Low-Wage Workers to Target Republican Debate in Milwaukee

15 Now's Ty Moore explains why fast-food workers and supporters are striking nationwide on Tuesday, and also discusses the impact of a phased-in $15 minimum wage in Seattle and the recent reelection of socialist councilwoman Kshama Sawant

- November 9, 2015

Fast food workers are going on strike on Tuesday. They will be demanding $15 an hour as a minimum wage. This is expected to be the biggest minimum-wage strike to date, with many protests culminating in 500 city calls across the country. The protest in Milwaukee will target the fourth Republican debate, being hosted by Fox Business News Tuesday evening. They will be joined by low-wage workers across the country in sectors such as home care, child care, and other underpaid workers to demand that elected officials nationwide stand up for the $15 minimum wage and their union rights. They will also be joined by other, higher-paid workers in solidarity with them.

To discuss all of this, I'm joined by, from Seattle, Ty Moore. Ty was the national organizer for 15 Now, and now he is the organizing director for 15 Now in Minnesota.

Thank you so much for joining us, Ty.

MOORE: Yeah. Thanks for having me on.

PERIES: So, Ty, let's begin with what is it exactly you're hoping to achieve tomorrow. And how will we, the ordinary people, be affected by this strike?

MOORE: Well, 15 Now works as part of a much wider coalition under the umbrella of the Fight for 15. And across the country, organizers, with our organization, with SEIU, with a number of worker centers and low-wage worker organizers across the country, have been spending months going to fast food restaurants, going to other low-wage employers like Walmart, retail workers, and explaining that united in struggle, through organizing with a common day of action, that we can win gains both in the workplace, but also increasingly through the political process, by pushing the idea of a $15 an hour minimum wage.

So, as you said, we expect this to be the largest day of action, day of strike action, this country has ever seen (in recent memory, anyway) for low-wage workers, the biggest yet in this fight for 15, which is nearing its four-year anniversary next month.

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