Chants of “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! These poverty wages have got to go!” could be heard across several blocks as hundreds of people marched from Theis Park near the Plaza to the UMKC campus Wednesday afternoon.
Many of Kansas City’s fast food workers, home health care workers and university adjunct professors joined together to fight for higher wages and the right to unionize at the “Good Jobs and $15 for all” rally organized by Stand Up KC. The event was part of the national Fight for 15 movement, which held demonstrations in cities nationwide Wednesday.
According to Stand Up KC, the goal isn’t to raise the federal or state minimum wage (although the organization would support that), but instead, for large employers like fast food restaurants and universities to raise their employees wages to at least $15 an hour.
“It’s about these companies willingly giving us the ability to negotiate better wages when we know they’re profitable companies,” said Terrence Wise, a Stand Up KC organizer who works at McDonald’s and Burger King.
Before the march, KCMO Mayor Sly James spoke to the large crowd at Theis Park.
“It is immoral, it is unjust, it is unreasonable, it is unforgivable, it is unexplainable that we all live in the richest, most powerful country in the world, and people work 40 hours a week and cannot feed their families,” he said.
James said low-wage workers are often women and minorities. He encouraged all rally attendees to take action by voting.
[FLEX-CONTENT]
[FLEX-CONTENT]
[FLEX-CONTENT]
[FLEX-CONTENT]
[FLEX-CONTENT]
[FLEX-CONTENT]
[FLEX-CONTENT]
[FLEX-CONTENT]
Reading these stories is free, but telling them is not. Start your monthly gift now to support Flatland’s community-focused reporting.
Related Stories
Nick’s Picks | Roads, Bathrooms, Costco and More …
New Toll Road Opens Kansas City’s first toll road opens this week. Starting Saturday, you’ll pay up to $3.50 to travel the new express lanes on U.S. Highway 69 from 103rd to 151st streets in Overland Park. There are no toll booths — cameras scan your license plate, and a bill arrives by mail. KTAG…
Up From the Ashes: Warwick Theatre Revival Draws Applause
Two years ago, John Cleary met a fellow Kansas City actor for drinks. Their conversation centered on the fate of the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. A large portion of the ensemble’s home, the Warwick Theatre, was ash, charred timbers and soot-saturated costumes and props — remnants from a recent massive fire. The destruction was so great…
Nick’s Picks | Baseball, Drones, Romance and More …
Royals Reveal Next week, the Kansas City Royals head to Arizona for Spring Training. And that’s the mayor’s self-imposed deadline to lock in a stadium deal. So, is this finally the week owner John Sherman steps to the plate and unveils where the Royals will build their next home? At last week’s council meeting, Mayor…