The Fight for $15 Continues
The Fight for $15 launched just 5 years ago, and already, the campaign has raised the minimum wage for 22 million Americans. This is a huge step forward for families across the country who struggle to get by on the minimum wage, but there is still more work to do.
In cities across the country, hardworking men and women have organized to win minimum wage victories, only to have politicians and huge corporations take it away.
That wouldn’t have happened if those minimum wage increases had come with the right to unionize and advocate for themselves. A demand for union rights has always been part of the Fight for $15 movement. This Labor Day, unionization will take center stage as workers strike to demand union rights and a minimum wage of at least $15 per hour in 300 cities across the country.
Minimum wage workers at McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants work hard every day and deal with unpredictable schedules, grills, fryers with extremely high heat, and sometimes even unsafe working conditions. Though some Republicans think (cough*Ed Gillespie*cough) that minimum wage workers are all teenagers working for extra spending money, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
In fact, 88% of minimum wage workers are over the age of 20 and women and people of color would disproportionately benefit from raising the minimum wage. All families deserve the right to live with dignity and provide for their families, and that just isn’t possible with a minimum wage of $7.25 in Virginia.
You can help the Fight for $15 campaign reach their goal of sustainable wages for everyone by joining us this Labor Day. We’ll be striking, surrounded by workers, community members, faith leaders, and families who are fired up and ready to make sure all people are compensated fairly for their labor and have the right to advocate for themselves in a union. There’s no better way to celebrate Labor Day. Join us!
WHEN: Monday, September 4th
WHERE: McDonald’s, 821 Hull Street, Richmond, VA
TIME: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM
WHAT: Strike to demand the right to unionize and a minimum wage of $15/hour