Fast Food Workers Are Turning Up the Heat in Fair Wage Protests
It’s pretty common for those of us with cushy office jobs to look down our noses at people who work in the foodservice industry. Then again, it’s hard to judge when you’re the one getting testy over you’re double-bacon-cheeseburger not coming out of the drive-through window quickly enough. Fast food employees work in over-heated, cramped spaces, deal with crabby customers, and stay on their feet all day. They work hard, and if you ask them, they are not compensated accordingly.
Many fast food employees barely make above minimum wage — which is $7.25 federally — and that makes it hard to get by. A growing group of organized employees have been staging walk-outs, strikes, and protests in a variety of styles since 2012, but this week marks the most sizeable demonstration to date. Protests in over 150 U.S. cities began on Thursday, coordinated by local union-backed coalitions Fast Food Forward and Fight for 15, promoted on the Internet under the shared name “Low Pay is Not OK”. As their names suggest, they’re dedicated to getting food service employees at major chains such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Burger King, a wage of at least $15 an hour, and the right to form unions without retaliation.
Their concerns and demands are very clear, as it states on their Facebook page:
“We work for corporations who are making tremendous profits, but do not pay employees like us enough to support our families and to cover basic needs like food, health care, rent and transportation...These are billion-dollar companies that can afford to pay their employees better. When workers are paid a living wage, not only will it strengthen the economy but it will also reduce crime in our neighborhoods.”
They make a good point. As Mother Jones noted last year, it’s hard for anyone, especially with a family, to survive on minimum wage. While the federal government continues to argue as to whether or not it can afford to raise the minimum, these workers are putting pressure on their employers instead. Companies have tried to pass the buck. Most recently, McDonald’s said that franchise owners are the ones responsible for wage violations. This past July, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that McDonald’s and franchise owners could be held jointly responsible — a decision that the burger giant is, of course, planning to fight.
The protests have been focusing on civil disobedience, including sit-ins at high-traffic chain locations in major cities. The intent is to escalate the attention, while keeping the situation non-violent. They’ve also been joined by The Service Employees International Union, representing healthcare workers and janitors, raising the profile even more so. So far, several dozen protesters have been arrested in New York, Detroit, and San Francisco for blocking traffic. The protests seem to be successful in their goals, as they have been peaceful, and garnered a lot of media exposure. And organizers seem more determined than ever. It’s already been a two-year battle, with no sign of stopping any time soon. See, we told you fast food employees work hard. Maybe it’s time they’re paid like it.
[Pic via Low Pay is Not OK's Facebook Page]
