CHICAGO — Thousands of fast-food workers from restaurants such as McDonald’s Corp. and Wendy’s Co. walked off the job Monday to protest for higher pay.
Employees of fast-food eateries struck in New York City, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Missouri, and Flint, Mich., this week, organizers said in an e-mailed statement. The workers, who also are demanding the right to form a union without retaliation, are organized by groups such as New York Communities for Change, Jobs with Justice, and Action Now. The Service Employees International Union is providing money to the campaigns and helping organize the strikes.
American fast-food and retail workers have been striking this year for higher wages, and the protest starting Monday seeks wages of $15 an hour, 66 percent higher than the $9.02 that US fast-food cooks earn, on average.
McDonald’s chief executive Don Thompson said last week that McDonald’s is an ‘‘above minimum-wage employer’’ during an interview on Bloomberg TV. The world’s largest restaurant chain, with more than 14,100 US locations, will continue to provide entry-level jobs, he said.
Workers from Burger King Worldwide Inc., Domino’s Pizza Inc., and Subway restaurants are also striking.