Dozens of low-wage workers rallied Thursday outside the McDonald's at 3741 Broadway in Kansas City to protest a recent decision by the fast-food giant to raise wages for some workers.
McDonald's is raising wages by at least a dollar for about 90,000 employees in corporate-owned restaurants. That means employees working in franchised restaurants won't get a raise unless franchise owners follow suit.
Pastor Donna Simon of St. Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran church spoke at the rally, which was organized by activist group Stand Up KC. Simon said she's glad wages are rising for some workers, but it's not enough.
"It doesn't affect 90 percent of McDonald's employees," Simon said. "We applaud any step in the right direction, but these workers know that to go from $7.65 to $8.50 an hour isn't going to change the conditions that they live in."
McDonald's worker Latifah Trezvant also spoke at the rally. She said that joining Stand Up KC has given her hope that it's possible to change the way low-wage workers are treated across the country.
"We're not going to stop until we get what we want, and that's $15 an hour and a union," Trezvant said. "We're hardworking people, we're still human, and we have to provide for ourselves."
Stand Up KC is gearing up for a rally on April 15 where they'll continue to protest for higher wages and union representation.
