KHOU: Fast Food Workers Compare Wages to ‘Slavery’

Fast-food strikes return in Houston, across the US amid push for wage hikes (KHOU)

HOUSTON—Fast-food workers and labor organizers from Houston joined other protesters across the country Thursday in support of higher wages. Organizers planned walkouts and rallies in 100 cities and at the height of the lunch rush in Houston, workers began walking off the job in southwest Houston.

The actions marked the largest showing yet over the past year. At a time when there’s growing national and international attention on economic disparities, labor unions, worker advocacy groups and Democrats are hoping to build public support to raise the federal minimum wage of $7.25, or about $15,000 a year for full-time work.

They felt their compensation should be doubled to $15 an hour, feeling that would be a living wage. Protesters said a pay raise could actually save taxpayers money, lessening the amount of public assistance that the “working poor” need. Others say they can barely get by.

“Seven twenty-five is not enough. I mean, I have a child on the way right now and as it is, I can barely support myself with the money. You know, it’s almost slavery,” said Armando Moreno, a Jack-in-the-Box employee.

“I have daughters and they, my daughters, go to this school but I need more money because I have necessities,” said Luis Ortiz, who works at Burger King.