SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Minimum wage workers walked off the job Tuesday morning across the country to get their message across, as they "Fight for $15", including faculty at San Diego City College.
New York City started their rallies overnight. This video shows the protest as it travels from East to West Coast.
Organizers say Tuesday marks one year before the crucial presidential election. Their campaign is aimed at raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour with union rights. The nationwide strike will reach across 270 cities today.
It includes fast food, home care, students and faculty. It's an issue that effects six million California workers, currently making less than $15 an hour.
They're flexing their political muscles in San Diego as California Speaker Toni Atkins is expected to join their rally today.
One Burger King employee with 25 years of experience says he had to apply for Section 8 housing just to get by. He says the current minimum wage, of $9 an hour, is not enough to get by. Ramon Johnson says the movement is growing.
"This is a very big movement right now in San Diego. It started with 200 workers in New York and it's over a couple of million now. So the best time to get on the band wagon is to join now because the $15 per hour and the union is rolling with full force, Johnson said.
The protest started at McDonald's, then moved to San Diego City College and on to the steps of City Hall. They were joined by religious leaders in their fight. This issue will be up for a city vote in June of next year. It could also be a hot button issue in the president elections.
Critics, including small business owners and Mayor Kevin Faulconer, say raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour would drive up consumer prices, lead to layoffs and hurt small businesses.