Open Letter to Fast Food Chains Lyrics
To McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, Domino’s and Papa John’s:
We have a huge economic problem in this country. It’s you and the rest of the fast food industry.
Together, your restaurants employ millions of people. Millions of people, mostly adults, who can’t afford rent if they want to eat. Who can’t afford health care if they want to pay their bus fare. Millions of people, and more than 25% of them are parents who can’t afford school supplies if they have to buy school shoes.
Last year your combined profits were $7.35 billion. Yet you still paid most of your workers less than $11,200 a year – poverty wages. It’s shameful. And outrageous.
We’re speaking out together because it has to change. We’re rising up as Americans to say it’s no longer a matter of WHETHER you will raise wages; it’s a matter of WHEN. Your companies can do this right now – you have the power to raise wages for your workers today.
We have a huge economic problem in this country. It’s you and the rest of the fast food industry.
Together, your restaurants employ millions of people. Millions of people, mostly adults, who can’t afford rent if they want to eat. Who can’t afford health care if they want to pay their bus fare. Millions of people, and more than 25% of them are parents who can’t afford school supplies if they have to buy school shoes.
Last year your combined profits were $7.35 billion. Yet you still paid most of your workers less than $11,200 a year – poverty wages. It’s shameful. And outrageous.
We’re speaking out together because it has to change. We’re rising up as Americans to say it’s no longer a matter of WHETHER you will raise wages; it’s a matter of WHEN. Your companies can do this right now – you have the power to raise wages for your workers today.
About
Genius Annotation
On August 29, 2013, fast food employees in more than 50 cities went on strike to demand living wages.
It is expected to be the largest fast food strike in US history. Low-wage jobs in food service and retail have historically been difficult to organize into unions, since workers do not work in the large, populous factories and mills that characterized work during the height of unionization.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Comments