ABC News(NEW YORK) — Thousands of fast food workers took to the streets in more than 230 cities and towns Wednesday, demanding a national minimum wage of 15 dollars an hour.
The “Fight for $15” protests were staged on April 15 — 4/15 — and included rallies, marches and “die-ins” where protesters laid down on streets and sidewalks pretending to be dead.
Jorel Ware, a McDonald’s worker in New York City, said the purpose of the “die-ins” is to show the fast food giant “that they’re killing us.”
“This is what’s going to happen to us and all our families if they don’t decide to change their ways and the wages of what they pay their workers,” Ware said.
“We only make $8.75 an hour,” Ware continued. “We can’t support our families or nothing, like something has to be done about this, because we’re dying, we’re literally dying and that’s our whole point, that they’re killing us, literally, because they want to be greedy.”
In a number of cities, protesters were joined by a number of high-profile officials. Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich led a walkout at a McDonald’s in Oakland, prompting three workers to go on strike, according to USA Today.
McDonald’s continues to be the main fast food target of protesters, despite the company stating in the past that wages are set by independent franchisee owners, which covers about 90 percent of its U.S. restaurants.
McDonald’s released a statement saying, “We respect people’s right to peacefully protest, and our restaurants remain open every day with the focus on providing an exceptional experience for our customers.”
The statement continued, “Recently, McDonald’s USA announced a wage increase and paid time off for employees at its company-owned restaurants and expanded educational opportunities for eligible employees at all restaurants. This is an important and meaningful first step as we continue to look at opportunities that will make a difference for employees.”
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