Labor Activists Call For Wage Increases During Wednesday Actions

Labor activists in Madison and Milwaukee held more events Wednesday aimed at raising the wage of low-paid workers and helping them to form a union.

The actions were part of a national effort on April 15 to raise wages to $15 an hour at fast-food restaurants, coffee shops and big-box retailers. Starbucks worker Joe Stubbs said he took part in a Milwaukee rally because he’s paid far less than $15 an hour, even though the company seems to be doing well.

“I mean the rationale is that we the workers are generating these profits for them, so they should share in that success with us,” said Stubbs.

Some companies are raising wages, but not for all of their employees. Other firms say they already face high costs of doing business and can’t afford a wage increase.