Worldwide Fast Food Worker Strikes Planned For May 15
On Thursday, May 15th, fast food workers of several major restaurant chains, including McDonald's, KFC, Wendy's, and Burger King are expected to participate in an organized walkout in protest of their low wages.
The movement has reached at least 150 cities in the United States, and has now gained global momentum, with international fast food employees across six continents expected to join the protest, according to CNBC.
"The highly-profitable fast-food industry needs to know we won't stop fighting until our voices are heard," Ashley Cathey, a McDonald's worker from Memphis, Tenn., said in a statement.
After six years with the company, Cathey makes $7.75 an hour.
The decision to go on strike came about just days after fast food employees and union leaders from around the world came together for a meeting organized by the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, and Tobacco Allied Workers' Associations (IUF).
Countries including Argentina, Japan, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand are among those whose fast food workers are also expected to join in the push for higher wages. Similar demonstrations in several U.S. cities were held throughout 2013.
Karen Lo is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @appleplexy.