CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A group of workers and community advocates in Charleston joined protests happening nationwide on Wednesday to demand a raise in minimum wage.
McDonald’s workers, Common Defense veterans and SEIU members stood outside the McDonald’s location close to the state Capitol on 1626 Washington St E to demand the company to adopt a $15 minimum wage for frontline workers across the country. The group also demanded that McDonald’s exit the National Restaurant Association and the International Franchise Association.
Martec Washington of Charleston told MetroNews that companies across the country, not just McDonald’s, should raise the wage.
“We are out here trying to make $15 an hour happen for everyone, right now. It’s taken far too long,” he said.
Wednesday’s event, taking place one day before the McDonald’s annual shareholder meeting, was part of a nationwide series of actions in over 30 cities. Events also happened in Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Chicago, Detroit, Flint, Kansas City, St Louis, Raleigh-Durham, Houston, and Milwaukee.
The group said during the event that McDonald’s deemed its workers essential during the worst days of the pandemic but still while refusing to raise their wage. Last week, McDonald’s announced last week it would raise its minimum wage in corporate-owned stores, which make up around 5% of total US restaurants or about 650 locations.
The company made nearly $5 billion in 2020 and paid its CEO more than $10 million while increasing dividends to shareholders.
“Everybody makes all this money in profits and then you don’t pay your people. Make that make sense to me. How can you send all this money to lobbyists but you can’t pay your workers,” Washington said.
The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25, something that has been debated for several years. The federal minimum wage was last raised in 2009.
The protests were backed by Fight for $15, a movement seeking a $15 wage. Washington said he was out there for everyone in every walk of life.
“I’m out here with some of the strongest people I know, there are veterans out here. They work at McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Walmart when they come back from fighting a war. They make minimum wage which is nothing,” he said.
“I can’t afford to take care of my kids, I can’t afford to fix my car. I’m going to have to ride public transportation. If we want to get people out of poverty, we have to pay them.”