US hit by largest fast-food strike

Fast-food workers walked off their jobs in sixty US cities Thursday in the largest organized strike in the history of the industry.

The walkout followed a series of strikes across the United States which began last November in New York City. Employees of McDonald’s, Burger King, and other stores participated in Thursday’s strike.
The nationwide strike came a day after the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and a few days before the Labor Day.
Workers targeted fast-food chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Yum Brands, whose chains include KFC and Taco Bell.
Strike organizers– a coalition of unions, campaign groups, clergy and community members– said restaurants in major US cities such as Milwaukee, Detroit and St. Louis had to close because of employee walkouts.
The striking workers are calling for better wages and the right to unionize. They say they cannot live on their current wages and want to be paid $15 an hour, twice the rate for many employees at fast-food chains.
The minimum wage in the US has remained unchanged since 2009 when it was set at $7.25 an hour.