“Today’s strike sends a clear message that all people deserve to be paid a fair and decent wage,” said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “As we stand in solidarity with workers in New York and across the nation, the New York City Council will continue to fight for New York City’s right to set its own minimum wage and uplift the 50,000 fast food workers who call our City home.”

“As we celebrate Labor Week and the contributions of workers across the country, it is with great admiration that I view the actions taken by fast food workers today,” said Council Member I. Daneek Miller, Chair of the City Council’s Civil Service and Labor Committee. “Through civil disobedience, they have made their voices heard. Working people do not deserve to be denied the dignity of their labor and those in the fast food industry are no expectation. I am proud to stand with these workers in solidarity and urge management to listen to these demands.”

“The time has come for fast food and other low wage workers to be adequately compensated for the work they do,” said Council Member Donovan Richards, Co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. “New York cannot afford to contribute to the further impoverishment of fast food workers by doing nothing as wages remain stagnant and the cost of living steadily rises. I will continue to support the efforts of the fast food workers as we fight for a progressive living wage.”

“Across our City, thousands of minimum wage workers – mostly women – are struggling just to put food on the table despite working full-time at the fast food restaurants that feed New Yorkers every day,” said Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, Co-chair of the Women’s Caucus. “As a working mother and union member, I stand in strong solidarity with our fast food workers and will continue to fight for increasing our City’s minimum wage. We have a responsibility in New York to be national leaders in securing fair pay for a day’s work.”

“Our communities of color are impoverished and while the fast-food industry offers employment opportunities, the average rate of annual pay — $11,000 –- is not a living wage for any adult, anywhere in America!” said Council Member Andy King, co-chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus. “Fast-food wages must be brought up to a competitive rate.”