McDonald's Employees To Demand $15 An Hour, Union Rights In Thursday Strike
MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — McDonald's workers and community members across Florida will be striking on Thursday in an effort to get their wages raised to $15 an hour in addition to fighting for union rights.
Workers from around Tampa, Orlando and Miami are planning to hold demonstrations outside two stores in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, a Fight for $15 and a Union spokeswoman said.
Florida's current minimum wage is $8.46 an hour.
"I have worked at McDonald's for over 12 years, and every week is a struggle," striking Tampa-based worker Bobby Fields said in a prepared statement. "I have to stretch every penny and make impossible choices just to pay my rent."
Fight for $15 and a Union formed in 2012 when fast-food workers around the country began walking away from their jobs and demanding a minimum wage increase. The spokeswoman said the organization has helped win more than $70 billion in raises for more than 24 million workers across the U.S.
Seven states and dozens of cities have passed laws raising their wages to $15 an hour. The Fight for $15 and a Union spokeswoman said they hoping to gather renewed support before Florida's presidential primary next Tuesday.
McDonald's didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
