New York City is facing a slight fast-food strike as fast food restaurant workers are protesting at various chains, demanding to higher pay and a union.
Under the latest campaign by lower-wage workers, NYC protesters for the movement called "Fast Food Forward" are seeking wages nearly double what they earn now. In New York, fast-food workers make roughly $8 an hour and they're hoping to have it changed to $15 an hour. They are also looking to unionize their workers according to Reuters.
The effort is being led by the New York Communities for Change group which has previously helped car wash and grocery workers to form unions.
Fast-food restaurant employees protested in New York City on Thursday, demanding higher pay and the right to form a union - the latest attempt by lower-wage workers in the United States to increase their compensation.
On Thursday, workers from McDonald's, Burger King , Wendy's, Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and Domino's restaurants were set to hold strikes.At the Midtown Manhattan McDonald's near Grand central, 14 people walked off the job on Thursday morning. Of those workers, 11 were scheduled to work. It is expected that similar actions will take place at dozens of restaurants around the city.
"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," Jonathan Westin, organizing director of NYCC told the Los Angeles Times.
"Most workers are being paid minimum wage, they can't afford rent, they can't afford to put food on the table," he said. "Many people rely on public assistance to subsidize their wages."
During a time of recession, jobs are hard to come by. Adults now have to compete with high school students for jobs that provide low wages which are not possible to live on, even if the job is full time.
"People just can't find decent wage jobs," Westin told Reuters. "The floor needs to be raised for everybody."
While workers are demanding higher wages, some say the increase to $15 is too much as it would negatively impact customers.
Richard Adams, a former McDonald's franchise director and restaurant owner who now advises the company's franchisees said each good item would face a price increase of at least $1 to $2.
"There goes the Dollar Menu," Adams told Reuters.
Fast food workers aren't the only ones fighting for higher wages. Last week, Walmart held protests as they demand higher pay, benefits and better work conditions.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
