Fast Food Workers Worldwide Planning Simultaneous Strike on May 15

At a hybrid protest/press conference at a Manhattan McDonald's, labor organizers announced that fast-food workers in 150 cities have agreed to walk off the job on May 15, as part of the industry's ongoing protests for a higher wage.

According to a press release, demonstrations and protests are scheduled for six continents worldwide: In Japan, workers plan to protest McDonald's locations in "30 different prefectures," while demonstrators in the Philippines plan "flash mobs" inside five McDonald's locations. In New Zealand, workers plan a "teach-in" at McDonald's corporate headquarters in Auckland. And stateside, fast-food workers at unnamed locations in Philadelphia, Sacramento, and Miami pledge to walk out on May 15.

The very wordy International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (abbreviation: IUF) organized a conference in NYC this week, where "workers and union leaders from dozens of countries" convened to gain momentum for the ongoing debate, which has been raging since Summer 2013. The May 15 strike date represents the $15 per hour minimum wage that many workers consider a fair minimum wage.

According to the Wall Street Journal, McDonald's has been preparing for the May 15 protests since last month, sending an email to franchisees that a "global security team" was working with regional teams to ensure safety. As part of today's NYC protest, representatives delivered a letter to McDonald's asking for higher wages and increased respect for worker's rights.

· Fast-Food Worker Strike About to Go Global [USA Today]
· All Minimum Wage Coverage on Eater [-E-]
· All Fast Food Coverage on Eater [-E-]