Photos: All Of These Workers Are Demanding A Higher Minimum Wage
By aaroncynic in News on Nov 11, 2015 4:01PM
Fight For 15 activists striking in front of the McDonalds at 1951 N. Western Ave. during the early morning rush, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Fight For 15 activists striking in front of the McDonalds at 1951 N. Western Ave. during the early morning rush, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Activists supporting Fight For 15 stand in front of a homemade bronze colored statue while striking in front of McDonalds at 1951 N. Western Ave. during the early morning rush, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Activists supporting Fight For 15 stand in front of a homemade bronze colored statue while striking in front of McDonalds at 1951 N. Western Ave. during the early morning rush, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago speaks to the press on how difficult it is to make a living wage even with a degree, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago speaks to the press on how difficult it is to make a living wage even with a degree, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Fight For 15 sign that reads, “I’M A FAST FOOD WORKER AND I’M ON STRIKE! #FIGHTFOR15,” Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Fight For 15 sign that reads, “I’M A FAST FOOD WORKER AND I’M ON STRIKE! #FIGHTFOR15,” Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Activist holds up his Fight For 15 sign as fellow supporters march in circles around the crosswalks at the intersection of N. Western Ave and N. Milwaukee Ave. disrupting traffic, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Activist holds up his Fight For 15 sign as fellow supporters march in circles around the crosswalks at the intersection of N. Western Ave and N. Milwaukee Ave. disrupting traffic, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Activists drop a Fight For 15 banner over the rail of the Western Blue Line station, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Activists drop a Fight For 15 banner over the rail of the Western Blue Line station, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Fight For 15 supporters chant outside the McDonalds at 207 E. 35th St. prior to the press conference, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Fight For 15 supporters chant outside the McDonalds at 207 E. 35th St. prior to the press conference, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Activist with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless holds a sign that reads, “END POLICE VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES #FIGHTFOR15,” in front of the McDonalds at 207 E. 35th St. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Activist with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless holds a sign that reads, “END POLICE VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES #FIGHTFOR15,” in front of the McDonalds at 207 E. 35th St. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Fight For 15 activist a sign that reads, “END MASS INCARCERATION & DEPORTAITONS! #FIGHTFOR15,” Tuesday, Nov, 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Fight For 15 activist a sign that reads, “END MASS INCARCERATION & DEPORTAITONS! #FIGHTFOR15,” Tuesday, Nov, 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
A Fight For 15 activist holds her sign up to show to oncoming traffic on 35th St. outside the McDonalds at 207 E. 35th St. Tuesday, Nov 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![A Fight For 15 activist holds her sign up to show to oncoming traffic on 35th St. outside the McDonalds at 207 E. 35th St. Tuesday, Nov 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Two police officers hold guard in the front of the Chicago Police Department Headquarters, as activists keep marching into the group, Tuesday, Nov 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Two police officers hold guard in the front of the Chicago Police Department Headquarters, as activists keep marching into the group, Tuesday, Nov 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Activists supporting airport workers gathering outside City Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Activists supporting airport workers gathering outside City Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Activists supporting airport workers gathering outside City Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Activists supporting airport workers gathering outside City Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Chicago police hold back traffic on Randolph St. as Fight For 15 activists cross while marching to the Thompson Center, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Chicago police hold back traffic on Randolph St. as Fight For 15 activists cross while marching to the Thompson Center, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. speaks to the crowd gathered at the Thompson Center, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. speaks to the crowd gathered at the Thompson Center, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Activist holding a sign that reads, “AFFORDABLE EDUCATION FOR ALL!!!” during a Fight For 15 rally at the Thompson Center, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Activist holding a sign that reads, “AFFORDABLE EDUCATION FOR ALL!!!” during a Fight For 15 rally at the Thompson Center, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Fight For 15 supporters raise their signs while chanting prior to the Fight For 15 rally at the Thompson Center, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Fight For 15 supporters raise their signs while chanting prior to the Fight For 15 rally at the Thompson Center, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Around 500 workers, students, teachers, and supporters fill the plaza outside the Thompson Center during a Fight For 15 rally, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Around 500 workers, students, teachers, and supporters fill the plaza outside the Thompson Center during a Fight For 15 rally, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Around 500 workers, students, teachers, and supporters fill the plaza outside the Thompson Center during a Fight For 15 rally, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Around 500 workers, students, teachers, and supporters fill the plaza outside the Thompson Center during a Fight For 15 rally, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Around 400 Fight For 15 supporters march past the Thompson Center north bound on LaSalle St., Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Around 400 Fight For 15 supporters march past the Thompson Center north bound on LaSalle St., Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Chicago police officers create a barricade on the entrance of McDonalds on Lake St. preventing Fight For 15 activists from entering, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Chicago police officers create a barricade on the entrance of McDonalds on Lake St. preventing Fight For 15 activists from entering, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Activist holding a sign that reads, “Don’t Sell Our Future” while chanting “Who do you serve? Who do you protect?” at the police officers barricading the entrance of McDonalds on Lake St., Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Activist holding a sign that reads, “Don’t Sell Our Future” while chanting “Who do you serve? Who do you protect?” at the police officers barricading the entrance of McDonalds on Lake St., Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Activist holds up his Fight For 15 sign up to the front window of the McDonalds on Lake St., Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.
![Activist holds up his Fight For 15 sign up to the front window of the McDonalds on Lake St., Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Chicago.]()
Hundreds of demonstrators took over the loop Tuesday in a march that was the culmination of a day-long set of strikes targeting fast-food locations to demand low-wage workers get a raise. According to organizers, the strikes were part of some 500 protests nationwide to demand a minimum wage of $15 an hour. Demonstrators say they vow to make a $15 an hour minimum wage and the right for workers to organize an election issue in 2016.
“Many people like me are all underpaid and cannot support our families. When we get our $15, we won't have to depend on public aid; no Medicaid or Link for food,” said Nancy Garcia,” a McDonald’s and Burger King employee, in a press release. “That’s why in 2016, elected officials and those running for office need to make sure these corporations work for us and not against us.”
groups began their actions early Tuesday morning outside a Bucktown McDonald’s at Milwaukee and Western, and later picketed a McDonald’s in Bronzeville, before marching to CPD police headquarters. Organizers say better pay for low-wage workers is an issue of racial justice, which is connected to the struggles many people of color face in their communities. Mary Hood, another McDonald’s employee, told NBC:
“Today we are also fighting for racial justice because our communities are both underpaid and overpoliced. The political system and law enforcement needs to be held accountable for their actions just like fast food corporations and CEOs need to be held accountable for low pay. This is why we are also mobilizing around issues racial justice for the 2016 elections.”
Fast food workers were joined by low-wage workers from many job sectors, including home and child care, students, airport and nursing home workers. In a statement provided to NBC, McDonald’s said that it respects the rights of people to demonstrate, and that it and its franchisees “support paying our valued employees fair wages aligned with a competitive marketplace. We believe that any minimum wage increase should be implemented over time so that the impact on owners of small and medium-sized businesses - like the ones who own and operate the majority of our restaurants - is manageable.”
