Jumaane Williams Says McDonald’s Is Robbing Workers, Low Wages Are “Bull”

Fast food workers walked off the job yesterday to rally for higher wages, reports Gothamist. Strikes have hit restaurants in the neighborhood, including a Burger King on Flatbush Ave and a KFC on Nostrand Ave.
Council Member Jumaane Williams attended an afternoon rally in Times Square where he gave a fiery speech in support of the workers.
Enough is enough. You deserve an honest days pay for an honest days work McDonald’s says billions and billions served and they aren’t even offering sick days or able to pay you for an honest days work? That’s some bull- ish! They are robbing these workers. These workers can’t afford to pay for food for their own table, they can’t afford to send their kids to school, they can’t afford all the luxuries we have. What I’m hoping is that the whole world can see what’s going on here, that there is tremendous amounts of money in this industry and you’re the one who is suffering. Martin Luther King once said, ‘A man can’t ride your back unless it’s bent.’ We are straightening our backs today, we are walking tall! We will not be defeated, we will stand here and strike until it’s over! You can have you food but can we eat too?
The @NYCCouncil is standing with #fastfood #workers! I'm joined by @TishJames, @Ydanis, @RJackson_NYC and Andy King! pic.twitter.com/E4BTwlbS
— Jumaane Williams (@JumaaneWilliams) November 29, 2012
After negotiations #Wendy's owner. Fired worker got her job back. Many thanks to him. "Let's move #fastfoodfwd!" We are the 99%!!
— Jumaane Williams (@JumaaneWilliams) November 30, 2012
It's incredible to see the #fastfood #workers unite to demand a #fairwage! They have the right to #unionize! Let's move #fastfoodfwd!
— Jumaane Williams (@JumaaneWilliams) November 29, 2012
Several other local politicians weighed in:
After a decade of rising income inequality, we need nothing less than a citywide movement to uplift NYers & grow middle class #fastfoodfwd
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) November 29, 2012
Roberto has to work 2 jobs, both at McDonalds (1 Bklyn, 1 Manh) to get by. Something deeply wrong w/this #fastfoodfwd pic.twitter.com/tkJTkvju
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) November 30, 2012
Will this change the way you patronize fast food chains?