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Omaha Steve

(98,872 posts)
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 08:48 AM Sep 2014

Fast food strikes hit 150 US cities

Source: MSNBC

By Ned Resnikoff

Thousands of fast food workers across the United States were walking off the job Thursday morning, affecting restaurants in about 150 cities nationwide.

It was just the latest in a series of coordinated strikes that have taken place since November 2012, although Thursday’s strike may be the first such action to include large-scale civil disobedience.

Organizers would not confirm on the record whether civil disobedience and arrests would take place in any of the cities affected by the strikes, but fast food workers have repeatedly vowed to take whatever measures are necessary in order to win a $15 hourly wage and union rights.

Thursday’s strike is the first to take place since the fast food workers held their national convention in July in the suburbs of Chicago. At the convention, some 1,300 fast food workers agreed to a resolution vowing that they would do “whatever it takes” to achieve their goals. Workers who had been arrested in May at a protest in front of the McDonald’s headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois – the movement’s first major act of civil disobedience – spoke to the audience about the experience of getting arrested, and encouraged other workers to take part in civil disobedience if necessary.

FULL story at link.



Protesters demanding higher wages for fast food workers chant during a massive rally on May 15, 2014 in New York City. Andrew Burton/Getty


Read more: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/fast-food-strikes-hit-150-us-cities



“At McDonald’s we respect everyone’s rights to peacefully protest. See picture below.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025487186



Scott Olson / Getty Images

Police guard the entrance of McDonald's corporate campus as about 2,000 fast-food workers and activists seeking higher wages march toward the Oak Brook, Ill., complex in May.

What is McDonald's afraid of?

46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Fast food strikes hit 150 US cities (Original Post) Omaha Steve Sep 2014 OP
Respect & support. Rec. n/t Feral Child Sep 2014 #1
I hope all stay safe. In solidarity riversedge Sep 2014 #2
I support them mdbl Sep 2014 #3
If you can, join a picket line, even if on your lunch hour or on the way home from work. merrily Sep 2014 #4
Arrests began early Thursday morning outside a busy McDonald's in New York City Omaha Steve Sep 2014 #5
Sounds like fun! truthisfreedom Sep 2014 #6
Been boycotting McDonalds since '89. Now I am boycotting all fast food until $15.00 is the wage. marble falls Sep 2014 #7
Your waistline will thank you for it... Sun Devil Dave Sep 2014 #42
same here. demigoddess Sep 2014 #43
Howard Zinn is smiling. n/t 7wo7rees Sep 2014 #8
Kick! riqster Sep 2014 #9
I support and thank these workers! Sunlei Sep 2014 #10
This is directly attributable to Republican obstructionism. olegramps Sep 2014 #13
Worse Congress in history. Sunlei Sep 2014 #17
How can we fix Congress? Jack Rabbit Sep 2014 #23
or we can vote in a Democratic woman demigoddess Sep 2014 #44
Power to the people Half-Century Man Sep 2014 #11
Solidarity. n/t malthaussen Sep 2014 #12
Be sure to take the minimum wage poll over in GD Omaha Steve Sep 2014 #14
Done Enthusiast Sep 2014 #22
Done. Disappointed at the thinking it's not good enough because it's not $22. It'd be better... freshwest Sep 2014 #39
Following marions ghost Sep 2014 #15
Solidarity! Loki Sep 2014 #16
Solidarity with the workers. mountain grammy Sep 2014 #18
Kicking. Thank you. littlemissmartypants Sep 2014 #19
Solidarity! geardaddy Sep 2014 #20
Solidarity Brothers and sisters!!! fNord Sep 2014 #21
Wow! Pennie109 Sep 2014 #24
Mechancsville tpk outside Richmond closed down gwheezie Sep 2014 #25
K&R n/t Joe Shlabotnik Sep 2014 #26
And thousands of people live a day longer because they didn't eat at these garbage dumps today. jtuck004 Sep 2014 #27
Watching the Ed Show on MSNBC ymetca Sep 2014 #28
That photo sickens me KansDem Sep 2014 #29
Not the first time either. n/t deafskeptic Sep 2014 #37
The Ed Show... yallerdawg Sep 2014 #30
Is there a way to help pay their legal bills gwheezie Sep 2014 #31
I'm going to see what I can find out Omaha Steve Sep 2014 #33
Fucking thugs! Earth_First Sep 2014 #32
Thanks Steve Cha Sep 2014 #34
I was in a waiting room with Fox "News" on this afternoon 47of74 Sep 2014 #35
Solidarity! K&R nt TBF Sep 2014 #36
k&r Starry Messenger Sep 2014 #38
K&R ReRe Sep 2014 #40
Solidarity and love! n/t Denver Progressive Sep 2014 #41
TPTB are having a bad year Kalidurga Sep 2014 #45
Looks like AnalystInParadise Sep 2014 #46

merrily

(45,251 posts)
4. If you can, join a picket line, even if on your lunch hour or on the way home from work.
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 09:03 AM
Sep 2014

Even better if you have a sign indicating that you are a customer.

Solidarity.



Omaha Steve

(98,872 posts)
5. Arrests began early Thursday morning outside a busy McDonald's in New York City
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 09:05 AM
Sep 2014



(Photo: Paul Sancya, AP)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/04/fast-food-restaurants-strike-mcdonalds-wendys-burger-king-taco-bell/15058943/

Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY

Arrests began early Thursday morning outside a busy McDonald's in New York City as thousands of emboldened fast-food workers coast-to-coast put down their burger flippers and picked up picket signs in a national strike that included civil disobedience as the workers rally for $15 minimum wages and the right to form a union.

Strikers began to gather in more than 100 cities early Thursday, impacting major chains from McDonald's to Wendy's to Burger King. Shortly after 7 a.m. ET on Thursday, police reportedly arrested 19 workers who sat down in the street -- and refused to move -- outside the bustling McDonald's at New York's Times Square. The are unconfirmed reports of some striking fast-food worker arrests in Detroit, as well.

For workers, it's about pushing the major fast-food companies to meet their demands for $15-an-hour minimum wages and the right to form a union. For the fast food giants, it's about trying to keep costs -- including labor costs -- under control in a highly competitive market.

"There has to be civil disobedience because workers don't see any other way to get $15 an hour and a union," says Kendall Fells, organizing director of the organizing group Fast Food Forward, which is financially backed by the Service Employees International Union. "There's a long history of this, from the civil rights movement to the farm workers movement."

FULL story at link.



42. Your waistline will thank you for it...
Fri Sep 5, 2014, 01:36 AM
Sep 2014

I would hold out and stop eating fast food altogether. Save it for a real restaurant and real food.

Or, if you can't wait,...go have a big mac at McDonald's and slip the cashier a five. That would go a lot further than you not going to Micky D's, cause honestly, there are enough morbidly obese gluttons out there who don't care and will eat the food effectively nullifying your boycott; even if the workers were making a penny an hour.

olegramps

(8,200 posts)
13. This is directly attributable to Republican obstructionism.
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 10:14 AM
Sep 2014

It is impossible for me to accept that Boehner and his fellow
Republicans claim to be Christians. They have more in common with the radical Islamic fanatics than with the teaching of Jesus. The are more than willing to starve children, refuse to help those they are responsible for outsourcing their jobs, along with denying health care to people desperately needing remedial care. They have demonstrated their absolute hatred of those they consider as nothing more than free loaders rather than fellow citizens needing a hand up.

demigoddess

(6,637 posts)
44. or we can vote in a Democratic woman
Fri Sep 5, 2014, 03:00 PM
Sep 2014

they hold the line better than most men. And don't answer with a reply about Hillary's pro business apostasy.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
39. Done. Disappointed at the thinking it's not good enough because it's not $22. It'd be better...
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 09:37 PM
Sep 2014

But 'Politics is the hobby of the Leisure Class.'

Those who are hard put to survive on less than $15 now, some making half that much, can't be into politics as they are living hand to mouth.

Their family life and their Future is being hurt in the Now.

When political dogma is willing to wait for a day that may never come, especially if those making less than $15 a hour Now can't get the freedom of that wage, I see that as a product of the Leisure Class.

I want my neighbors to get ahead Now, because life is lived in the Now, not the Future.

fNord

(1,756 posts)
21. Solidarity Brothers and sisters!!!
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 11:53 AM
Sep 2014

is it too much to ask that the employees of "Mc Burger Chain" can afford to eat there?

I have a Bachelors degree, as do many fast food employes.

I work as a server.

We, by and large, make $2.15 an hour..... but I also make tips. My paycheck is about $0.0 every two weeks, but in tips, I make enough to pay my bills, enjoy a social life, and support a healthy alcohol habit.

The employs of a fast food chain do not make tips, and are typically capped at a 30 hr work week. Even with some creative w4 marks, your only looking at $192 a week.
Could you pay your rent on $768 a month? Buy food? Pay for the subway? Daycare?


I have the day off, so i believe I may go join this peaceful protest

Pennie109

(128 posts)
24. Wow!
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 03:13 PM
Sep 2014

in Charleston, SC striking fast food workers closed down a major street, causing major problems with traffic.

Hooray for them in this "right to work" state.

gwheezie

(3,580 posts)
25. Mechancsville tpk outside Richmond closed down
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 03:34 PM
Sep 2014

I just came back from there. They are sitting in the street. Big t storms coming through with lightening. Stay safe people. I admire their courage.

 

jtuck004

(15,882 posts)
27. And thousands of people live a day longer because they didn't eat at these garbage dumps today.
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 05:02 PM
Sep 2014

win win.

ymetca

(1,182 posts)
28. Watching the Ed Show on MSNBC
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 05:17 PM
Sep 2014

Even supposed pro-labor Ed Schultz wants to know whether these fast food quasi-strikes are being organized by unions, or spontaneously erupting from disgruntled workers themselves..

..to which I respond, why does it matter? Is there some reason why the SEIU or the AFL-CIO shouldn't organize these protests?

Why is it okay for corporations to spend billions advertising a constant stream of lies on TV, spy on their workers, steal their wages, demand constant kick-backs and tax breaks, etc., etc., etc., but it's somehow unseemly for labor unions to coordinate with their non-union brothers and sisters?

My, how far we have fallen as a free people..

KansDem

(28,498 posts)
29. That photo sickens me
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 05:36 PM
Sep 2014

So that's what it's come down to? Corporate elites protected from angry workers by militarized police?

I never thought I'd see the day...

yallerdawg

(16,104 posts)
30. The Ed Show...
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 05:45 PM
Sep 2014

also reminded me of one of the surest expectations of an Obama administration with Labor Secretary Solis, so long ago now.

EFCA and card check.

Organizing and membership with teeth might have made a real difference over last 6 years. Instead, workers remain at the mercy of the bosses. Republicans won't consider. Democrats gave up the fight.

The people are on their own.







Earth_First

(14,910 posts)
32. Fucking thugs!
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 07:46 PM
Sep 2014


But hey! They've got their union...

...Fuck everyone else!

SOLIDARITY with the FF workers!
 

47of74

(18,470 posts)
35. I was in a waiting room with Fox "News" on this afternoon
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 08:39 PM
Sep 2014

And the Fox "News" blow hards and their guests were busy complaining about it, busily spewing horseshit denigrating the union and the strikers. I finally had enough at that point and turned the damn thing off.

ReRe

(10,597 posts)
40. K&R
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 10:54 PM
Sep 2014

Riot Police are so un-called for. Those people aren't going to storm the McDonald's and tear it to the ground, for God's sake. If they only knew how stupid they look. I'm not the least bit impressed.

Kalidurga

(14,177 posts)
45. TPTB are having a bad year
Sat Sep 6, 2014, 08:11 PM
Sep 2014

Protests in Ferguson over the militarization of LE and murdering people for breathing while black. And now this people who have jobs want to be paid enough to live on.

 

AnalystInParadise

(1,832 posts)
46. Looks like
Sat Sep 6, 2014, 08:36 PM
Sep 2014

a bunch of Americans are taking their lunch to work this week. This is playing with fire. Corporations will start using these instead of raising wages. http://www.gizmag.com/hamburger-machine/25159/

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