Fast Food Workers Vote to Use Restaurant Occupations and Sit-Down Strikes in Fight for Higher Wages

VILLA PARK, Ill. (TheBlaze/AP) — Fast food workers from across the country have voted to add sit-down strikes and restaurant occupations to their campaign for higher wages and union representation.

More than 1,300 workers gathered Saturday in Villa Park, Illinois, for the vote to escalate their push for $15-an-hour wages and a union.

In this May 22, 2014 file photo, protesters gather outside of the McDonald's Corporation headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill., during the annual shareholders meeting demonstrating for higher wages and the right to unionize. (Image source: AP/M. Spencer Green, File)

Industry officials say a $15-an-hour wage would hurt job creation, and that the solution is more education and job training.

Cindy Enriquez said at the convention that the $8.25 an hour she makes at a McDonalds in Phoenix makes her dream of going to college impossible.

The workers' effort is supported by the Service Employees International Union.

Their actions so far have included one-day strikes and a protest outside this year's McDonald's Corp. shareholder meeting.