Terence Wise in Kansas City have two tasks - joints in Hamburg, the second one in a pizzeria - but he says his salary is not enough, his three daughters, and to ensure that his 15 old car to buy shoes. So he decided to draw attention to his plight: He stepped off the job in protest.
Wise in a fast-food worker in thousands seven cities, including New York, Chicago, Detroit, who took to the streets last week, with a "strike" and "Super Size of wages" signs at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King (Burger King) before and other restaurants. They demanded better wages, the right to form trade unions and doubled the federal minimum hourly wage from $ 7.25 to $ 15 or more.
"We work hard to make hundreds of millions of Companies," 34-year-old wise man said, adding that he lost his home, unable to repay mortgages last year, despite the Pizza Hut and Burger King (Burger King) about 50 hours workweek. "We are not asking for the world, we hope to make enough to make a decent living, we should get better and if they respect we pay to us, and to our right, it will lift the whole economy."
These one-day protest, which also occurred in St. Louis, Milwaukee and Flint, Mich., called from the White House to raise the federal minimum wage, this is the last increase in 2009, some lawmakers and economists. However, most of the proposals, to seek a more modest rise ratio urges Food workers. President Obama wants to raise the hourly wages of $ 900. In July, more than 100 economists signed a petition in support of the Bill by the Florida congressman, will raise interest rates to $ 10.50 per hour.
Food and beverage industry believes that $ 15 hourly wage could lead to business closures and fewer employment opportunities. It also noted significant changes in the cost of living across the country, and many countries have a higher minimum wage than the federal rate. (18 states and the District of Columbia, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.)
Employment Policy Institute, which receives some funding from the industry, ran a full-page ad last week in the "USA Today" is another potential consequences WARNING: This indicates a fast-food workers in uniforms with an iPad face, said wage growth may lead to staff and automation, such as touch screen ordering replacement.
So when steady economic growth, but the growth is slow, about 11.5 million people unemployed in time - nearly double the big pre-recession levels - how likely that Congress will raise the minimum wage? These protests do any good?
The answer depends on whom you ask.
"They are very effective," said U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, Minnesota Democrat Congressional Caucus Co-Chair of progress. "They brought attention to the harsh environment and employee engagement for a long time ... and not making enough money, in order to survive, I think this is the scandal, we believe it is necessary to pay livable wages, we know that the company can afford these are highly profitable enterprise, not just the family budget, but the state budget, which would be a good thing. "
Ellison's Caucus launched a nationwide "Improving America" ??campaign fast food workers and other low-wage industrial cooperation, in the summer, highlight the call better salary. Congressman said he did not stop the Republican-led House of Representatives may encounter resistance.
"Remember something that does not look likely to become possible, if someone advocates for them," he said, adding that in 1955 someone might say, "They'll never ending apartheid ...... these things sometimes catch the. considered to do is go ahead and keep on talking ...... that's how we win. "
But it was also more skeptical, and that if there is a winner, which is the union. Service Employees International Union to provide financial support and personnel to help train the sport's organizers.
These protests show that unions "can still appeal the edge of the labor worker who is speaking - less skilled, part-time and migrant workers," Clark University in Massachusetts labor relations professor Gary · Chaison wrote in an email.
He added that these are still tough times, people are very happy to be employed, in the House of Representatives to increase the political climate is not conducive. "Demonstrations of street theater and rehabilitation of the U.S. union's image, but it does not push the new minimum wage policy," he wrote.
National Restaurant Association executive vice president Scott · DeFife, protest campaign called "demeaning industry," he said, in a tight margins. Doubling wages, he said, "will create new jobs have a certain influence." He said, it would be particularly harmful to young people, for whom the unemployment rate in some communities already in the double digits.
Some fast-food company to respond to protest that they respect their workers' rights.
Some people walked out, with the media spotlight, talk openly about their financial struggles.
Jabbar sparks, two boys, 6 and 12, a 30-year-old father was laid off in 2011 from $ 17.50 an hour in New York City. His unemployment benefits ran out, he turned to the food pantry. Five months ago, he found work at McDonald's.
"I am very grateful they gave me a chance to feed my family, put food on the table, but it is not enough," he said. The second spark supplements work as a security guard, his income with earnings of approximately 8 hours. Together, he said, he took home about $ 1,000 - $ 1,100 every two weeks, you need food stamps to survive.
"It's horrible, you know, when I picked up my (McDonald's) check, which will be less than $ 200," he said. "You spend all your money, go to sleep in a store outbreak, this is not fair ...... some people get their checks, do not come back to work."
Fast average hourly wage of workers was $ 9.00 in May 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average age of these workers is 29 years old, for women, 32, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Restaurant Association, said his analysis of census data found that slightly more than 25% of the fast-food workers headed.
The two sides in the struggle against the minimum wage cited numerous studies to support their arguments raise will be harmful.
Petition signed by the economists say, for decades, the study found no significant effect on the minimum wage increases will lead to employment opportunities for a reasonable increase. "Economists also noted that minimum wage workers earn $ 15,080 for the entire year, nearly 20% below the poverty line, a family of three full-time job.
Employment Policy Institute research director, but Michael Saltsman's, citing another study, he said, found that raising the minimum wage is counterproductive - with more people because of the time lower than getting lost and jobs being cut.
The West Harar, in this academic debate in the middle of a worker walked her work, in protest last week.
As Burger King (Burger King) manager in Milwaukee, Harrell, 34 years old, stretch her $ 8.25 hourly wage to support five children (sixth lives in her own). They live in a two-bedroom apartment. Her mother helped finance and child care, but ever since she moved to the nursing home.
"It's not like we youth work a pair of shoes or phone," Harrell said. "We grew up in adults who can not find a better job."
She wanted to see something in protest, raise wages, even if it's not $ 15 per hour.
, "She said:" I hope it works. "We're just trying to survive and build for our children's lives."
 



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