[Peace-discuss] Fight for $15 Rally April 15

[Ricky Baldwin]

MediaAdvisoryForImmediate Release April 13, 2015 Contact:Ricky Baldwin 217-722-3854 Community RallySupports Low-Wage Workers Fight 4-15-15 (Champaign)Fast-food and other low-wage workers around the country are on strike again withsupporters rallying in even more cities this April 15, marking almost threeyears of sustained unrest among low-wage workers in the US.  On April 15 members of the Central Illinoiscommunity will join low-wage workers in a NationalDay of Action to improve their lives, known as the “Fight for $15.” Where:McDonald’s on Neil & Kirby in ChampaignWhen: WednesdayApril 15, 2015, at 5PM Fast-foodjobs are no longer just entry-level positions for young people without aneducation.  Today’s fast-food workers areincreasingly college-educated (25-32%) with children (36%), and the largestgroup is actually aged 25-54.  More andmore fast-food workers once had good jobs but lost them in the recent recessionor other downsizing. The lowwages offered at most fast-food jobs put an added strain on workers trying to raisea family, who often must work 2-3 jobs or turn to public assistance to makeends meet (52%) – such public assistance at an estimated cost of $7 billion ayear to taxpayers, which Fight for $15 supporters say is effectively a publicsubsidy to some of the most profitable corporations in the world, or “corporate welfare.” Evenworking full-time year-round at minimum wage, a worker only earns $17,160 before deductions,significantly below the federal poverty line for a family of four is currently$23,550.  And that’s if the worker canget 40 hours a week from one or more jobs, a level that is harder and harder toreach.   “It’soutrageous and it has to stop,” says Ricky Baldwin, Co-Chair of CentralIllinois Jobs With Justice.  “It’s timeto pay fast-food workers $15 an hour so they can make ends meet and communitiescan stop paying for the hidden costs of poverty wages.” For moreinformation: OnFacebook see ChambanaFightFor15 or C-U Fight for 15 http://fightfor15.org https://twitter.com/lowpayisnotok ### 
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