All major US cities hit with minimum wage rallies

© Reuters/Brian Snyder

Fast food workers calling for a $15 minimum wage at a McDonald's restaurant in Chelsea, Massachusetts

Workers in the fast-food, home-care, and airline industries are involved in demonstrations and engaging in walkouts all over the United States on Thursday in a call for a heightened minimum wage of $15, among other labor demands.

Organizers of the ""campaign , which began in November 2012 and then spread to hundreds of cities and "33 countries on 6 continents," expect Thursday's actions to take place in 190 cities at fast-food chain restaurants like McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's, as well as major airports like John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Major unions are also participating in the push to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour. The last boost to the minimum wage occurred in 2009 for most jobs; tipped workers, who make $2.13 per hour, have not seen a raise since 1991. The current minimum wage for a full-time worker does not meet the federal poverty threshold for family of two, unlike the 1960s and 1970s. Advocates for an increase point to this stagnation or lowered value of the minimum wage as a prime reason for rising inequality in America.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, the minimum wage in the US would be more than $18 had it "grown at the same rate as average wages or total economy productivity. Fast-food restaurants say their locations are operated by independent owners who are ultimately responsible for employee pay. Though this rationale for a giant corporation like McDonald's was weakened when, in July, the National Labor Relations Board's general counsel ruled that had merit, as the New York Times wrote, possibly jeopardizing the company's claim that it is not a at its many restaurants. The decision could eventually lead to increased labor rights for employees. Protests at nine cities will include airport workers, while home-care workers are expected to demonstrate in 20 cities, organizers said, according to Reuters.

Organizers added that this round of "Fight for 15" protests will be unprecedented in participation numbers and overall cities, as protests are occurring for the first time in locations such as Jackson, Mississippi; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Buffalo, New York.

Organizers added that this round of protests will be unprecedented in participation numbers and overall cities, as protests are occurring for the first time in locations such as Jackson, Mississippi; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Buffalo, New York.