St. Louis Can't Survive On $7.35
This spring saw a wave of several campaigns by fast food employees calling for better working conditions and higher wages. In St. Louis the campaign took on the name of "STL Can't Survive on $7.35."
St. Louis Public Radio reports that employees from different fast food chains including McDonalds and Arby's, participated in the one to two day strikes. One of the organizers of the St. Louis campaign, Rev. Martin Rafanan, co-chairman of the Missouri Jobs with Justice workers' rights board, said that none of the restaurant workers who participated in the local protest lost their jobs.
Though none of the participants lost their jobs, the struggle continues. Community supporters have been helping employees participating in the protest by walking them back to their jobs after the strike.
The strikes have been supported by the community and have seen small victories. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, some of the workers who participated have received 40 to 55 cent an hour raises.
Since May, the campaign has also started in Milwaukee, Detroit, Washington D.C., and Seattle.