By Jason Sibert<\/p>\n
Fast food workers and their allies gathered at a McDonalds location on North Tucker St. in St. Louis on Jan. 15 to fight for the cause of 15 dollars an hour and union representation.<\/p>\n
The Fight for 15 organization, which fights for a 15 dollar an hour wage and a union, staged a strike in 15 cities around the country advocating for the cause of a federal minimum wage of 15 dollars an hour, said reports.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fighting for my family, we need to survive,\u201d said Monique Jamison, a St. Louis fast food worker, who attended the demonstration. \u201cThere are many people in my family who work in fast food. The second is for my community, we need this union. We need someone who will be behind us. If we push forward, our voices will be heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
The workers and their supporters gathered around McDonalds and their cars donned signs that said \u201cFight for 15,\u201d \u201cJobs with Justice,\u201d \u201cUnions for All,\u201d \u201cRespect Us, Protect Us, Pay Us,\u201d and \u201cFaith\/Labor Alliance.\u201d After the initial gathering, demonstrators drove their cars through the McDonalds parking lot for a more visible display. They also honked their horns.<\/p>\n
Caprice Nevils, an organizer for Service Employees International Union, attended the demonstration on behalf of the union. She spoke of the growth of the Fight for 15 movement.<\/p>\n
\u201cFight for 15 started for fast food workers,\u201d she said. \u201cAs if grew, it started to include hospital and nursing home workers. We came out her in solidarity with other unions. We believe in higher wages, and we don\u2019t want these workers to be in poverty wages.\u201d<\/p>\n
In front of the restaurant, a list of speakers spoke in favor of the cause. Rev. David Gerth of St. Louis Metropolitan Congregations was among the speakers. He referred to the demonstration as a \u201cplace where workers are fighting for their lives,\u201d and he called on the crowd to \u201dscour out the racism and the sexism.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Gerth, fast food workers spoke of how hard it was to survive on the low wages they were paid. Some spoke of the hardships of raising a family on their wages. Others chanted \u201cWhat do we want? We want fifteen and hour and a union!\u201d<\/p>\n