Dec. 5 was a nationwide day of strikes by fast food workers in cities across the U.S. Liberation News was there in the streets to bring you these reports.
Albuquerque
Labor unions, immigrant workers, students and community members came out in support of fast food workers in Albuquerque Dec 5. After a snowstorm, in freezing temperatures, over 50 Albuquerque workers demonstrated inside and later in front of a Wendy’s fast food restaurant in Old Town Albuquerque in support of a living wage and better working conditions for fast food workers. People chanted slogans “Wendy’s escucha, estamos en la lucha” (Wendy’s listen, we are in the struggle) and “No burgers, no fries, make our wages super-sized!”
The demonstration was well received by passing vehicles as well as city bus drivers and workers who honked their horns in support. The demonstration was a part of a a national day of action in support of fast food workers.
New Haven, Conn.
Joining hundreds of striking workers across the country, fast food workers and their supporters in the New Haven community held three speakouts Dec. 5. The action started at St. Luke’s church, where union members, striking workers and community members came together in a group of about 60 in a highly visible location on Whalley Ave. Kevin, a Dunkin’ Donuts worker who works for minimum wage and has not had a raise for several years, opened the action with his own story and a message of solidarity for all workers currently striking. Chants included “What do we want? 15! When do we want it? Now!”
The action then moved to a different Dunkin’ Donuts in New Haven. Starting with a moving picket line outside, the workers’ chants about $15/hour wages became more militant: “If we don’t get it – shut it down!” The group then marched inside the Dunkin’ Donuts, filling the establishment, clapping loudly and chanting. Reverend Scott Marks, introduced two more workers, who spoke about the conditions at their jobs and why they were on strike. Tina Conners, a McDonalds employee who has been living on minimum wage out of her car for the last two years, urged others to join her in the struggle. “I think we should make $15 an hour and I’m willing to strike until we do.” Her coworker, Josh, supported her message: “I was a manager, I took an approved vacation and got demoted…There has still been no explanation. I know the people at my store wanted to be with me, but they were scared to be… and I’m nervous myself, but I know next time we will have many more supporters.”
An organizer of the event announced that there were workers at the Subway across the street who had wanted to go on strike too, but were afraid that they would be standing alone. “Let’s show them we’ve got their backs!” theorganizer called. The group marched across the street to Subway and chanted “What do we want? 15! When do we want it? Now!” and “We’ve got your backs!” inside. One of the workers behind the counter began chanting and clapping along.
Sacramento, Cal.
In a great show of solidarity more than one hundred Sacramentons gathered Dec. 5 to “Fight for 15”. Taking part in a national day of action people in Sacramento joined in unity with protests all across the country. Community organizers, union activists, students, and radicals all shared a common demand for a higher wage for all workers. They specifically picketed the Broadway McDonald’s and pointed out how its low wages and lack of job benefits represented the exploitation of their workers. Some protesters took to the mike and gave speeches to the crowd. Bill Camp, secretary of the Sacramento Central Labor Council, who had been arrested in civil disobedience weeks before in the wave of Black Friday protests against Walmart, told the crowd: “A union is working people standing together!” He spoke about how McDonald’s’ low wages weren’t just hurting their workers but how they were hurting the whole community, and how the system exploited us all.
San Francisco
In Oakland, 200 people gathered at the Fruitvale BART station and marched to the Jack In the Box at 26th Avenue and East 14th Street carrying a banner reading “East Bay Fighting 4 15 and a Union,” with chants such as “They say low-wage, we say no way!” and “Hold the burgers! Hold the fries! We want wages super-sized!” It was believed that Latino employees of the Fruitvale Jack In the Box had been asked to show papers proving they were in the country illegally and were subsequently fired. Both organized and non-union workers gathered together to protest the low-wages paid to fast food restaurant employees, with many SEIU signs visible.
As protesters entered the Jack In the Box, managers began locking the doors to keep out the public. Employees waved appreciatively at the protesters. The restaurant was shut down before the protesters left.
