Business & Tech

Fast Food Workers Target "Modern Day Slavery" in Ballwin

Workers are campaigning nationally and here in St. Louis County to raise pay for fast food employees to $15 per hour.




The movement to improve pay for the nation's fast food industry came to Ballwin Tuesday in the form of a protest at the Wendy's outlet on Manchester Road, where workers here were joined by others around the area.

Activists are pushing for an hourly wage of $15 and the ability to organize. Cinnamon Tigner, an employee there who took part in the protest instead of working Tuesday, described the workΒ as "modern day slavery."

"I love my job, I love what I do," she told Patch by phone, but Tigner said she felt disrespected by restaurant management who she said act like they have power over employees. She said while $15 an hour was a goal, she'd like to see even a move to $10 or $11.

Tuesday's action started in East St. Louis at a McDonald's location and included a stop in Creve Coeur, where workers shared their story with hundreds of members of the United Mine Workers of America who were protesting the corporate headquarters of Arch Coal.




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