Thousands of fast food workers went on strike in branches across seven U.S. cities on Monday in what could be the largest strike of its kind in U.S. history.
The workers are protesting unlivable wages and are calling for a nationwide living wage of $15 dollars an hour.
“A lot of the workers are living in poverty, you know, not being able to afford to put food on the table or take the train to work,” said Jonathan Westin, director of Fast Food Forward, who has been organizing fast-food workers in New York City.
On Monday morning walkouts began in branches of McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Domino’s, Wendy’s and other restaurants across Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, St Louis, Kansas City, and Flint, Michigan, as well as New York City.
A large rally is now expected at New York’s Union Square at 2pm.
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“The workers are striking over the fact that they can’t continue to maintain their families on the wages they’re being paid in the fast food industry,” said Westin.
The average fast food worker in New York makes $8.25 per hour, with $11,000 being the national yearly average while the national minimum wage remains at a staggering $7.25.
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