Minimum wage protesters march on McDonald's headquarters

OAK BROOK, Ill., May 20 (UPI) -- Hundreds of McDonald's employees staged a protest outside the company's Oak Brook, Ill., headquarters Wednesday, calling for wages to be increased to at least $15 per hour.

The two-day protest was organized to coincide with McDonald's annual shareholder meeting Thursday.

One police officer told the Chicago Tribune about 2,500 people attended the so-called Fight for $15 event, though organizers said upwards of 5,000 would be involved.

McDonald's announced in April that starting July 1, it would raise the company's internal minimum wage by $1 more than the federal minimum of $7.50. That wage increase doesn't affect the workers at the company's franchise locations, about 90 percent of the fast-food restaurant's workforce.

McDonald's spokeswoman Heidi Barker said the company doesn't have the power to change wages at franchises, though she said it's possible those locations could follow corporate's lead.

Wednesday's protest comes one day after a landmark win for the Fight for $15 campaign. The Los Angeles City Council tentatively approved an ordinance raising the city's minimum wage from $9 to $15 per hour.