Fastfood workers protest at McDonald's

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago fastfood workers fighting for $15 an hour wage protested outside a Chicago McDonald's the day after the company broadened benefits for some workers.

Protestors said the Oak Brook-based company is caving to the pressure to protect low wage workers, but it's still not enough.

"I believe in fighting and Fight for 15 is a step in the right direction," Joseph, a McDonald's employee, said. He joined the protest at 95th and Halsted on Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, McDonald's announced the company would pay employees $1 more than the locally-mandated minimum wage. That hourly average wage of more than $10 will go in effect by July 1.

"That dollar raise doesn't help me in any way. I work for a franchise," Nancy Salgado, McDonald's worker, said. She supports her daughter and son with a paycheck from a Logan Square McDonald's. Her wage doesn't pay the bills, she said.

"The money that McDonalds makes, they can afford to pay these people $15 an hour. They stand on their feet all day," George Gaitor, McDonald's customer, said.

Rally organizers said McDonald's increase is in direct response to their campaign. However, since it only affects corporately owned locations, which are roughly 10-percent of the McDonald's restaurants nationwide, it isn't enough.

"You going to tell me that? How you come and say we're just going to give you a dollar raise right after we announce we are going on strike on 4-15. You're trying to shut us up but you're not going to shut us up," Salgado said.