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Nationwide Fast Food Strike 'Largest To Date'

fast food strike

Thursday, fast food workers nationwide participated in what's expected to be the largest strike to date over low wages and the right to unionize.

Big Mac Full Stop



Restaurants in New York, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Raleigh and Seattle shut down over the strike, while at least 50 cities were affected -- including Indianapolis.

Fast food workers began striking last November demanding an increase in pay. Workers are asking for $15 an hour, or $31,000 a year for full-time employees. That's more than double the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

More Hours, More Money



Many fast food workers say they don't even come close to 40 hours.

"Forty? Never. They refuse to let you get to that (many) hours," New York City McDonald's employee Shaniqua Davis told the AP.

"If you're paying $7.35 an hour and employing someone for 20, 25 hours a week, which is the average here, they're bringing home about $10,000 a year. You can't survive on that," St. Louis, Missouri community organizer Martin Rafanan told Chicago Tribune.

McDonald's has responded to the strike, saying they offer competitive pay and benefits with opportunities for training and advancement.

Read More:



  • Fast Food Strikes Expand Across U.S. to 50 Cities (Bloomberg)
  • National fast food strike hits dozens of cities (MSNBC)


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