Information from the AP was used in this report

Workers are expected to walk off their jobs Thursday at fast-food restaurants in Atlanta as part of a national protest in 100 cities against low wages.

“In order to get the American economy back on track,” says organizer Kendall Fells,” it’s going to take more money in the hands of low-wage workers because there the only who ultimately spend in this economy.”

The protests are part of a push by labor unions, Democrats and other worker advocacy groups to raise wages in low-wage sectors to $15 an hour. They also want the right to form a union without retaliation.

“They have targeted our industry to make inroads for membership,” says Scott DeFife, executive director of the National Restaurant Association, “largely because union membership is at an all-time low.”

DeFife adds that an minimum wage increase would be passed on to customers and prices could increase as much as 30 percent.

Protests in August were held in about 60 cities. Some targeted restaurants were temporarily unable to do business because they had too few employees, and others seemingly operated normally.

The restaurant industry has said sharply higher wages would lead to steeper prices for customers and fewer opportunities for job seekers.

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