Fast food and retail workers are striking for the right to unionize and a living wage in seven cities: Milwaukee; Chicago; St. Louis; Kansas City, Mo.; Detroit; Flint, Mich.; and New York City.

Terrance Wise, who works at both Pizza Hut and Burger King and is a member of the Stand Up Kansas City campaign, intimated the hopelessness of inaction. He asked “Democracy Now!” on Friday: “What else do we have to lose? We are already slowly dying in our day-to-day lives.”

“So why not speak up, and stand up, and let the nation know that we are suffering?” he continued. “This is really a cry for help. This great nation should not turn its back on working-class people that need help.”

Josh Eidelson, who covers labor issues for The Nation and is a contributing writer to Salon.com, spoke about issues explored in his latest article: “Fast Food Strikes Intensify in Seven Cities.”

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

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