Fast-food strikes set for US cities nationwide

US fast-food customers in search of burgers today might run into striking workers instead.
Organisers say thousands of fast-food workers were set to stage walkouts in dozens of cities, part of a push to get chains such as McDonald's, Taco Bell and Wendy's to pay higher wages.
It's expected be the largest in a series of nationwide strike by fast-food workers, according to organisers.
Workers say they want USD 15 an hour, which would be about USD 31,000 a year for full-time employees. That's more than double the federal minimum wage, which many fast food workers make, of USD 7.25 an hour, or USD 15,000 a year.

The move comes amid calls from the White House, some members of Congress and economists to raise the minimum wage, which was last raised in 2009. But most proposals seek a far more modest increase than the one workers want. President Barack Obama wants to raise it to USD 9 an hour.
The push has brought considerable attention to the so-called "McJobs" that are known for their low pay and limited prospects.

Fast-food workers say they can't live on what they're paid.
Shaniqua Davis, 20, lives in New York City with her boyfriend, who is unemployed, and their 1-year-old daughter. Davis works at a McDonald's, earning USD 7.25 an hour. Her schedule varies, but she never gets close to 40 hours a week. "Forty? Never. They refuse to let you get to that (many) hours."

Her weekly paycheck is USD 150 or much lower. Davis plans to take part in the strike today.
McDonald's Corp. And Burger King Worldwide Inc. Say they don't make decisions about pay for the independent franchisees that operate the majority of their US restaurants.
For the restaurants it does own, McDonald's said in a statement that pay starts at minimum wage but the range goes higher, depending on the employee's position and experience level. It said that raising entry-level wages would mean higher overall costs, which could result in higher prices on menus.
"That would potentially have a negative impact on employment and business growth in our restaurants, as well as value for our customers," the company said in a statement.

The Wendy's Co. And Yum Brands Inc., which owns KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, did not respond to a request for comment.
The National Restaurant Association says the low wages reflect the fact that most fast-food workers tend to be younger and have little work experience.