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Workers Strike Richmond McDonald's Franchise

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Friday, July 22, 2016   

RICHMOND, Va. - Demanding $15 an hour and better working conditions, employees struck a Richmond McDonald's franchise yesterday. McDonald's employee, Rolanda McMillan said she's been working at the 2011 Chamberlayne Avenue franchise for four and a half years. But she said she's still paid $8.15 an hour, not enough to survive on.

"We demand fifteen dollars or more an hour," she said. "Because we are worth it. And when we get paid we don't have enough to pay our bills. And a lot of us work full-time and we still can't afford to pay our bill and take care of ourselves."

McDonald's recently raised wages at locations owned by the corporation itself, but said it can not dictate decisions like that to franchise owners. The owners of this particular restaurant were not immediately available for comment.

McMillan said almost all of the thirty or so employees of that franchise joined the strike. She said employees also suffer from the demands of management there. For example McMillan said employees are told to "shut up and clock out," if management does not like what the workers are saying among themselves. And she said the work conditions reflect management attitudes.

"A lot of times they don't even have the first aid kit, and we're trying to figure out why are these things not in place," she added. "They make money off of us and we make money for them, so why wouldn't they want to appreciate their employees?"

The strike was scheduled from noon to 2:30 yesterday, although McMillan was actually out there all day. Under the banner of a Fight for Fifteen movement, fast food employees have been protesting around the country.


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