McDonald’s focus of nationwide pay protests sweeping across US

It comes just two weeks after McDonald’s announced a pay rise for workers at its company-owned stores, suggesting the chain is trying to head offf criticism. The Fight for 15 campaign is being spearheaded by the Service Employees International Union and began in late 2012 with fast-food workers.

Since then, the campaign has morphed to rally a variety of low-wage workers, including airport workers and home care workers. Adjunct professors will be among the latest to join the demonstrations, which organisers say are planned for more than 230 cities and college campuses.

Kendall Fells, organising director for Fight for 15, said McDonald’s remains a focus of the protests and that the company’s recent pay rise shows fast-food workers already have a de facto union. “It shows the workers are winning,” he said.

The first national pay policy announced by McDonald’s includes a starting salary that’s $1 (68p) above the local minimum wage, and the ability to accrue paid time off. It only applies to workers at company-owned stores, however, which account for only 10 per cent of more than 14,300 locations. Wahes in franchises are a key issue in the debate.

McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s say they do not control the employment decisions at franchised restaurants. The SEIU is working to change that.

The demonstrations got an early start on Tuesday afternoon with a rally in Boston. Protesters in Detroit later gathered inside a McDonald’s.