DETROIT – A total of 40 people were arrested Tuesday morning as workers protested outside a McDonald’s restaurant in Detroit to demand wage increases.
Hundreds of workers seeking a minimum wage increase to $15 an hour gathered on Grand River Avenue with picket signs and loudspeakers.
“They are a multi-billion dollar company and they can afford to help us support our families,” Dmoinique Mobley said. “I cannot support my family on $8.50.”
A number of lanes of Grand River Avenue were briefly blocked during the demonstration. Detroit police made several arrests.
“They’re not resisting us,” Detroit police Commander Elvin Barrons said. “It’s as if they want to go to jail for their cause so were going to take them to jail because we cannot stand for any longer disruption of traffic.”
Protests also took place in Flint at the McDonald's restaurant on Bristol Road.
The protest is part of a nationwide campaign for higher hourly wages, including for workers at airports and fast-food restaurants, as well as Uber drivers, hospital employees and retail workers. The campaign has included several rounds of actions, including multiple Michigan protests, since the efforts began in 2012.
Further demonstrations are expected at Detroit Metropolitan Airport
“We gonna continue to fight and demonstrate and mobilize until we get fifteen and the union here just like in New York, just like California, Oakland, Seattle and everywhere else,” Rev. W.J. Rideout said. This is not a political movement. This is an economic movement.”
Several people were arrested after lanes of Grand River Avenue were blocked:
Stay with Local 4 and ClickonDetroit.com for updates as more information becomes available.