On Monday, fast food workers in seven major cities protested their works by calling for higher wages.
Strikes against fast food restaurants occurred on Monday after thousands of employees from McDonalds, KFC, and Wendy’s walked out. According to MSN, strikes happened in New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Flint.
Forbes reports Monday’s protest was day one of a weeklong strike. Displeased workers have asked for a paycheck from the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour to $15.00 per hour. New York Communities for Change states that the average fast food workers pay is between $10,000 and $18,000 a year.
“You can’t live off that,” said McDonald’s worker Lisette Ortiz, who has a three-year-old toddler. “I work on my days off. McDonald’s has to meet us halfway.”
Advocacy group Fast Food Forward has backed up the strike, believing the rise in salary will help out cities like New York in the long run.
“If they have more money in their pockets, they’ll spend it right here, helping to boost the entire economy,” said Fast Food Forward director Jonathan Westin.
Not only are workers protesting low wages, but also the right to unionize.