Low-Wage Workers are taking to the Streets Today (Thursday, August 29th) in 50 Cities across the United States, The Huffington Post is Reporting. 

The Protests, which Come Ahead of Labor Day, are an Outgrowth of the July Strikes that took place in a Number of Cities Across the Country, including New York, Chicago and Detroit.  Only This Time, They're Expanded to Cities in the South and West.

The Fast-Food Workers’ Demands are Largely the Same As In The Past - a Minimum Wage of $15 Per Hour and Protections Against Retaliation for Joining a Union.

But these Demonstrations are Larger in Scope, with Retail Workers from Macy's, Sears and Victoria's Secret also Walking Off Their Jobs.

A Reputation for Relying on low-Wage and Part-Time Labor has Often Made Both Industries Targets of Frequent Criticism.

Meanwhile From HuffPostBiz, Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich Argues that McDonald's and Walmart Can Afford to Meet Fast Food Workers' Demands of $15 Per Hour Wages:

Robert Reich, who Certainly Knows a Thing or Two about Labor and Economic Policy, says It's Time for Some of the Nation's Largest Employers to Start Paying their Workers a Living Wage.

In a Petition He Launched on MoveOn.org on August 26th, Reich - Who Served as Secretary of Labor under President Clinton and is also a Huffington Post Blogger, Urges Corporations like McDonald's and Walmart to Increase Wages So Workers Can Finally "Get a Fair Share in this Economy."

The Petition, which had 6,956 Signatures as of this Afternoon, is to be Delivered to McDonalds CEO Don Thompson and Walmart CEO Michael Duke.

“Your Typical Employee is Now Earning $8.25 to $8.80 An Hour,” Reich States in the Petition. “[Walmart and McDonald’s] Can Easily Afford to Pay [Workers] $15 An Hour Without Causing Layoffs or Requiring Price Hikes.”

To access this Labor News Story directly, go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/fast-food-worker-strikes-expand_n_3831060.html#57_former-secretary-of-labor-robert-reich-mcdonalds-walmart-can-afford-to-pay-15-per-hour