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April 25, 2013

Hundreds of Low-Wage Workers Strike in Chicago 
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Hundreds of low-wage workers walked off the job in Chicago on Wednesday
to call for an increased hourly wage and the right to form a union
without intimidation. Beginning at dawn with a rally at Chicago's Union
Station, the strike hit retail and fast food giants including Mc
Donald's, Subway, Dunkin' Donuts, Macy's, Victoria's Secret and Sears.
Calling for a wage hike to $15 an hour, the workers moved through
Chicago's shopping district with a chant of "We can't survive on $8.25."
Lorraine Chavez of the Workers Organizing Committee of Chicago said
low-wage workers are being overburdened with substandard pay.

Lorraine Chavez: "Many workers have two or three jobs, and they are
still qualified for poverty-level assistance like food stamps and rental
assistance. So they're working full-time, and they're simply unable to
even pay for the bare necessities of life."

More than 400 workers took part in a similar one-day strike in New York
City earlier this month.

 

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