Fastfood workers all over the United States have bonded together to campaign for a US$15 hourly pay, stepping up their efforts through non-violent means such as civil disobedience.

More than a thousand fastfood employees gathered in Chicago and called on all employers to heed their demands for a US$15-an-hour pay and membership in unions. The workers likened their peaceful protests to the civil rights movement.

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The campaign has spread across the country with already dozens of cities joining in the last two years. The protesters wore t-shirts that read "Fight for $15" as they voiced out their demands and cheered loudly.

The workers said employers will hear their demands if they stick together. Many of the workers are working mothers who have to feed their families.The less than US$10 they receive an hour is not enough for the entire family.

President Obama has attempted to address the issue of increasing the federal and state minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 but even this was rejected by the workers.

The workers said that most of those working in the industry now are no longer teenagers but working parents.

The workers' union has been providing support to the peaceful demonstrations that began in New York City in 2012. Around 130 demonstrators were arrested when they rallied outside this year's McDonald's shareholders' meeting and entered company property.

Kendall Fells, the campaign director, said that the leadership training and the civil disobedience sessions they conducted for the workers will help them in their quest for a higher pay. She added that it is already up to the workers in the other cities to plan their own campaigns.

The fastfood industry owners argued that raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour will lead to business closures and job cuts. They also dismissed the $15 hourly pay campaign as an attempt by the unions to boost membership.

TagsUS Minim Wage Increase