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Taking it to the streets!

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Fox Valley Labor News
staff reports
Thursday, April 21, 2016

CHICAGO — Thousands of low-wage workers, labor organizations and their supporters staged protest marches April 14 throughout Chicago to fight for a $15 minimum wage and union representation.

The action is the first major strike since historic wins for $15 an hour minimum wages in in New York and California.

Fight for $15

A series of Labor protests for the Fight for $15 movement were held in Chicago and across the country April 14. Protestors and their supporters are demanding the minimum wage be raised to $15 per hour and union representation. Photo courtesy of Fight for $15 Chicago

Chicago demonstrations began early April 14 at a McDonalds on the South Side, where people blocked traffic and claimed solidarity with other low-wage workers. McDonald’s was targeted because of its ability to influence pay practices throughout the economy.

Fight for $15

April 14 was a day to demonstrate in support of a $15 minimum wage, with several marches around the city of Chicago. Photo courtesy of Fight for $15.

The protest later moved to Loyola University on the North Side. The groups are all demanding a living wage.

April 13, the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Illinois (SEIU) nursing home workers, childcare and home health care workers rallied and marched as part of the Fight for $15 movement, going to two nursing homes on the North Side and accusing Gov. Bruce Rauner of “holding the budget hostage in an effort to drive wages and benefits down into the dirt.”

Low-wage workers protested April 14 for a $15 minimum wage and union rights in more than 300 U.S. cities and 40 countries, representing the largest Fight for $15 strike since the campaign began in 2012.

Fight for $15.

A giant banner is seen hanging from the roof of a building to the south of the Rock ‘n Roll McDonalds in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Fight for $15.

The push is being backed by the SEIU and began in late 2012, with striking fast-food workers in New York City. Since then, the growing demonstrations have helped make hourly pay a major political issue.

Chicago already has taken steps to gradually increase its minimum wage to $13 an hour by 2019, but Fight for $15 activists have said that’s not good enough.

Across the country, Fight for $15 continues

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Chicago's Fight for $15
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
This McDonald’s worker was one of 51 arrested Sept. 4 after engaging in civil disobedience for blocking the streets in front of two McDonald’s locations in Chicago. The Fight for $15 was part of a national day of action.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHICAGO — The Fight for $15 movement has been ramping up protests since last year, and fast food workers certainly garnered attention Sept. 4 when 51 were arrested in Chicago as part of a national day of action.
The workers were arrested engaging in civil disobedience for blocking the streets in front of two McDonald’s locations in the city. They are fighting to win $15 per hour and a union without retaliation.

“We’re going to have walkouts all over the country,” said Kendall Fells, organizing director of the movement called Fight for $15. “There are going to be workers who don’t show up to work or who walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. or at noon.”

The Fight for 15 campaign reported that 436 fast-food workers had been arrested nationwide on the day of the protest, which came a day after President Obama highlighted their campaign in a Labor Day speech: “All across the country right now there’s a national movement going on made up of fast-food workers organizing to lift wages so they can provide for their families with pride and dignity. There is no denying a simple truth. America deserves a raise. Give America a raise,” said Obama in Milwaukee Sept. 1. “You know what, if I were looking for a job that lets me build some security for my family, I’d join a union. If I were busting my butt in the service industry and wanted an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work, I’d join a union . . . I’d want a union looking out for me.”

Chicago's Fight for $15
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
The Fight for $15 is a union-backed campaign where workers are demanding $15 an hour wage and union recognition. Supporters, above, shame big fast-food companies like McDonald’s over low pay and irregular hours.

The action came on the heels of a July convention where fast food workers vowed to do whatever it takes to win $15 and the right to form a union. Clergy, elected officials and community supporters, including Alderman Sawyer of the 6th ward and Alderman Muñoz of the 22nd ward, joined workers and union representatives from Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina the strike lines in front of McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s restaurants.

Inspired by the actions of fast-food workers, Service Employees International Union home care workers have also decided to join the nationwide movement for higher pay and better rights on the job. In several cities, including Chicago, both non-union and union home care workers stood with fast food workers.