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US labor unions organize action day in 200 cities

The movement to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour has got a huge push across the United States, as labor unions organized a day of action with walkouts, strikes and protests in over 200 cities.

Susan Modaress
Press TV, New York

Its believed to be their biggest day of protest for a 15 dollar minim wage as Unions, low wage workers and their supporters took to the streets of New York and more than 230 other US cities. With posters and placards in hand thousands of underpaid workers converged in New York's Columbus Circle before marching to Times Square.

The campaign for a $15 minimum wage was organized by the Service Employees International Union in 2012 with fast-food workers. Today a variety of low-wage workers, including airport workers, home care workers and even adjunct professors have joined the fight. Protestors say low wage work and the lack of access to unions, which grants them bargaining rights is a national problem worth standing up for.

The current minimum wage in New York $8.75, protestors here say that's hardly enough to make ends meet, as many have to rely on various governmental assistance programs like food stamps and housing assistance to get by.