CSEA joins fast food workers in fight for dignity and respect MANHATTAN — CSEA members recently supported striking fast-food workers in their fight for a decent hourly wage and union rights, joining the workers in their protest. Two years after about 200 New York City fast food workers walked off their jobs, sparking a nationwide movement for a realistic living wage and additional worker rights, cooks and cashiers at McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and other major national chains went on a one-day strike in more than 190 cities. “There is no reason that my family and I should have to rely on public assistance to get by when the fast food industry earns billions of dollars per year in profit,” said Alvin Major, a front-line worker at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Brooklyn. “I am on strike to demand better wages and the right to form a union, but most importantly, I’m on strike today to demand dignity,” Major said. Citing inaction by the major fast-food chains, workers pressed state lawmakers to step in and provide a living wage. “It doesn’t make sense that I should have to work two jobs just to put food on the table,” said Flavia Cabral, a McDonald’s worker raising two teen-age girls on her fast-food salary of $8 per hour. “I will continue to hold McDonald’s accountable for paying me enough to support my family, but in the meantime, we need Albany to vote to raise the wages for all low-wage workers in New York state. It’s the right thing to do,” Cabral said. CSEA Metropolitan Region members who rallied at a McDonald’s in Lower Manhattan and then marched to a rally at City Hall said they were inspired and proud to stand with workers demanding dignity and respect. “This struggle to pay fast food workers a living wage is probably one of the most important struggles in labor today,” said Metropolitan Region President Lester Crockett. “How can we not stand with and support the rights of workers who don’t earn enough CSEA activists, including Metropolitan Region President Lester Crockett, join fast food workers recently in their demand for decent wages and the right to join a union. to feed their families what’s on the menu?” Crockett said. — David Galarza January 2015 The Work Force 5
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