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Low Pay is NOT Okay: Protest in front of McDonalds in San José

by Laura Tanner
A raucous rally in San José in front of the McDonalds on W. San Carlos drew dozens including union members from the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Industrial Workers of the World, and Service Employees International Union. A member of the United Food and Commercial Workers union came from the Safeway next door to the fast food establishment and addressed the crowd in both Spanish and English. Somos unionistas!
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About 40 people attended a raucous rally at a San José, California McDonald's today, demonstrating for an hourly pay increase for fast food workers.

Customers exiting the restaurant stopped to thank some of the demonstrators for their concern for employees.

The rally included speakers who addressed the need for a living wage for all in both Spanish and English. Unions represented by local members included the BEW (Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) SEIU (Service Employees International Union) and UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers). Members of the community raised fists in solidarity and held signs including one that said, "Is $15 an hour so difficult when the McDonalds CEO earns $6,600 an hour?"
§Mateo of UFCW spoke in two languages
by Laura Tanner
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§Raging Grannies in two languages
by Laura Tanner
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§these customers thanked the demonstrators
by Laura Tanner
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§Benjamin Meza organized the rally
by Laura Tanner
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McDonalds actually encourages its employees to apply for food stamps, Benjamin told the crowd. Lesa Zimmerman also helped organize the demo and was interviewed by KTVU TV http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/san-jose-hundreds-gather-to-rally-for-a-higher/vCKnFs/.
§Solidarity from workers who passed by in trucks
by Laura Tanner
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Lots of people honked too
§Ping (at left) joined the Grannies
by Laura Tanner
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Ping spoke out for workers everywhere
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