Fast food workers strike across 60 cities in U.S. East, South coasts

Fast food chain workers are customarily low or minimum-wage paid, highlighting the transient nature of the industry.

Whether it is someone's first job out of school or a way to make ends meet, while living costs continue to rise in the wake of the economic crisis, the general pay packet has not increased. As a result, 60 cities across the United States are hosting protests ahead of Labor Day on Monday to bring the issue to the spotlight.

Strikes took place in July, but this round of protests are far more wide-reaching. The cities staging walk-outs are below, as reported by the Huffington Post:

Alameda, CA; Atlanta; Aurora, CO; Austin, TX; Ballwin, MO; Belleville, Ill; Berkeley, CA; Bloomington, Ill; Boston; Charlotte; Chicago; Columbia, MO; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Durham; East St. Louis, Ill; Flint; Fremont, CA; Greensboro; Gretna, LA; Hartford; Hayward, CA; Houston; Indianapolis; Kansas City, MO; Lansing; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Madison, WI; Manchester, CT; Memphis; Milwaukee; Missoula, MT; Newark, CA; New Orleans; New York; Northglenn, CO; North Las Vegas; Oakland; Richmond, CA; Peoria; Phoenix; Pontiac, MI; Raleigh; Richmond, CA; San Diego; San Leandro, CA; San Lorenzo, CA.; Seattle; Springfield, Ill; St. Louis; Tacoma, WA; Tampa; Topeka, KS; Wausau, WI; West Haven, CT; and Wilmington, DE.

The protester's demands are similar in nature to those requested in the past, including a minimum wage of $15 per hour and protection against potential employer retaliation after joining a union. Fast Food Forward, one of the strike organisations, says:

"We can't survive on $7.25. In America, people who work hard should be able to afford basic necessities like groceries, rent, childcare and transportation.

While fast food corporations reap the benefits of record profits, workers are barely getting by -- many are forced to be on public assistance despite having a job.

Raising pay for fast food workers will benefit workers and strengthen the overall economy."

To keep up-to-date, check out a live blog here.

Via: Huffington Post

Image credit: Fast Food Forward

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com