Protesters took to the street Thursday, calling for fast food chains to super-size workers wages.
Employees said the restaurants serve up affordable meals – but they can’t afford to live on what they’re paid.
“Right now, I’m making $8.15 an hour and I’m working only 15 to 20 hours a week which is not much to take home when you gotta pay bills and rent and that sort of stuff,” said Kyle King, a Burger King employee.
At fast food chains all over Boston and across the country, demonstrators are calling for restaurants to nearly double wages. They want $15 an hour and the right for workers to unionize.
“The cost of living keeps going up and up and up and the pay is stagnant. It’s not going anywhere,” said one protester.
Kyle King walked off the job today – to march in front of a burger king and a Wendy’s in Copley Square.
Thousands of other fast food workers did the same.
“Eight dollars is just…you can’t live on it. You really can’t live on it especially if you have a kid you really can’t,” said Leroy Thorpe, a McDonald’s employee.
The protests are part of what organizers say are similar walkouts planned in dozens of cities Thursday to push chains such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Wendy’s to pay workers more.
Organizers say they expect the nationwide strike to be the largest ever by fast-food workers. It follows a series of strikes that began in New York City last November.
McDonald’s has said workers’ pay starts at minimum wage but the range goes higher, depending on the employee’s position and experience. It said raising entry-level wages would mean higher overall costs, which could result in higher prices.
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey is planning to attend an afternoon rally in support of workers on Boston Common.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.