Fast Food Workers Demand Higher Wages At Protest Downtown
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A McDonald's in Downtown Pittsburgh had to lock its doors early this morning as fast food workers gathered outside to protest.
Forty service workers from fast food restaurants, including McDonald's and Wendy's, gathered downtown Thursday morning to peacefully protest for higher wages and for a union.
The protest began around 6 a.m. at the McDonald's at the corner of Forbes Avenue and Stanwix Street.
"You gotta keep trying and fight for what you want," Aseia Glover said. "It's all in what you believe."
They say they work multiple jobs at minimum wage and have difficulty paying their bills.
Chris Ellis said, "That's not enough to live off of anything. If you sit down and say, 'Do I got my bills paid? Can I pay my car? Can I pay this?'"
Point Park University Business Professor Elaine Luther says she sees where protestors are coming from with the major corporations they work for raking in billions.
"Many of their employees are working full time but still getting food stamps and their children are on welfare," Luther said.
She says if workers got a rate hike, the companies they work for would take a hit, but the overall economy could benefit.
"They can afford it," Luther said. "They might not make as much money, but on the other hand, maybe our tax alignment would be better as well."
A little later in the morning, the protesters marched over to the Dunkin Donuts in Market Square where the demonstration continued.
Pittsburgh Police were called to monitor the crowd.
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