(USA TODAY) Paul Davidson, November 11, 2015 — Fast-food workers demanding a $15-an-hour minimum wage walked out in hundreds of cities Tuesday, kicking off a campaign to muster the political power of 64 million low-wage workers in next year’s presidential election.

The walkouts marked the workers’ largest show of force in the three years since they launched a series of rallies to call for higher pay and the right to unionize, according to the advocacy group Fight for $15. The group is backed by the Service Employees International Union.

Tens of thousands of workers and supporters took part in rallies planned for 1,000 cities across the nation, beginning around dawn at McDonald’s outlets in New York, Boston and Philadelphia, among other locations. Protests also were taking place for low-paid home care, child care, farm, nursing home and other workers seeking to make their voices heard.

Source: Fast-food workers strike, seeking $15 wage, political muscle