Cebu_4_2
5th December 2013, 06:46 AM
ATLANTA -
Fast-food employees want higher wages and the right to form unions. A group of fast-food employees joined workers from across 100 cities on Thursday to push for higher pay.
Atlanta Jobs With Justice is organizing the day-long demonstrations to raise salaries of $15 an hour.
About two dozen people joined fast food workers and union members out front of the Krystal on Moreland Ave in southeast Atlanta at 6 a.m. for one of the rallies. This is the second such day of protests in favor of higher wages in the last three months. The message at both were that fast-food workers cannot live off the current minimum wage.
All News 106.7's Carolyn Ryan found most of those at the protest were part of local labor unions, but a few were recruited from area restaurants.
"I'm here because in reality, I can't afford to get my son Christmas this year. And you know I feel even if I move on, I feel I do this now, it will help someone else behind me. I'm doing this for my son, my future and my principles," said Burger King employee Joshua Collins.
Organizers of the protest say there are about 75,000 fast-food workers in the Atlanta area, making a median wage of around $8.65 an hour.
Another demonstration is schedule at Cleopas R. Johnson Park at 5 p.m. The group is expected to be joined by members, politicians and other community activists.
A spokesperson for the restaurant industry says that the higher wages for entry-level positions would drive up prices. They add that those positions are not meant to be life-long careers.
Read more: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/24141556/fast-food-workers-rally-for-higher-wages#ixzz2mbkcYMej
Fast-food employees want higher wages and the right to form unions. A group of fast-food employees joined workers from across 100 cities on Thursday to push for higher pay.
Atlanta Jobs With Justice is organizing the day-long demonstrations to raise salaries of $15 an hour.
About two dozen people joined fast food workers and union members out front of the Krystal on Moreland Ave in southeast Atlanta at 6 a.m. for one of the rallies. This is the second such day of protests in favor of higher wages in the last three months. The message at both were that fast-food workers cannot live off the current minimum wage.
All News 106.7's Carolyn Ryan found most of those at the protest were part of local labor unions, but a few were recruited from area restaurants.
"I'm here because in reality, I can't afford to get my son Christmas this year. And you know I feel even if I move on, I feel I do this now, it will help someone else behind me. I'm doing this for my son, my future and my principles," said Burger King employee Joshua Collins.
Organizers of the protest say there are about 75,000 fast-food workers in the Atlanta area, making a median wage of around $8.65 an hour.
Another demonstration is schedule at Cleopas R. Johnson Park at 5 p.m. The group is expected to be joined by members, politicians and other community activists.
A spokesperson for the restaurant industry says that the higher wages for entry-level positions would drive up prices. They add that those positions are not meant to be life-long careers.
Read more: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/24141556/fast-food-workers-rally-for-higher-wages#ixzz2mbkcYMej