Across the country there is a groundswell of momentum of protests, strikes, and electoral initiatives for a $15/hr minimum wage. The question of income inequality – the divide between the 1% and the 99% – has become a central question dominating political discussions from the federal to state and city levels.

The Fight for 15 has captured the imagination of hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers, young people, and occupy and union activists.

Now is the time to step up this struggle. We have an historic opportunity. The Fight for 15 has the potential to be a catalyst for turning back the decades-long corporate assault on working people.

15 Now, a new grassroots campaign arising from the strugglers for $15/hr in Seattle, is appealing to all Fight for 15 groups, young people, Occupy activists, unions, and low wage workers to come together this Spring for two rounds of coordinated national actions:

1. A week of action from March 7 to 15 for raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15. These actions can range from organizing a public meeting or town hall, to a picket line outside a McDonald’s, to a major demonstration, and anything in between.

2. The week of action in March could set the stage for massive demonstrations across the country on May 1, 2014 and would send a clear message to the capitalist establishment that workers are no longer willing to stand idly by as our wages and benefits get cut while the 1% get richer and richer. Let’s unite to make May Day 2014 a historic demonstration of support for $15/hr and immigrant rights which can re-kindle the traditions of May Day as a day of international working class solidarity and struggle! Elsewhere supporters of 15 can organize $15/hr contingents at the larger May Day rallies.

We ask all individuals, fast food and low-wage groups, activists, and unions to discuss these ideas. If you are organized, please bring these proposals to your trade union, your organization, and other activists. If you are not part of an organization please get in touch with us and we can help you start a 15 Now group in your area.

For a list of planned events, see this page.