A week after hundreds of Walmart employees walked off their jobs to demand better wages and the freedom to form a union, fast-food workers from some of the nation’s largest chains are staging a similar walkout.
Employees from McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell and KFC staged protests Thursday in locations around New York City, demanding $15 an hour in pay – more than double the minimum wage some receive – and the right to form a union.
“What we’re finding is that there’s huge support among fast-food workers to form a union and to fight back against the poverty wages that they’re being paid,” said Jonathan Westin, organizing director of New York Communities for Change, which is helping to organize the strike.
The first walkout began at a McDonald’s on Madison Avenue at 6:30 a.m., where 14 workers refused to enter the building – the majority of the morning shift, Westin said. The protests moved to downtown Brooklyn, the Penn Station area, and Times Square.
Los Angeles Times
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.