Service Union Targets McDonald's, UPMC With Wage Rallies
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - The Service Employees International Union is targeting McDonald's restaurants and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center with marches demanding a $15 minimum wage and union representation.
The union contends UPMC shuttle bus workers have also gone on strike seeking union representation.
UPMC, which is western Pennsylvania's dominant hospital network, had previously announced plans to increase the minimum starting wage for entry-level jobs at most facilities to $15 per hour by 2021.
But the union contends UPMC needs to move faster and accused the network of trying to silence workers and union organizers. UPMC hasn't immediately commented.
Organizers began their "Day of Disruption" marches at a McDonald's in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood Tuesday morning. The group gathered for a similar protest near a McDonald's and the federal building downtown just before the evening rush hour.
The afternoon march started at the federal building, made its way to Grant Street, then Sixth Avenue and Smithfield Street, heading for the Boulevard of the Allies.
"Their unfair practices, the fact that many of us have to work two jobs working for the largest employers within Pennsylvania," said Erica Lee, a UPMC shuttle bus driver.
"We want a better voice on our job, we'd like better pay, better benefits package," added Lou Berry, a UPMC housekeeper. "We work for the largest health care institution in the city of Pittsburgh and we're charged some of the highest health care prices out of anybody."
In a statement to KDKA, UPMC says, "The vast majority of UPMC employees are focused on providing high quality care and they know that wages, comprehensive benefit packages and general working environment throughout UPMC are the best in the region and that further wage structure increases are already coming, all without paying union dues."
Pittsburgh Public Safety officials say 19 people were arrested after sitting down in the streets during the protest. There were no reports of any injuries.
But it did cause a traffic mess in and around downtown. Some bus routes were delayed.
The protests in Pittsburgh were part of many taking place across the country with workers calling for better pay and benefits.
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