Chicago Fast Food Workers Join Today's National Strike
By Corilyn Shropshire
Chicago Tribune staff reporter
7:57 AM CDT, May 15, 2014
Undeterred by wind and rain, dozens of fast food workers and community activists gathered early Thursday morning outside the so-called Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's in downtown Chicago calling for wages of $15 per hour and better working conditions.
Music by a mariachi band kicked off the early morning demonstration. Rain pancho-clad demonstrators circled the McDonald’s with signs and chanted in Spanish, “What do we want? $15 When do we want it? Now!” and “McDonald’s we are here”
Protests are planned outside of several McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and other fast-food restaurants until 6 p.m. Thursday in 150 cities around the world as workers try to get the companies to raise wages and earn the right to form a union without retaliation.
Chicago protesters said they will be outside the Rock 'n' Roll McDonald’s all day.
Groups backing the effort say that U.S. fast food workers will walk off the job in 150 cities on Thursday. There have been other one-day strikes on certain dates for more than a year.
Workers outside the U.S. are also planning protests for Thursday, including in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, Malawi, Morocco, New Zealand, Panama, and the United Kingdom.
Such efforts are bankrolled largely by the Service Employees International Union and promoted by community groups.
A group of a few hundred fast food workers in Chicago voted unanimously to join the May 15 protest. Thursday marks the fifth time that Chicago fast-food workers are protesting.
In addition to wages of $15 per hour workers say they want to be able to form a union that would bargain over benefits and wages on their behalf. Fast food workers in Chicago make about $8.25 per hour, the state’s minimum wage. Many are part-time workers without benefits and do not have a set schedule.
Fast food workers are a hard group to organize, as most of them are employed by franchisees. A union would have to launch a campaign with every employer and gain the support of the majority of the workers at every location.
For now, the Workers Organizing Committee of Chicago, a group financially backed by the Service Employees International Union, is educating workers on labor laws and asking them to voluntarily join the group, which is registered as a union. The workers do not pay dues but are asked to attend meetings and participate in events.
Ninety-two percent of fast food workers in the Chicago area said they have experienced at least one form of "wage theft," according to findings from a poll released in April on behalf of "Low Pay Is Not OK," part of the union-backed group pushing for higher wages for fast food workers.
Wage theft includes having to work off the clock or being denied breaks during long shifts.
The Workers Organizing Committee of Chicago was formed in November 2012 as a union of fast-food and retail workers.
cshropshire@tribune.com
Follow @Corilyns Follow @chibreakingbiz
 |
| Fast food workers demonstrate in Chicago during 2013. A worldwide strike of low-wage workers took place on May 15, 2014. |
Chicago Tribune staff reporter
7:57 AM CDT, May 15, 2014
Undeterred by wind and rain, dozens of fast food workers and community activists gathered early Thursday morning outside the so-called Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's in downtown Chicago calling for wages of $15 per hour and better working conditions.
Music by a mariachi band kicked off the early morning demonstration. Rain pancho-clad demonstrators circled the McDonald’s with signs and chanted in Spanish, “What do we want? $15 When do we want it? Now!” and “McDonald’s we are here”
Protests are planned outside of several McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and other fast-food restaurants until 6 p.m. Thursday in 150 cities around the world as workers try to get the companies to raise wages and earn the right to form a union without retaliation.
Chicago protesters said they will be outside the Rock 'n' Roll McDonald’s all day.
Groups backing the effort say that U.S. fast food workers will walk off the job in 150 cities on Thursday. There have been other one-day strikes on certain dates for more than a year.
Workers outside the U.S. are also planning protests for Thursday, including in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, Malawi, Morocco, New Zealand, Panama, and the United Kingdom.
Such efforts are bankrolled largely by the Service Employees International Union and promoted by community groups.
A group of a few hundred fast food workers in Chicago voted unanimously to join the May 15 protest. Thursday marks the fifth time that Chicago fast-food workers are protesting.
In addition to wages of $15 per hour workers say they want to be able to form a union that would bargain over benefits and wages on their behalf. Fast food workers in Chicago make about $8.25 per hour, the state’s minimum wage. Many are part-time workers without benefits and do not have a set schedule.
Fast food workers are a hard group to organize, as most of them are employed by franchisees. A union would have to launch a campaign with every employer and gain the support of the majority of the workers at every location.
For now, the Workers Organizing Committee of Chicago, a group financially backed by the Service Employees International Union, is educating workers on labor laws and asking them to voluntarily join the group, which is registered as a union. The workers do not pay dues but are asked to attend meetings and participate in events.
Ninety-two percent of fast food workers in the Chicago area said they have experienced at least one form of "wage theft," according to findings from a poll released in April on behalf of "Low Pay Is Not OK," part of the union-backed group pushing for higher wages for fast food workers.
Wage theft includes having to work off the clock or being denied breaks during long shifts.
The Workers Organizing Committee of Chicago was formed in November 2012 as a union of fast-food and retail workers.
cshropshire@tribune.com
Follow @Corilyns Follow @chibreakingbiz
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