The 'Fight For 15' Minimum Wage Movement Just Took A New Turn

Workers took to the streets on Thursday, December 4 in more than 190 cities across the country in an effort to gain a $15 minimum wage.

Unrest over the $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage has been growing in recent months, and the fight has shifted from the federal level to the state and city level after the Senate blocked a federal minimum wage bill earlier this year.

Why Fight For 15 Is Now Different

While previous strikes have been mostly within the restaurant industry, Thursday’s protests were much more widespread and included airport, gas station, convenience store and retail employees.

Among the companies that were prominently targeted were McDonald's Corporation( NYSE: MCD), Burger King Worldwide Inc BKW and Dunkin Brands Group Inc DNKN.

Related Link: Do Minimum Wage Hikes Always Lead To Higher Prices?

Distress And Unrest: Low Wages And High Profits?

The “Fight For 15” movement is angry over what they consider to be insufficient wages for employees of some of the world’s most profitable corporations.

Voices Crying For Minimal Price Increases

Protestor Saru Jayaraman, cofounder and co-director of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers, believes that the ability to pay workers $15 per hour could be achieved by raising food prices a mere 2 percent at restaurants owned by Darden Restaurants, Inc. DRI.

McDonalds went on the defensive Thursday, issuing a statement saying, “McDonald’s and our independent franchisees support paying our valued employees fair wages aligned with a competitive marketplace.”

Strikers hope to continue the recent wave of state and local minimum wage legislation that includes hikes in Alaska, Arkansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Washington, Oakland, San Francisco and Chicago.

Image credit: Denis Bocquet, Flickr