Over a 150 workers from fast food chains (Burger King, KFC, McDonald’s and Wendy’s) were on strike on July, 29 to demand higher living wages and the right to form a union.
The general earning of the workers is the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Typically, a working class New Yorker won’t survive much on minimum wage because of high rents and the price of food, unless the wages rises to $15 an hour, which the workers are demanding.
The fast food workers gathered at Union Square on 14th Street & Broadway and marched to the nearest McDonald’s at 16th Street while hundreds more gathered to support the striking workers as they walked out of there. The crowd included veteran labor organizers, students, immigrant workers as well as Occupy Wall Street activists.
The one day strike was part of the “Fast Food Forward” campaign. The “Fast Food Forward” campaign was launched by the Service Employees International Union. Monday’s action is just the latest in a series of strikes, walkouts, and work stoppages by fast food workers across the country.
The Campaign is being waged in New York City, Kansas City, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Flint, and Milwaukee. In addition, union and community groups have joined in support of the campaign.
