South Florida Fast Food Workers Take To The Streets In Protests
MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) -- Fast food workers in South Florida have joined their counterparts across the country in a push for $15-an-hour wages.
Workers from McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and other fast food restaurants are walking out of their jobs as part of the strike on Thursday.
Some of the protesters took to the streets, sitting at intersections, as form of demonstration. The act drew the ire of the Miami-Dade Police Department.
MDPD says the protest has been shut down, arresting seven in the process.
The protesters were charged with unlawful assembly because of blocking the road and refusing to leave when instructed.
Organizers say the workers are seeking better pay and the right to form a union without retaliation.
Workers in more than 150 cities are expected to participate in the latest action.
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Protests among fast food workers have gained national media attention since they started in New York City in late 2012.
Restaurant industry groups say such pay hikes would hurt their ability to create jobs and note that many of the participants are not workers. Demonstrations have been organized by the Service Employees International Union.
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