Over the last year, we have posted several things about McDonald’s — how it treats and pays its workers, some of its rather bizarre PR and social media schemes that totally backfired, and more. It turns out the company is feeling the pressure. In a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing, it admitted that “the long-term trend toward higher wages and social expenses … which may intensify with increasing public focus on matters of income inequality” may affect future profits (you know, the ones paying its last CEO almost $9 million … do you want fries with that?).
It also listed “the impact of campaigns by labor organizations and activists, including through the use of social media and other mobile communications and applications.”
And it’s not just McDonald’s. Here are a few more recent victories:
- A group of health care workers in L.A. is getting a raise to $15/hour.
- Workers at and near SeaTac Airport in Washington state won a referendum vote to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour, as well as some paid sick time.
- NYC airport workers are moving up to $10.10/hour.
- The Gap is raising starting wages to $10 by next year.
- Seattle McDonald’s owners and operators say they’re discussing raising minimum wages at their restaurants and are not fighting wage hikes.
What does it mean?
We’re winning, that’s what. With every click, every share, and every picket sign outside a fast-food joint, we’re changing things. As a rep from one of the organizations involved, Low Pay Is Not OK, told us recently: “When we’re taking on some of the largest corporations in the world, we need a huge megaphone to amplify these fast-food and low-wage workers’ demands for $15 an hour and the right to form a union without interference. Upworthy has played a crucial role in spreading workers’ stories as well as some of our videos and graphics that show how McDonald’s is out of touch with its workers. Today is proof of the impact we’re having together.”
Here are some of the things we’ve posted that generated a lot of interest and attention.
- The young lady who stood up to the president of McDonald’s at a shareholder meeting. (Via Fight for 15.)
- The McDonald’s help line that told an employee to go on food stamps. (Via Low Pay Is Not OK.)
- The McDonald’s “living on next to nothing” budget calculator. (Via Low Pay Is Not OK.)
- One Michigan fast-food restaurant that is paying employees double the minimum wage. (The restaurant is Moo Cluck Moo.)
- A young lady who is active in the struggle talks to Stephen Colbert. (Hat tip to Fast Food Forward.)
