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It's On: The Biggest Fast Food Strike in World History Has Started

Strikes and protests to demand higher pay and better working conditions in the fast food industry are underway across the globe.
Photo by Annette Bernhardt

Fast food workers in more than 150 US cities are walking off their jobs today, while coordinated protests against low wages and poor working conditions in the industry are taking place in more than 30 countries — the largest global fast food protest ever.

Workers organized by local labor groups like Fast Food Forward, and international ones like the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Association — which represents about 12 million workers in 126 countries — responded to a global call for greater dignity in the industry and expressed their solidarity with the US workers' campaign for a $15 hourly wage.

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Solidarity for the campaign also spread on social media, under the hashtag #FastFoodGlobal, among others.

The biggest fast food strike in the world's history is coming today. Learn more about the fast food movement's history and demands here.

— Wisconsin Jobs Now (@WiscJobsNow)May 13, 2014

Protests were planned at fast food chains in every continent.

Japan

??????????????????in ?? — Yuriko Yamamoto (@rikoyy)May 15, 2014

India

In many US cities rallies and walk-outs started at 6.30 AM, with more scheduled throughout the day.

New York City

Post by Occupy Wall St.

Post by 99 Pickets.

Standing in solidarity with NYC workers to tell fast food corporations: you can't survive on $7.25! — Bill de Blasio (@deBlasioNYC)October 16, 2013

New York City's Mayor Bill de Blasio was just one of several elected officials to throw their support behind the strikers.

Chicago

Post by Bob Simpson.

Houston

Post by Fight for 15 Texas.

Oakland

Lots of moms and kids among the protesters at — Julia Wong (@juliacarriew)May 15, 2014

Charlotte, NC

The four of us all work at this very — Raise Up For 15 (@RaiseUpfor15)May 15, 2014

Detroit

Breaking: — Low Pay Is Not OK (@LowPayIsNotOK)May 15, 2014

Pittsburgh

The first strike of the day is happening in Pittsburgh! — Fight For 15 PA (@FightFor15PA)May 15, 2014

Greensboro, NC

— Raise Up For 15 (@RaiseUpfor15)May 15, 2014

VICE News will be updating this story throughout the day.

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This is a full list of US and world cities where workers went on strike or joined protests, according to organizers.

Alameda, CA; Arvada, CO; Atlanta, GA; Auburn Hills, MI; Aurora, CO; Austin, TX; Ballwin, MO; Belleville, IL; Bellevue, PA; Berkeley, CA; Bloomfield, CT; Bloomington, IN; Boston, MA; Cahoka, IL; Cary, NC; Central Falls, RI; Charleston, SC; Charlotte, NC; Chesterfield, MO; Chicago, IL; Commerce City, CO; Concord, NC; Creve Coeur, MO; Dearborn, MI; Decatur, GA; Denver, CO; Dublin, CA; Durham, NC; East St. Louis, IL; Eastpointe, MI; El Cerrito, CA; Fairfield, CA; Farmington Hills, MI; Ferguson, MO; Ferndale, MI; Flint, MI; Flint Township, MI; Florissant, MO; Forsynth, MO; Fremont, CA; Glendale, CA; Glendale, WI; Greendale, WI; Greenfield, WI; Goldsboro, NC; Greensboro, NC; Greenville, NC; Grandview, MO; Gretna, LA; Haines City, FL; Hamden, CT; Hamtramck, MI; Hartford, CT; Harvey, LA; Hayward, CA; Henderson, NV; Henrico, VA; Highland Park, MI; Houston, TX; Huntington Park, CA; Indianapolis, IN; Inglewood, CA; Independence, MO; James Island, SC; Jennings, MO; Kannapolis, NC; Kansas City, KS; Kansas City, MO; Knightdale, NC; Lakewood, CO; Lansing, MI; Las Vegas, NV; Lenaxa, KS; Lincoln Park, MI; Livonia, MI; Los Angeles, CA; Madison, WI; Milwaukee, WI; Melvindale, MI; Memphis, TN; Metarie, LA; Miami, FL; Miami Beach, FL; Miami Gardens, FL; Morrisville, NC; Mt. Olive, NC; Nanuet, NY; Nashville, TN; New Haven, CT; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; North Charleston, SC; North Las Vegas, NV; Oak Park, MI; Oakland, CA; Opelika, AL; Orlando, FL; Overland Park, KS; Pawtucket, RI; Peoria, IL; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Pleasant Hills, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Pleasanton, CA; Plymouth, NC; Pontiac, MI; Providence, RI; Pueblo, CO; Raleigh, NC; Raytown, MO; Redford, MI; Redford Township, MI; Richmond, CA; Richmond, VA; River Rouge, MI; Rockford, IL; Roeland Park, KS; Sacramento, CA; San Antonio, TX; San Diego, CA; San Leandro, CA; San Lorenzo, CA; Seattle, WA; Seekonk, MA; Slidel, LA; Southfield, MI; Southhaven, MS; Spencer, NC; Springfield, MO; St. Louis, MO; St. Petersburg, FL; Tampa, FL; Taylor, CA; Taylor, MI; Temple Terrace, FL; Union City, CA; University City, MO; Warren, MI; Warwick, RI; Waterford, MI; Wayne, MI; Wausau, WI; Wauwatosa, WI; West Allis, WI; West Milwaukee, WI; Westin, WI; West Memphis, AR; Westview, PA; Wilkinsburg, PA; Wheat Ridge, CO; West Haven, CT; Wethersfield, CT; Wilmington, DE; Windsor Locks, CT; Wentzville, MO; Wiliamston, NC; Winston-Salem, NC.

Akita, Japan; Aomori, Japan; Antigua; Auckland, New Zealand; Auxerre, France; Bandung, Indonesia; Bangkok, Thailand; Batangas, Philippines; Belfast, Ireland; Berlin, Germany; Bermuda; Bogota, Colombia; Bologna, Italy; Bordeaux, France; Brasilla, Brazil; Brussels, Belgium; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Busan, South Korea; Cardiff, United Kingdom; Casablanca, Morocco; Cebu, Philippines; Cesenatico, Italy; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Copenhagen, Denmark; Cork, Ireland; Curitiba, Brazil; Davao, Philippines; Djakarta, Indonesia; Dublin, Ireland; Florence, Italy; Fukuoka, Japan; Fukushima, Japan; Geneva, Switzerland; Gifu, Japan; Glasgow, United Kingdom; Goias, Brazil; Hachinoche, Japan; Helsinki, Finland; Hirosaki, Japan; Hong Kong; Kagoshima, Japan; Karachi, Pakistan; Kathmandu, Nepal; Kofu, Japan; Kyoto, Japan; Lahore, Pakistan; Leicester, United Kingdom; Lilongwe, Malawi; London, United Kingdom; Manaus, Brazil; Manila, Philippines; Matuyama, Japan; Milan, Italy; Mito, Japan; Morioka, Japan; Mumbai, India; Nagano, Japan; Nagasaki, Japan; Nagoya, Japan; Nara, Japan; Newcastle, United Kingdom; Oita, Japan; Okayama, Japan; Osaka, Japan; Oslo, Norway; Panama City, Panama; Paris, France; Porto Seguro, Brazil; Rawalpindi, Pakistan; Rome, Italy; Saga, Japan; San Juan, Puerto Rico; San Salvador, El Salvador; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Sapporo, Japan; Sendai, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Sheffield, United Kingdom; Shizuoka, Japan; Stockholm, Sweden; Swansea, United Kingdom; Taipei, Taiwan; Takasaki, Japan; Tokushima, Japan; Tokyo, Japan; Trinidad; Valletta, Malta; Venice, Italy; Wigan, United Kingdom; Yamagata, Japan; Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Zurich, Switzerland.

More strikes are expected in some countries on Friday.

Follow Alice Speri on Twitter: @alicesperi

Photo via Flickr