yakima and Olympia.

Organizers said the protests would include workers from McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, KFC and other restaurants. Organizers said strikes would take place in 270 cities and protests in hundreds more.

“To date since these days of action have begun, this is the smallest actual McDonald’s employee participation that we’re aware of”, McComb said. Demonstrators gathered at this McDonald’s on Mission and 24th streets before staging a march and voicing their demands.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday that he will unilaterally raise the minimum wage for a few 10,000 state employees to $15 per hour, continuing his change of heart on the issue.

US fast-food workers protested on Tuesday in support of a $15-an-hour minimum wage and union rights in a campaign they hope will catch the attention of candidates in the 2016 elections. “I’m here because we need to raise the minimum wage so people can be secure and have peace of mind”.

Ebony McCarty, a single mother of three, said she was working two part time jobs until she was laid off from a Madison Arby’s restaurant where she was making $8 an hour.

Walker said she has considered trying to teach kindergarten in public school, which would pay twice as much, but that would require going back to school to get certified, which costs money she doesn’t have.

In July, a state wage board appointed by Cuomo increased the minimum wage for chain fast-food workers to $15 by 2021. “Fight for 15 is especially important here is San Francisco, which is the most expensive city in country”.

And here, there is a measure heading to the ballot next November to raise the wage from $10 to $11.50 an hour.

“There’s so many people here that work very hard to service the people that live here, to make their lives great here”, said Judy Dempsey, who organized the rally as part of Florida’s Fight For $15.

Currently, 46% of the USA work force earns less than fifteen dollars an hour.

“We work. We sweat”. Several bay area cities are moving toward $15 per hour, but not immediately.