Economy

Fast-Food Workers in Florida Walkout to March on GOP Debate

Paul Ausick

Published: March 10, 2016 12:55 pm

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 12:06 pm

The Florida presidential primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15, and fast-food workers in Miami walked off their jobs Thursday, just hours before the Republican candidates’ debate Thursday evening. According to a press release from Fight for $15, the walkout will culminate in a “huge march” to the GOP debate site.

The walkouts will occur at two McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) locations, one in Miami and one in Coral Gables. The organizers expect the fast-food workers, along with more than 1,000 other underpaid workers, to join the march.

Organizers also noted that 52% of Florida’s workers earn less than $15 an hour, one of the highest proportions in the United States. The protesters want higher pay, union rights and comprehensive immigration reform.

Fast-food workers have already demonstrated both Republican and Democratic debate locations in Michigan, Texas, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Iowa and last November in Milwaukee, Wis.

Fast-food workers from Miami will be joined by home care, child care and other underpaid workers across Florida outside the GOP debate.

In advance of the presidential election in November, workers intend to continue to collect signatures for their five-point platform: union rights, affordable child care, quality long-term care, racial justice and immigration reform.