Signs, stickers and rallies: Minimum wage effort flexes muscle  

untitled-(3-of-21)Many fast-food workers in Kansas City on Tuesday joined a nationwide strike, with walkouts planned in hundreds of cities.

Workers in home health care, child care and union members were among those supporting them in a day of rallies and gatherings.

They want a minimum wage of $15 an hour and union rights nationwide.

The Kansas City effort ended with an evening rally at Barney Allis Plaza and a march to city hall.

Richard Eiker, a McDonald’s worker, spoke at Barney Allis as the sun went down behind its fountains.

The 64 million people who make less than $15 an hour are a strong political force, he said. “We are  building a multi-racial movement of underpaid workers.”

Eiker, who is white, said racial unity in needed to combat rich and powerful companies.

“They want to pay us less and force us to fight over crumbs while they run off with the bakery,” he said.

Councilwoman Teresa Loar took the podium and made it clear where she stood: “It’s time, it’s way past time, to raise the minimum wage.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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