Minimum wage protest planned outside GOP debate

Low-wage Greenville workers plan to strike and stage a protest outside the Peace Center ahead of the Republican presidential debate Saturday.

The workers, aligned with labor group Fight for 15, are striking and protesting for a $15 minimum wage and union rights. South Carolina currently adheres to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and is a "right to work" state which forbids unions from forming partnerships with employers and requiring membership or union dues. Sen. Bernie Sanders is the only presidential candidate who supports a $15 per hour minimum wage.

But Kendall Fells, an organizer with Fight for 15, said all candidates should listen to workers who want the wage increase, and that no candidate who does not support a $15 minimum wage and union organization for low wage workers will not get those workers' votes.

"All these poltiicians are chasing these votes across South Carolina and we’ll be right outside with more than 1,000 votes saying 'If you want our vote, come get our vote,'" Fells said. "We don't care if you're a Democrat or Republican, whether you want to be dog catcher or president, you have to promise two things: $15 and a union. I don't think that any candidate that is runing for president of the United States can make it to that seat without talking about $15 and a union."

In South Carolina, 53 percent of workers make less than $15 an hour. At Saturday's strike, there will be fast food workers, childcare workers and other low-wage workers, Fells said.

Richard Baxter, a Subway employee in Greenville who makes $8.50 an hour, said the Fight for 15 movement has encouraged him to get politically involved.

“Every election I’ve walked right past the ballot box – not into it – because I believed my vote wasn’t worth anything,” said Baxter. “But the Fight for $15 has changed that. Across the country, workers are following presidential candidates everywhere they go to show we’re serious about supporting those who fight for $15 and union rights. With 53% of South Carolina workers paid less than $15/hour, we need to elect politicians who are dedicated to changing our future – and the future of our families.”

Fight for 15 has staged protests outside of multiple presidential debates, including Thursday's debate between Democratic candidates Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.