Yesterday, local and national news reports covered the massive fast food worker strike that took place in over 58 cities. After a brief review of the headlines and news reports I was under the impression overwhelming numbers of fast food workers left their posts, formed a picket line and effectively shut-down business operations nation wide. News reporters interviewed various community leaders and organizers as well as “striking workers” who pled their grievances and argued for a $15 an hour wage. I am aware, however, of only one news report that asked those “striking workers” whether they were actually fast food workers. KFI News reporter Jo Kwan randomly asked 17 strikers in the large East Hollywood protest if they were fast food worker–of the 17 randomly questioned, only 1 verified that he worked at a fast food joint. The 16 others all had different professions but were connected with a common thread–membership in the SEIU. Kwan also reported that while the protests were staged in front of a Burger King and McDonalds, both restaurants remained open and continued to serve food. Curiously, protesters were provided different colored wristbands from the protest organizers. Kwan determined that some of the wristbands identified the particular union the protester was from while another wristband identified one’s eligibility to get a free lunch from the union during the protest. As is often the case, what appear to be “grassroots” protests and demonstrations, upon further examination, usually turn out to be artificial “astroturf” rallies, organized by special interests.
