Hundreds of American protesters marched through pouring rain to call for higher wages and union rights at McDonald’s headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois.
McDonald’s restaurant employees and supporters seeking a $15-an-hour minimum wage and better benefits marched about two blocks on Wednesday to the suburban Chicago headquarters.
“If we don’t get it, shut it down,” they chanted. It was estimated that there were up to a thousand protesters.
The headquarters was shut for the third year in a row because of protests centered on the shareholder gathering, which will be on Thursday.
The protesters are part of a larger US movement for higher wages by workers in fast-food and other low-wage industries.
Although an improved economy has spurred pay rises at companies ranging from Wal-Mart to McDonald’s, activists and workers say it’s not enough.
“The fact that you have to choose paying your light bill or eating is ridiculous,” said Adriana Alvarez, McDonald’s…