Several labor and religious groups are attempting to organize a strike for fast-food workers across the nation. The United Auto Workers, the Presbyterian Church USA, a handful of individual churches and synagogues and several Congressional representatives are supporting the effort. The campaign is calling for a one-day strike on Aug. 29 to call attention to the low wages of fast-food restaurant employees.
Campaign organizers are calling for a minimum wage of $15 per-hour for fast-food employees, and want assurances that workers who unionize will be protected. Critics of the strike say that fast-food profit margins are already so small, that the pay increase could force some restaurants out of business. Currently, the average fast-food worker makes around $9 an hour—that comes out to $18,720 a year. But, as pro-labor groups point out, many are prevented from working full time hours, and they do not receive benefits …
