(AP) -- Sacramento fast food workers held a strike Thursday as part of a national push for higher wages and greater protections for people interested in forming a union.
The strikes took place at the Howe Avenue McDonald's, the Arden Way Jack In The Box, and several other fast food locations.
Labor organizers said protesters turned out in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries in support of higher pay for workers at fast-food chains including McDonald's, Burger King and Taco Bell.
The demonstrations built on a campaign by unions to bring attention to the plight of low-wage workers and win public support for a $15-an-hour minimum wage. The businesses said such a wage would hurt their ability to create jobs.
The campaign comes as President Barack Obama works to raise the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, which translates to about $15,000 a year for a full-time job.
The protests have captured media attention at a time when the gap between the rich and poor has widened. Protest turnouts have varied widely, however.
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