Overview
#FightFor15 is the labor movement campaign demanding a $15 federal minimum wage and union rights for fast-food and service workers, launched by New York fast-food workers in November 2012.
Origins (2012)
First Strike
- November 29, 2012: 200 NYC fast-food workers walked out
- Demanded $15/hour (double the $7.25 federal minimum at the time)
- Organized by SEIU and community groups
- Media dismissed as unrealistic “pie in the sky”
2013-2015: Movement Grows
Strike Waves
- August 2013: Strikes spread to 60 cities
- December 2013: Fast-food, retail, home care, airport workers join
- April 15, 2015: Largest coordinated action - 60,000 workers in 230 cities across 6 continents
- International solidarity strikes in Japan, UK, Brazil, Philippines
Tactics
- One-day strikes to avoid permanent replacement
- Civil disobedience, arrests at corporate headquarters
- Shaming campaigns against McDonald’s, Walmart, Yum! Brands
Political Momentum
Early Wins
- SeaTac, WA (2013): First $15 minimum wage (airport workers)
- Seattle (2014): Phased $15 citywide minimum
- Los Angeles, San Francisco, NY (2015): $15 minimums passed
2016 Election
- Bernie Sanders made $15 federal minimum central campaign plank
- Hillary Clinton initially backed $12, moved to $15 under pressure
- Democratic Party platform included $15 demand
Corporate Responses
Voluntary Raises
- 2015-2019: Amazon, Target, Costco, Bank of America raised to $15+
- Companies cited recruitment/retention, not altruism
- Some cut hours, benefits to offset wage increases
Opposition
- National Restaurant Association, franchise lobby fought local ordinances
- Claimed automation, job losses would result
- Funded studies predicting economic harm
2021: Close But No Cigar
Biden’s Push
- Raise the Wage Act would phase to $15 by 2025
- Passed House (231-199)
- Parliamentarian ruled: Can’t include in budget reconciliation
- Needed 60 Senate votes, failed (42-58)
- Remained at $7.25 federally (unchanged since 2009)
Real-World Impacts
Studies & Data
- Seattle study: Minimal job losses, worker income increased overall
- UC Berkeley: No negative employment effects in 6 major cities
- CBO estimate: $15 would raise wages for 27M workers, cost 1.4M jobs
State/Local Wins
- By 2023: 30+ states, 50+ cities above federal $7.25
- Several states indexed to inflation
- California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut at $15+
Criticisms
From Left
- Inflation eroded value ($15 in 2012 = ~$20 today)
- Tipped workers, disabled workers often excluded from increases
- Didn’t include rent control, healthcare (cost of living kept rising)
From Right
- Small businesses can’t afford $15
- Automation accelerated (self-checkout kiosks, order tablets)
- Entry-level jobs not meant to be “living wage”
Cultural Impact
- Shifted Overton window: $15 went from radical to mainstream
- Inspired teacher strikes (2018-2019 Red for Ed)
- Normalized worker organizing in “unorganizable” sectors
- Gen Z saw first successful labor movement in their lifetime
COVID-19 Era
- “Essential workers” rhetoric contrasted with low pay
- Hazard pay demands gained traction
- Worker shortages forced wages up organically
- “Nobody wants to work” vs. “Pay a living wage” debates