It’s all about the number 15 on Friday, January 15. Workers at popular fast foot restaurants in 15 mercian cities, are planning to strike Friday in hopes of inspiring the Biden administration to up the minimum wage to $15 per hour. “Fast-food workers are going on strike January 15, on what would be MLK’s 92nd birthday, to demand $15/hr and the right to a union! Workers will not back down until everyone makes at least $15!” is the message the campaign tweeted out.
The group isn’t stopping with just higher wages, Fight for $15 also is urging Biden’s team to ensure racial justice in the communities where fast food workers are employed. They also want affordable health care.
USA Today is reporting that the strikes will be at least partially staged with car caravans. Some will also be virtual strikes on Zoom. “The solution to low pay is clear. By raising the minimum wage to $15, we can benefit nearly 40 million Americans — predominantly women and workers of color — while reducing the racial wealth gap and giving millions of essential workers who put their lives on the line every day a permanent raise,” part of the message Fight for $15 has posted.
Their timing is probably pretty good. Democrats will soon control the House, Senate and Presidency, and Joe Biden has already vowed “prompt action” regarding a $15 minimum wage.“I’ve long said that we need to reward work, not just wealth, in this country. People in both parties now recognize it’s time to raise the minimum wage so hard-working people earn at least $15 an hour,” Biden said last week.
There are critics to this plan, who have long averted that raising the federal minimum wage would put hundreds of companies out of business permanently and put a tremendous strain on employers.
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