Scenes From The McDonald’s Strike Across The Bay Area, And The Whole Nation

Image: @seiu1021 via Twitter

McDonald’s workers went on strike Wednesday in 15 cities across the U.S., in a direct action coordinated by Fight for $15 movement that hopes to raise the federal minimum wage to $15. Low pay is the main reason that thousands of McDonald’s workers blew off work to demonstrate today, but they’re also furious over a rash of sexual harassment allegations brought forward by women who work as McDonald’s crew that was recently uncovered by CBS News.  

McDonald's workers are on strike today, supported in solidarity by their allies, for fair wages, benefits and protections. #McDonaldsStrike @seiu1021 @sflabor pic.twitter.com/3CBTcaur5r

— Matt Haney (@MattHaneySF) May 19, 2021

Here in San Francisco, workers rallied at the McDonald’s at Market and Second Streets, and District 6 supervisor Matt Haney spoke in support of the strike. “Fast food workers are among the lowest paid workers in California, with the least benefits and the fewest protections,” Haney said in a subsequent tweet to the one above. “We stand with them and their fight for economic justice.”

Oakland McDonalds workers on strike today for the #FightFor15. They shut down the location on International for about two hours today and will be rallying in SF starting now at 609 Market St #FASTRecovery #AB257 #AB1177 @fightfor15 @NorCalFF15 @ILWU_10 @seiu1021 @JananiforCA pic.twitter.com/qGDfI6GnCf

— 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 (@renepakmorrison) May 19, 2021

One McDonald’s in Oakland was reportedly shut down by the strikers’ demonstrations. “They shut down the location on International for about two hours today,” Oakland photographer Rene Morrison said above.

We won’t be insulted by @McDonald’s PR ploys.

We’re demanding what we’re owed, and what all workers are owed. #FightFor15 #AB257 #McDonaldsStrike pic.twitter.com/sm6yUMaELy

— Fight for $15 LA (@Fightfor15LA) May 19, 2021

The McDonald’s strike was also in effect in Los Angeles. “Instead of building workers up, McDonalds and other fast food corporations and employers want to push us beyond safe limits,” crew member Maria Rivera told a rally. “I was pushed to work faster, I ended up burning my hand badly and having to work a full shift with tremendous pain.”

.@AOC talks about how @McDonalds only raised wages for about 5% of locations "We're not buying it. We're not falling for it.

I'm here to tell @McDonalds directly that you're not going to do this as a PR effort and trick us.

It's time to step up and be honest." #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/OMpPmewM0u

— Fight For 15 (@fightfor15) May 19, 2021

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also chimed with a livestream address. “McDonald’s recently ‘announced’ [she finger-quoted] that they were going to be raising their minimum wage, quote-unquote, to $15 an hour,” she said. “What they didn’t say was that it’s only for their corporate locations, which only covers about 5% of all the McDonald’s across this country. 95% of the McDonald’s locations are franchises. So we’re not buying it, and we’re not falling for it.”

Taken in Sanford, FL! #FightFor15 #McDonaldsStrike pic.twitter.com/nh3w0SmklG

— Beachy Piers ✊🏽 (@BeachyPiers) May 19, 2021

Today’s demonstrations shut down McDonald’s as far away as Florida, where the above photo was taken. That’s the kind of “No One Wants To Work” sign we like to see.