Union representatives from countries including Argentina, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand and Panama gathered in New York this week to share tips and strategize for the demonstrations slated to take place on May 15. Organizers plan to announce the global actions at a news conference outside a McDonald's in New York on Wednesday afternoon.
Fast-food workers plan strikes in 150 cities across the United States and protests in 33 other countries on May 15 to demand higher pay and better working conditions.
The protests calling for pay of $15 an hour in the US have gained national media attention since they began in New York in late 2012. The push is getting financial and organizational support from the Service Employees International Union — which has more than 2 million members — and has served as an important backdrop as President Barack Obama and Democratic lawmakers seek to raise the federal minimum wage in an election year.
It is the latest in a series of protests over the past 18 months in the United States that have targeted fast-food chains including McDonald's Corp, Burger King Worldwide Inc, Wendy's Co and Yum Brands Inc's KFC chain.
"People are coming together. This is time for change," Elizabeth Rene, a 24-year-old McDonald's worker told AFP. Next week she will participate in her third strike in the last two and a half years.
Around 200 fast-food workers who began protests in New York in late 2012 saw their movement eventually spread across 100 US cities.
Organisers say many of the protesters are workers who walked off their jobs at places including McDonald's, Burger King and Taco Bell. But such chains typically rely on a large number of part-time workers, in order to avoid paying overtime, meaning they can usually call up other workers to take over. The practice underscores another common grievance in the industry – employees say they never know how many hours of work they'll be given from week to week.