Coinciding with the protests, Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto and NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, both Democrats, hiked the minimum hourly wage to US$15 for city and state government workers, respectively. The increase will be phased in over the next three years for state workers in NY City and six years for workers in the rest of the state.
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USA fast-food workers protested on Tuesday in support of a $15-an-hour minimum wage and union rights in a campaign they hope will catch the attention of candidates in the 2016 elections.
The Fight for $15 campaign began in late 2012 and a major backer is the Service Employees worldwide Union. Organizers say better pay for low-wage workers is an issue of racial justice, which is connected to the struggles many people of color face in their communities.
Today’s wage increase will affect approximately 10,000 employees – about 9,000 in NY State and 1,000 in NY City. “The amount of time we put in in and out of the classroom, adjunct workers are paid less than $5 an hour”, says Kurt Schneiderman, an Adjunct Professor, “which is about as much obscene wages you can ask for”. Raising the minimum wage benefits all working families, and will help give every worker the fair shot they deserve.
“The cost of housing has been going up, the cost of food has been going up, the cost of living has been going up, but our wages are still the same”, he said.
Alongside minimum wage workers, Sargent arrived before the rally, speaking with various individuals also waiting for the event to start before marching with the protestors.
McDonald’s worker Adriana Alvarez said she plans to vote for the first time next year, but only for a candidate who wants to raise wages to $15 an hour.
The action follows the decision by wage board to increase the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $15 an hour.
Westley Williams works at McDonald’s in Miramar and now makes $9.25 an hour.
Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, R-Suffolk County, wouldn’t rule out a minimum-wage increase next year when the Legislature returns to Albany.
“The fast food places, and other places like that, would figure out how to automate more and hire fewer people”, said Wenzinger.
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The day of action will conclude with a march to Frank H. Ogawa Plaza to join a Fight for $15 rally at 4 p.m.
