In St. Petersburg, Florida, McDonald’s employees are on strike today, Tuesday, January 8th, after a colleague was physically attacked by a customer. The incident took place last week, on New Year’s Eve, and was caught on camera. (The viral McDonald’s video has since sparked outrage, unsurprisingly). To top things off, it all started because of a plastic straw. Like many cities, St. Petersburg has placed a city-wide ordinance that requires establishments to provide plastic straws only if a customer requests one. And apparently, this rule did not jive well with one particularly angry McDonald’s customer.
After he asked for a straw, 40-year-old Daniel Taylor launched across the counter and grabbed 20-year-old Yasmine James’ shirt. He even tries to pull her over the counter, but she fights back and punches him several times. And while James’ co-workers were eventually able to separate them, he kicks one of them in the process. Not cool.
In response to the horrific episode, several dozen McDonald’s workers are planning to strike during today’s lunch rush. They’re calling on McDonald’s to not only better protect their employees, but help them handle safety threats at work, too.
The strike, which will include multiple cities throughout the Sunshine State, was coordinated with the help of Florida’s Fight for $15. Throughout the country, Fight for $15 advocates for underpaid workers, including employees at fast food chains, retail stores, and airports.
The following video shows the terrible incident that took place on New Year’s Eve; watch at your own risk.
Following the attack on a employee on New Years Eve, Tampa-area McDonald's workers are going on strike Tuesday. It's time McDonald's provide protection and a voice at work for its predominantly Black and Latinx women workforce https://t.co/6QM2wedvKJ #Fightfor15 #UnionsForAll pic.twitter.com/9GYWSle8XH
— Fight for a Union (@FightForAUnion) January 7, 2019
Florida’s Fight for $15 has organized today’s strike in solidarity with James.
James and her co-workers refuse to back down until McDonald’s makes an effort to better protect their employees.
Yasmine James, the St. Petersburg McDonald's worker who was attacked on the job on New Years Eve, joined her coworkers ON STRIKE today to demand McDonald's take responsibility for our safety on the job and listen to our demands! #FightFor15 #UnionsForAll pic.twitter.com/tFYJ2qhw5A
— Fight for 15 Florida (@FightFor15FL) January 8, 2019
Yasmine James, the McDonalds worker who was assaulted in a viral video at a St. Pete store last week, made an appearance today with @fightfor15 to demand protection for fast food workers. #laststrawmovement https://t.co/qRD0iQH2yC pic.twitter.com/q9zkl33ArQ
— Monica Herndon (@monica_herndon) January 8, 2019
20-year McDonald's worker Laura Rollins and Yasmine James stand together on the strike line demanding that McDonald's take action, train managers, and stop letting workers get attacked in McDonald's restaurants.
— Fight for 15 Florida (@FightFor15FL) January 8, 2019
We need a voice on the job. #FightFor15 #UnionsForAll pic.twitter.com/aO4wbbmAoO
BREAKING: McDonald's workers in Tampa and St. Petersburg are ON STRIKE right now. After Yasmine James was attacked on New Years's Eve, we refuse to back down until McDonald’s takes responsibility for protecting all workers on the job!#FightFor15 #UnionsForAll pic.twitter.com/ReV4R0IHOQ
— Fight for a Union (@FightForAUnion) January 8, 2019
Tampa Bay Fast food employees to strike after viral video. Enough is Enough. https://t.co/gvHLBlfMEy #Fightfor15
— Fight for 15 Florida (@FightFor15FL) January 8, 2019
On Tuesday, workers like Laura are striking to demand McDonald's take responsibility for our safety after Yasmine James was attacked behind the counter at a McDonald's in St. Petersberg. This is the last straw! #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/nQtm5ra5cC
— Fight for a Union (@FightForAUnion) January 8, 2019
Because really, shouldn’t everyone feel safe while at work?
