August 2, 2013
By Neal Tepel
Detroit, Michigan – This past week fast-food worker strikes continue to spread across the country with demonstrations in Chicago, Detroit and Flint, as strikes intensify and spread to new cities. The issues remain – the right to join a union and a minimum wage of $15 per hour. Community and political support continues to increase.
In Detroit hundreds of fast-food workers at more than 80 sites walked off their jobs Wednesday, July 31, 2013 in metro Detroit and in Flint. Flint and Detroit-area strikers join workers that have demonstrated for better wages in other cities as New York City, Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee and Kansas City as the campaign grows.
Demonstrations also occurred this week in Chicago where rallies took place in front of several stores and many locations including Walgreens, Bed Bath & Beyond, Wendy’s, and Potbelly. Inspired by the success in winning raises following the first Chicago based fast-food and retail strikes of April 24, hundreds of workers from fast-food and retail store locations demonstrated throughout Chicago this past week.
The strikes are the latest in an escalating series of walkouts and other actions by workers across the country. Federally-contracted workers in Washington have walked off their jobs; a growing group of Walmart workers have gone on strike; and fast-food and retail workers across the country went on strike earlier this year.
Our country’s fastest-growing jobs are also the lowest paid. While the fast food industry is making record profits, its workers can’t afford the basics such as rent or food.
