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#StrikeForBlackLives event supports a walkout at businesses in support of Fight for $15

Thousands of workers in the United States, including restaurant employees, were planning to walk off job for 8 minutes, 46 seconds

Nancy Luna, Senior editor, Nation's Restaurant News

July 20, 2020

1 Min Read
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Fast food and farm workers along with others across the country left work at 12pm for 8 minutes, 46 seconds to show support for Black Lives Matter and the Fight for 15.TIMOTHY A. CLARY / Contributor / AFP

Thousands of workers, including employees working at top quick-service chains across the U.S., were expected to walk off their jobs Monday to support the end of systemic racism and to remember Black people killed by police including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain. 

The #StrikeForBlackLives protest was to last 8 minutes, 46 seconds, the amount of time a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck. More than 50 groups coordinated the event, including several that represent foodservice and agricultural workers, such as Fight for $15 and a Union, United Farm Workers and United Food and Commercial Workers.

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Those walking out spelled out a list of key demands, including justice for Black communities; equal treatment when it comes to wages and better jobs; health and safety protections for all workers; protection to ensure fair and safe in-person voting or mail-in practices to ensure everyone can fully participate; ample personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers; and overall economic security by ensuring access to healthcare and a living wage.

“Every worker in America must have the freedom that comes from economic security and equity in opportunity,” organizers said. “We demand the immediate implementation of a $15/hour minimum wage, fully-funded healthcare coverage and paid sick leave for all.”

Contact Nancy Luna at [email protected] 

Follow her on Twitter: @fastfoodmaven

About the Author

Nancy Luna

Senior editor, Nation's Restaurant News

Nancy Luna is a senior editor at Nation's Restaurant News and a contributing editor at Supermarket News. She covers the industry's largest and most talked about fast-food brands including McDonald's, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Subway. She is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years reporting experience. As a veteran business reporter based in Southern California, Nancy has covered some of the country's most beloved food and retail brands including In-N-Out, Taco Bell, Trader Joe's, Aldi, Whole Foods Market, Target and Costco. Luna is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton. When she's not digging for news on her beat, you can find Nancy regaling her fans about her latest dining adventures on her Fast Food Maven social media channels. Contact [email protected]  or follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/fastfoodmaven

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