American cities gear up for nationwide fast food strikes
31 Aug 2013 3:51 AM IST
US fast-food customers in search of burgers on Thursday might run into striking workers instead.
Organisers say thousands of fast-food workers were set to stage walkouts in dozens of cities, part of a push to get chains such as McDonald's, Taco Bell and Wendy's to pay higher wages.
It's expected be the largest in a series of nationwide strike by fast-food workers, according to organisers.
Workers say they want USD 15 an hour, which would be about USD 31,000 a year for full-time employees. That's more than double the federal minimum wage, which many fast food workers make, of USD 7.25 an hour, or USD 15,000 a year.
The move comes amid calls from the White House, some members of Congress and economists to raise the minimum wage, which was last raised in 2009.
But most proposals seek a far more modest increase than the one workers want. President Barack Obama wants to raise it to USD 9 an hour.
The push has brought considerable attention to the so-called ‘McJobs’ that are known for their low pay and limited prospects.
Fast-food workers say they can't live on what they're paid.
Shaniqua Davis, 20, lives in New York City with her boyfriend, who is unemployed, and their 1-year-old daughter.
Davis works at a McDonald's, earning USD 7.25 an hour. Her schedule varies, but she never gets close to 40 hours a week.
‘Forty? Never. They refuse to let you get to that (many) hours.’
Her weekly paycheck is USD 150 or much lower. Davis plans to take part in the strike today.
McDonald's Corp. and Burger King Worldwide Inc. say they don't make decisions about pay for
the independent franchisees that operate the majority of their US restaurants.
Organisers say thousands of fast-food workers were set to stage walkouts in dozens of cities, part of a push to get chains such as McDonald's, Taco Bell and Wendy's to pay higher wages.
It's expected be the largest in a series of nationwide strike by fast-food workers, according to organisers.
Workers say they want USD 15 an hour, which would be about USD 31,000 a year for full-time employees. That's more than double the federal minimum wage, which many fast food workers make, of USD 7.25 an hour, or USD 15,000 a year.
The move comes amid calls from the White House, some members of Congress and economists to raise the minimum wage, which was last raised in 2009.
But most proposals seek a far more modest increase than the one workers want. President Barack Obama wants to raise it to USD 9 an hour.
The push has brought considerable attention to the so-called ‘McJobs’ that are known for their low pay and limited prospects.
Fast-food workers say they can't live on what they're paid.
Shaniqua Davis, 20, lives in New York City with her boyfriend, who is unemployed, and their 1-year-old daughter.
Davis works at a McDonald's, earning USD 7.25 an hour. Her schedule varies, but she never gets close to 40 hours a week.
‘Forty? Never. They refuse to let you get to that (many) hours.’
Her weekly paycheck is USD 150 or much lower. Davis plans to take part in the strike today.
McDonald's Corp. and Burger King Worldwide Inc. say they don't make decisions about pay for
the independent franchisees that operate the majority of their US restaurants.
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