Thousands of people marched in Chicago on Tuesday and Wednesday, in front of McDonald’s storefronts and the fast food giant’s headquarters, protesting its low hourly wage. Organized by “Fight for 15,” a labor group that advocates for a $15 per hour minimum wage, the protests began on Tuesday, as McDonald’s employees waved banners and signs in the streets.

On Wednesday, a couple hundred people gathered in front of the company’s suburban headquarters during its annual shareholder meeting. According to Reuters, 30 protesters were arrested on Wednesday for blocking a road. Terrance Wise, 42, was at the protest, and told Reuters he was there because he believes the minimum wage should be increased.

“I saw my mother, who worked for 30 years for Hardee’s, struggle on food stamps to raise her family and now I’m doing the same things,” he said, referencing another fast food giant. “Instead of paying their CEO $15 million, they should give him $10 million and pay their workers what’s right.” According to company figures, McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook made $15.3 million last year.

March is about to kickoff. Thousands are ready to shut down streets and march #fightfor15 pic.twitter.com/4TSD27S6u2

— Fight For 15 Chicago (@chifightfor15) May 23, 2017

 “Fight for 15” has referred to McDonald’s as the “Donald Trump of corporations.” A page on its website reads: “Trump AND McDonald’s have a long history of sexual harassment, stealing from or refusing to pay employees, and ripping off taxpayers.”

Since 2015, in the franchises that it owns, McDonald’s pays its employees a wage of $10 per hour. But the majority of its stores are controlled by other owners, who can set the hourly wage as they please. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. While many cities and states have raised their minimum wage, and some congressional Democrats have supported a steep increase, the Republican-controlled Congress is unlikely to make a federal change any time soon.

Meanwhile, Trump’s stance on raising the federal minimum wage has flipped more times than a McDouble. He has taken almost every position imaginable: from suggesting the minimum wage should be lowered, to saying it should stay the same. His most recent public comments, however, suggest he would like to see it increased to $10.

Last July, he said: “The minimum wage has to go up. People are — at least $10, but it has to go up. But I think that states — federal — I think that states should really call the shot.”

One-time presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders tweeted his two cents on the minimum wage debate on Thursday:

I know a $15 minimum wage is radical to Republicans.

You know what’s radical? That people working 40 or 50 hours a week live in poverty.

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) May 25, 2017

Alec Siegel

Alec Siegel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. When he’s not working at Law Street he’s either cooking a mediocre tofu dish or enjoying a run in the woods. His passions include: gooey chocolate chips, black coffee, mountains, the Animal Kingdom in general, and John Lennon. Baklava is his achilles heel. Contact Alec at ASiegel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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On Tuesday many big cities saw thousands of low-wage workers taking to the streets, protesting in favor of a $15 minimum wage. Union activists, politicians, and church members joined the nationwide demonstrations and almost 200 people were arrested across the U.S.

Workers joined the cause in airports, travel hubs, and highways by walking off their jobs or blocking traffic. About 500 employees at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago took part in a strike, alleging unfair labor practices. Hundreds of people chanted slogans outside of the terminals while police officers had to put up gates to make room for travelers to walk past. “We’re not asking for special treatment, we’re asking for decent treatment. We’re asking for decent wages,” said Kisha Rivera, an airplane cabin cleaner at O’Hare.

Thousands of people planned to walk out from their jobs at different McDonald’s restaurants, according to organizers, and one of the chain’s restaurants in St Louis had its drive-through blocked by people for half an hour. A state senator in Massachusetts who sat down with protesters in the middle of a street in Cambridge was arrested. In North Carolina a reverend was arrested, and in Manhattan four local and state officials were arrested as well, after 200 protesters blocked traffic in the Financial District. By Wednesday morning, arrests were up to 26 in New York City, 36 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 39 in Detroit, and 40 in Los Angeles.

#Durham police have arrested NAACP NC President Rev. William Barber II #Fightfor15 pic.twitter.com/lPN0KRpOHz

— Derrick Lewis (@DerrickQLewis) November 29, 2016

We’re here and we can’t be moved! #Fightfor15 pic.twitter.com/0CMJScioco

— ATLRaiseUp (@ATLRaiseUp) November 29, 2016

Whether or not to raise the minimum wage is always a hot political topic. Liberal think tank Economic Policy Institute says that raising the minimum wage from the current $7.25 per hour to $12 per hour would affect 35 million workers across the nation and help them get off government assistant programs. But conservative organization Employment Policies Institute argues that the raised costs of a higher minimum wage would result in fewer jobs and the closure of businesses.

President-elect Donald Trump has not been very clear on his stance on the minimum wage. At a Fox Business debate last year he said that wages are too high, but later denied having said that, and claimed he only meant that there’s no need to raise the minimum wage. And then this summer he said at a press conference that the federal “minimum wage has to go up” to at least $10, but only a few months earlier he said it should be up to each state to decide. At this point it’s unclear if he’s made up his mind on minimum wage policy.

If someone in America works 40 hours a week, that person should not be living in poverty. #Fightfor15

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 29, 2016

Politicians among 26 arrested this morning in Zuccotti Park #Fightfor15 protest, NYPD says: https://t.co/8pEoK3S2KY pic.twitter.com/di1Se39JH5

— DNAinfo New York (@DNAinfoNY) November 29, 2016

The main organizer behind the nationwide protests was the Fight for $15 movement, which is supported by many labor unions. Organizers said that they wanted to draw attention to more areas than just traditional low-wage jobs like fast-food restaurants, by focusing on all kinds of working class Americans. The tactic of protesting at places like airports rather than outside of restaurants, and trying to appeal to people in other fields, seemed to be successful. Workers from childcare facilities, individuals who work in healthcare, and even Uber drivers joined the cause. The question is whether Trump (and other politicians) will listen.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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