Philadelphia fast food workers will take part in national strike

Philadelphia fast food workers say they plan to join a nationwide strike next week to protest low wages.

At a small rally on busy stretch of Market Street, competing with the sounds of downtown traffic, Justice Wallace said she plans to walk out of the Subway sandwich franchise where she works Thursday May 15th.

 

Wallace makes slightly above the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, and said it leaves her feeling always on edge.

“You can’t concentrate and focus just on life because you have to worry about bills and whether or not you’re going to be able to make the next month’s rent or pay the car mortgage that’s already overdue,” she said.

Pennsylvania Sen.Tina Tartaglione spoke to advocates for raising the minimum wage about legislation she has proposed in the General Assembly that would increase wages for tipped workers and incrementally raise the standard minimum wage in the state to $10.10 per hour by 2016.

“Tipped wage right now is $2.83 and it has not been raised for 15 years,” Tartaglion said. “It is a disgrace. It is a disgrace.”

Organizers say strikes will take place in 150 cities next week.