In the strikes, wh
ich are making their way into the south for the first time, workers and their backers are pushing for a “living wage” of at least $15 an hour.
Many workers in fast food, called “quick serve” in the trade, earn minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour federally and in Texas.
Dallas, Houston and Austin will be among more than 45 cities, including Raleigh, Memphis and Tampa, to take part in the strike. The pre-Labor Day job action will take place the day after the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King.
Organizers said the Dallas turnout might be small – several dozen workers — since the movement is new to Texas. But they see it as significant that workers here contacted organizers asking to participate.
“It’s significant that people in a city like Dallas are organizing and taking the pretty significant step of joining in the national day of action,” said Ginny Goldman, executive director of the Texas Organizing Project, which advocates for low and moderate-wage workers.
“Many consider [Texas] to be the low-wage capital of the country, where you have more minimum wage workers than any other state.
“People were seeking out how they could get involved,” she said.
Locally, workers who are employed at chains including McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Jack in the Box, are expected to walk off the job for one day. Organizers declined to reveal the location of the picketing and rallies until just before the strike begins.
The strikes, which launched in New York City last November and spread to the Midwest, are being run by local labor-community-clergy alliances. Groups participating include the Texas Organizing Project, Jobs with Justice and a pastors/interfaith coalition. Among the clergy participating locally is the Rev. Robert Conley, pastor of Testament of Praise church in Dallas and son of community leader the Rev. R.T. Conley.
The Service Employees International Union is providing financial and technical support to the campaigns and is helping train organizers.
ich are making their way into the south for the first time, workers and their backers are pushing for a “living wage” of at least $15 an hour.Many workers in fast food, called “quick serve” in the trade, earn minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour federally and in Texas.
Dallas, Houston and Austin will be among more than 45 cities, including Raleigh, Memphis and Tampa, to take part in the strike. The pre-Labor Day job action will take place the day after the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King.
Organizers said the Dallas turnout might be small – several dozen workers — since the movement is new to Texas. But they see it as significant that workers here contacted organizers asking to participate.
“It’s significant that people in a city like Dallas are organizing and taking the pretty significant step of joining in the national day of action,” said Ginny Goldman, executive director of the Texas Organizing Project, which advocates for low and moderate-wage workers.
“Many consider [Texas] to be the low-wage capital of the country, where you have more minimum wage workers than any other state.
“People were seeking out how they could get involved,” she said.
Locally, workers who are employed at chains including McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Jack in the Box, are expected to walk off the job for one day. Organizers declined to reveal the location of the picketing and rallies until just before the strike begins.
The strikes, which launched in New York City last November and spread to the Midwest, are being run by local labor-community-clergy alliances. Groups participating include the Texas Organizing Project, Jobs with Justice and a pastors/interfaith coalition. Among the clergy participating locally is the Rev. Robert Conley, pastor of Testament of Praise church in Dallas and son of community leader the Rev. R.T. Conley.
The Service Employees International Union is providing financial and technical support to the campaigns and is helping train organizers.
