Fast-food workers in 100 Cities across the United States are preparing to go on strike tomorrow. They are walking off the job to protest wage inequality.
What began as a protest by 200 workers at 20 restaurants in New York City last November has now grown into a national movement to protest wage inequality and to demand a living wage. Bolstered by support from Labor Unions like the Service Employees International Union, fast-food workers are no longer afraid of losing their jobs.
In New York City, it’s estimated that there are 57,000 fast-food employees. These workers are only paid a median wage of $8.89/hour, which is the lowest wage of any occupation in the City.
The low-wages paid to fast-food workers harms more than just the employees and their families. It hurts all of us. While the largest fast food chains raked in $7.4 Billion dollars in profits, the U.S. Taxpayers footed a $7 Billion bill to supplement their low-wage salaries.
President Obama addressed the growing problem of wage inequality in an address to the Nation in support of raising the minimum wage he said:
“The idea that so many children are born into poverty in the wealthiest nation on Earth is heartbreaking enough, but the idea that a child may never be able to escape that poverty, because she lacks a decent education or health care or a community that views her future as their own, that should offend all of us.”
I stand with and support fast-food workers in their fight against the increasingly greedy corporate interests. I have chosen to avoid fast-food restaurants tomorrow and every day going forward until the hard-working Americans behind the counters are receive a fair and living wage.
I hope that you will consider joining me in this effort.
Image Credits: Fight Back, Gary Strauss
