Workers across the US hold rallies to call for a minimum wage of 15 dollars an hour

Ahead of next year’s US presidential election the minimum wage is becoming an issue.

The ‘Fight for Fifteen Dollars’ campaign is organising country-wide demonstrations. Rallies were held in New York and Chicago on Wednesday and organisers say more are planned across 230 cities.

Much of the focus is on the fast food industry although other sectors such as supermarkets are in the frame.

Jemere Calhoun was one of the fast food workers taking part in the New York protest.

“We are fighting for 15 dollars and a union. We are fighting for a 15 dollar minimum wage because we feel that that’s what we need and that’s what we deserve and it’s only humane. We are fighting for a union because without a union it’s tough to enforce these rules that these companies ignore.”

The current minimum wage in the US is
$7.25 an hour, just under 7 euros.

President Obama says he supports raising the minimum wage and more than 20 states have already raised it, though not necessarily to 15 dollar