Fast Food Workers Protesting Around The World Today Seeking Higher Pay

Scenes from a NYC protest at Domino’s this morning.

Fast food workers in 150 cities and 33 countries are participating in protests planned today in an ongoing effort to earn higher wages. The demonstrations are backed by unions trying to focus attention on the difficulties faced by low-wage workers, who are seeking a minimum wage of at least $15 an hour here in the United States.

Unions like the Service Employees International Union are supporting the workers’ protests today, which were scheduled at various fast food restaurants around the world.

Consumerist checked out the rainy scene at a midtown Manhattan Domino’s today, which was a bustling and crowded scene, despite rain showers soaking participants throughout the protest.

Chanting in both Spanish and English, the workers called for their fellow employees to “stand up and fight,” while also bursting into call-and-answer bouts of song as well.

Meanwhile, a few customers did manage to squeeze through the crowds and around police to get a slice for lunch.

We met Frankie on the scene, a worker who said he decided to show up despite the rain and protest today simply because what he’s making now isn’t enough to support his family.

“Minimum wage isn’t enough,” he told Consumerist after posing in the rain for a passing photographer. “I deserve a fair share for my work.”

Currently, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (or about $15,000 a year, full-time), a rate the White House is working to raise to $10.10 an hour.

In a statement, the National Restaurant Association called today’s actions “nothing more than big labor’s attempt to push their own agenda,” reports the Associated Press, adding that rather than “demonizing” companies, the focus should instead be on “increased access to education and job training opportunities.”

Businessweek has a pretty good round-up of scenes from protests around the world as well, from Japan to London.

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist