DETROIT – Today fast food workers in Detroit, New York, Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Flint, Mich., and Kansas City, Mo. are expected to walk off their jobs to protest poor pay.
Last week similar rallies popped up across the country at fast food restaurants and the like, where workers carried signs such as "supersize my pay".
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The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour. The protesters are calling for that to double to $15 an hour.
Industry representatives say that most fast food restaurants operate on a meager profit margin, making it impossible to increase employee wages.
A network of local community groups, clergy, and unions, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), are backing the strike.
In May, protesters demonstrated in front of several Detroit area fast food outlets.
Fast food workers walk off job picket in Detroit
President Obama and Democrats on Capitol Hill have proposed raising the minimum wage due to inflation - though House Republicans are not likely to go along with a hike any time soon. The last time the federal minimum wage was raised was four years ago, in July of 2009.