Fast Food Walkouts May Be Just Beginning

Executive Summary:  The well-publicized citywide fast food walkout in New York City on April 4, followed by another in Chicago on April 24, appear to be just the beginning of efforts to pressure fast food restaurants into paying higher wages.

On May 8, the actions spread to St. Louis and Detroit.  In St. Louis, workers at a Jimmy John's restaurant walked out in what was described as a "surprise" strike.  The next day the walkouts spread to other areas of the city and other restaurant franchises.  Although several media outlets referred to the strikes as "wildcats," by May 10, St. Louis Post-Dispatch was reporting that the walkouts were "being organized by a coalition of community, labor and faith-based groups" in an effort to raise the minimum fast food wage to $15.00 per hour.  The protests were not limited to workers; several restaurants faced large crowds of non-worker protesters.  The protests included banners, picketing, and speakers with megaphones, among