By Kenneth Lipp
Local fast food workers and supporters of a $15.00 minimum wage in Philadelphia plan to join in what is expected to be the largest walk-out yet in the industry’s history. Dominic Rush reports for The Guardian on this latest in a recent wave of defiance from the marginalized-in-name-tags:
The strike is the latest in a series of increasingly heated confrontations between fast food firms and their workers. Pressure is also mounting on McDonald’s, the largest fast food company, over its relations with its workers and franchisees.
Workers from McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut and other large chains will strike on Thursday and are planning protests outside stores nationwide, in states including California, Missouri, Wisconsin and New York.
The day of disruption is being coordinated by local coalitions and Fast Food Forward and Fight for 15, union-backed pressure groups which have called for the raising of the minimum wage to $15 an hour for the nation’s four million fast-food workers.
Fast food industry workers and supporters rallied at the McDonald’s on North Broad at Girard Avenue last May, *demonstrating in front for over a half-hour before marching down Broad Street to the McDonald’s on Arch Street. They plan to meet again this Thursday at the same Mickey D’s location on North Broad (1201 N Broad St).
Striking fast food workers block the entrance to the McDonald’s on Broad St. at Girard Avenue, May 15, 2014. Photo by Kenneth Lipp
Fight for 15 Philly’s facebook event page describes the protest, scheduled for September 4, 10:30 a.m:
Days after Labor Day, we’ll be back out on the streets for a strike and major escalation of our campaign to demand fast food corporations like McDonald’s pay us fairly for OUR labor! Support our struggle and good jobs in Philly!
We’re ready to do whatever it takes to win $15 and the right to form a union without retaliation. We have no other choice. Fast food workers across the city and across the country are barely surviving. We aren’t just fighting for better pay and respect – we’re fighting to survive.
Join us to send a message to huge corporations that we need good jobs in our communities and our cities. Fast food workers aren’t teenagers on their first jobs – we’re working adults with responsibilities and families.
*The first posting of this article stated that protesters blocked the entrance to the McDonald’s. The McDonald’s entrance is not shown above, the doors pictured are to the adjacent gas station. The entrance to the McDonald’s remained open and guarded by private security. – KL
The Philly Declaration 
