RICHMOND, Va. -- In a show of solidarity, fast-food workers along with health-care and child-care providers from the Richmond area protested outside a McDonald’s restaurant this morning demanding a wage increase.
The group stood united with other low-wage workers across the country today for the “Fight for $15” initiative. The campaign, which organizers call “the biggest-ever day of strikes,” has gained momentum recently as more than a dozen state and local governments approved legislation that will pay fast-food workers $15 per hour.
“This is an effort to ensure that anyone who works full-time doesn’t have to raise a family in poverty,” said Anna Scholl, executive director of ProgressVA, a nonprofit advocacy group for low-income Virginians.
The protest was held outside the McDonald’s restaurant on Chamberlayne Avenue, north of downtown Richmond. About 50 demonstrators held signs and chanted in unison, “We work, we sweat, put $15 on our checks,” and “Bump those burgers, bump those fries, we want our paychecks supersized.” McDonald’s officials did not have any immediate response to the demonstration.
Traffic on Chamberlayne Avenue slowed in front of the business as a mix of curious drivers looked to see what was happening. Some drivers honked to show their support.
Some protesters brought their children along to be part of the rally. They included Leah Taylor of Richmond, who came with her teenage daughter, Briana.
“We are here trying to make sure that we get higher wages so we can survive, live and take care of our families at home,” Taylor said. “We don’t mind doing the work as long as we get paid for the hard work we do.”
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, and that is the minimum wage in Virginia as well. About 30 states have set their minimum wage above the federal level. The Virginia General Assembly not only killed legislation to boost the minimum wage in the commonwealth but also passed a bill preventing local governments from increasing the minimum wage. Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed that bill.
McDonald’s is the world’s second-largest employer and the industry leader in the fast-food and service economy. According to the McDonald’s code of conduct for employees, the corporation places the customer experience at the core of all they do.
With the high expectation for top-notch customer service, the employees said they have little incentive to work harder when their wages aren’t enough to cover basic necessities.
“Our customers matter. We have to give our best to them,” Taylor said. “Shouldn’t we be treated better so we can make sure our families eat and we survive so we can keep helping customers?”
Thomasine Wilson, a health-care provider, joined the protesters to advocate for benefits including Medicaid, paid sick leave and paid vacations.
“We’re here to make sure that all Americans get better wages for the good work, the quality work, that we all do,” Wilson said. “We’re helping other people in health care, but we ourselves want to enrich our lives – and we are not able to even afford to go to the doctor.”
Nancy Collie, a child-care worker, agreed. “This is important to us. Everyone deserves a livable wage,” she said.
“We are investing in the future of children. We spend a lot of time with them – sometimes more time than their families do. We are really putting our whole hearts and souls so that they grow up well.”
This morning’s protest was the first of three events scheduled in Richmond today. A panel discussion was scheduled at noon at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1720 Mechanicsville Turnpike.
Organizers also planned another rally at 5 p.m. outside the McDonald’s on the corner of Broad Street and Boulevard.
By Kyle Taylor and Brian Williams/ Capital News Service
Capital News Service is a flagship program of VCU’s Robertson School of Media and Culture. Students participating in the program provide state government coverage for Virginia’s community newspapers and other media outlets, under the supervision of Associate Professor Jeff South.
