Minimum Wage Protests Rock NYC

Hundreds of foodservice workers and supporters protested in New York City and other cities on April 4 outside restaurants to demand higher wages.

Demonstrators, chanting “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Minimum wage has got to go,” voiced demands that quick-service restaurants pay $15 per hour, almost double the current hourly average of $8.25. New York City has among the world’s most expensive real estate, pushing up rents for foodservice operators and their workers.

Last month, the state assembly voted to raise New York’s hourly minimum wage of $7.25 to $9 by 2016.

The National Restaurant Association opposes such hikes. Scott DeFife, exec. v.p.-policy and government affairs, released a statement on the protests, saying: “Current city and state proposals aimed at increasing the minimum wage and mandating paid leave would have a cumulative effect of significantly increasing the cost of doing business in New York and restrict the ability of the industry to create jobs.”

The protests, organized by a coalition of unions and community groups, took place outside dozens of quick-service establishments, including McDonald’s, Domino’s, Wendy’s and Pizza Hut.