Detroit Workers Push for Higher Fast-food Wages
Holly Fournier, The Detroit News
11:47 a.m. EST
December 4, 2014
Highland Park — A crowd of protesters gathered early Thursday at a Highland Park McDonald’s to participate in a national demonstration to push fast-food chains to pay their employees at least $15 an hour.
“We had hundreds of folks who came out and supported us at 6 o’clock this morning,” said the Rev. Charles Williams II, Michigan regional president for the National Action Network and pastor of Historic King Solomon Church in Detroit. “We watched a few workers walk off the job as they decided to stand up for what was right and that’s a fair wage.”
The group marched around the McDonald’s on Woodward for approximately 90 minutes, chanting slogans like “Hold the pickles, hold the fries! We want our wages supersized,” according to organizers.
The group also protested at 10 a.m. Thursday at a McDonald’s on Van Dyke, south Outer Drive. Another protest began just before 11:30 a.m. at Gratiot and Seven Mile.
Organizers said the protests also will acknowledge uproar over the deaths of Eric Garner in New York City, Michael Brown in Ferguson, and McKenzie Cochran, who was killed in January during a confrontation with security guards at Northland Mall in Southfield.
“Whether it’s a McDonald’s worker or a young man that’s been slain by a police officer, their lives matter and these folks are relevant,” said Williams. “We want to make sure folks understand that the fight for $15 (an hour) and the fight for justice are united.”
Detroiter Fred Green joined the protest Thursday morning after walking off his job Wednesday night at a Speedway on East Jefferson near Interstate 375.
“It was around 11 p.m. when (protesters) showed up and I walked right off the job,” he said. “Minimum wage needs to be raised. The cost of living is going up so we need a livable, comfortable wage.”
About two-dozen people protested at the gas station Wednesday night. The store was temporarily forced to close when Green joined the crowd.
“It was worth the risk (of being fired),” Green said. “I’m fighting for a cause.”
But workers like Green have the right to join an organized protest without fear of termination, according to Williams.
“They are covered by the National Labor Relations Act (of 1935) that allows them...to strike off the job in an organized fashion,” he said. “Typically the manager acknowledges that and those workers are able to go back to work.”
Green, who earns $8.75 an hour and works around 35 hours a week, said he joined the protests because an increased cost of living often puts necessities out of reach.
“I can’t even afford healthcare,” he said. “I applied for Medicaid.”
Green also said he has been priced out of his studio apartment in the Eastern Market neighborhood, where rent is scheduled to jump from $535/month to $729/month in January.
Similar protests are planned elsewhere around the U.S.
The protests are part of a campaign called “Fight for $15,” which has included several rounds of actions. Since the efforts began in late 2012, organizers have switched up their tactics every few months to bring attention to the protests.
Restaurant industry officials have said the protests are an attempt by unions to boost membership.
Associated Press contributed.
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| Campaign for $15 dollar hourly wage hit Highland Park McDonald's. |
11:47 a.m. EST
December 4, 2014
Highland Park — A crowd of protesters gathered early Thursday at a Highland Park McDonald’s to participate in a national demonstration to push fast-food chains to pay their employees at least $15 an hour.
“We had hundreds of folks who came out and supported us at 6 o’clock this morning,” said the Rev. Charles Williams II, Michigan regional president for the National Action Network and pastor of Historic King Solomon Church in Detroit. “We watched a few workers walk off the job as they decided to stand up for what was right and that’s a fair wage.”
The group marched around the McDonald’s on Woodward for approximately 90 minutes, chanting slogans like “Hold the pickles, hold the fries! We want our wages supersized,” according to organizers.
The group also protested at 10 a.m. Thursday at a McDonald’s on Van Dyke, south Outer Drive. Another protest began just before 11:30 a.m. at Gratiot and Seven Mile.
Organizers said the protests also will acknowledge uproar over the deaths of Eric Garner in New York City, Michael Brown in Ferguson, and McKenzie Cochran, who was killed in January during a confrontation with security guards at Northland Mall in Southfield.
“Whether it’s a McDonald’s worker or a young man that’s been slain by a police officer, their lives matter and these folks are relevant,” said Williams. “We want to make sure folks understand that the fight for $15 (an hour) and the fight for justice are united.”
Detroiter Fred Green joined the protest Thursday morning after walking off his job Wednesday night at a Speedway on East Jefferson near Interstate 375.
“It was around 11 p.m. when (protesters) showed up and I walked right off the job,” he said. “Minimum wage needs to be raised. The cost of living is going up so we need a livable, comfortable wage.”
About two-dozen people protested at the gas station Wednesday night. The store was temporarily forced to close when Green joined the crowd.
“It was worth the risk (of being fired),” Green said. “I’m fighting for a cause.”
But workers like Green have the right to join an organized protest without fear of termination, according to Williams.
“They are covered by the National Labor Relations Act (of 1935) that allows them...to strike off the job in an organized fashion,” he said. “Typically the manager acknowledges that and those workers are able to go back to work.”
Green, who earns $8.75 an hour and works around 35 hours a week, said he joined the protests because an increased cost of living often puts necessities out of reach.
“I can’t even afford healthcare,” he said. “I applied for Medicaid.”
Green also said he has been priced out of his studio apartment in the Eastern Market neighborhood, where rent is scheduled to jump from $535/month to $729/month in January.
Similar protests are planned elsewhere around the U.S.
The protests are part of a campaign called “Fight for $15,” which has included several rounds of actions. Since the efforts began in late 2012, organizers have switched up their tactics every few months to bring attention to the protests.
Restaurant industry officials have said the protests are an attempt by unions to boost membership.
Associated Press contributed.
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