Workers Strike Starts at West Town McDonald's Before Moving to O'Hare Airport

CHICAGO, IL — About 200 protesters gathered in front of a West Town McDonald's and more than 50 people were cited for sitting in an intersection as part of a workers strike by employees at O'Hare International Airport, fast food restaurants and other service industries Tuesday, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The rally eventually ended at O'Hare as about 1,100 protesters gathered in front of the airport as part of a national "day of disruption" that was organized by Service Employees International Union, the report stated. Despite the crowd and activity at the airport, the Chicago Department of Aviation told the Tribune no flights had been delayed or affected.

The protests and strikes were efforts to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and fight for the right to unionize. The event included demonstrations and work stoppages across the country, including 19 other airports besides O'Hare. Workers who were striking included employees at airports, fast-food restaurants and hospitals, as well as graduate assistants and Uber drivers.

The protest and strike began Tuesday morning at the West Town McDonald's near Chicago and Damen avenues, the Tribune reports. Protesters lined up outside the fast-food outlet, holding signs and chanting, the report added.

RELATED: O'Hare Workers to Strike: Will Your Flight be Affected?

Activists sat in the middle of the Chicago-Damen intersection before being taken away in buses by police officers, the report stated. Police cited 55 people during the protest, the report added.

Demonstrations then moved to Northwestern Memorial Hospital to show support for hospital workers, the report stated. The final stop for protesters was O'Hare, the report added.

The O'Hare workers on strike included baggage handlers, janitorial staff and wheelchair attendants. Most of those employees also work for private contractors.

More via the Chicago Tribune

Protesters gather in front of the West Town McDonald's at Chicago and Damen avenues as part of a national "day of disruption" that involved rallies and strikes to draw attention to minimum wage workers at O'Hare International Airport, fast-food restaurants and other service businesses. (photo via screen capture from video by lenavo graundi | YouTube)

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