SEIU's Henry, 100 Workers Arrested at McDonald's Shareholders' Meeting

WASHINGTON, DC - Following her arrest at the McDonald's shareholders' meeting outside of Chicago, Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), issued the following statement:

Earlier today, I was arrested outside of McDonald's world headquarters alongside more than 100 McDonald's workers from across the country because we engaged in a peaceful, nonviolent act of civil disobedience.

"I was arrested because I want McDonald's workers to know that 2.1 million members of SEIU -- home care workers, child care workers, adjunct professors, security officers, hospital workers and many others -- proudly stand with them.

"We came to McDonald's world headquarters because this is where the real decisions are made. It's time for the McDonald's corporation to stop hiding behind its franchisees and to stop pretending that it can't boost pay for the people who make and serve their food. It's time for this company to stop systematically stealing its employees' wages. McDonald's is the world's second largest private sector employer. It is extraordinarily profitable. It has an obligation to pay the people who run its stores enough to afford their basic needs.

"Members from across our union tell me over and over that they fully support fast food workers' call for a $15 wage floor and their right to form a union without retaliation. When these workers win, they will boost their families' purchasing power and that will strengthen the economy for all of us. They will show that workers can stick together and fight to make sure they are paid a fair share of the profits they create."