Tell Ronald McDonald: Stop stealing workers' wages!

My name is Ian Swanson. I'm in fourth grade. Once a month, I am allowed to eat at any fast food restaurant I want. My favorite fast food place is McDonald's. I love the Happy Meals! Although my mom disagrees, I think that McDonald's has the best burgers, chicken nuggets and french fries in the country.

I really enjoy my monthly treat at McDonald's, but last week was my last Happy Meal. I learned that the people who make my Happy Meal don't earn enough to provide for their own kids because McDonald’s doesn’t pay them enough and sometimes does not even pay what they owe.

I don't want to give my money to a company that steals from its workers. It made me very upset to hear that McDonald's and many other fast food companies steal from workers by not paying them for the work they do. That is not fair! My parents taught me to share and never take what does not belong to me.

I want to help the McDonald’s workers, but I am just a kid and sometimes I need an adult to help me do things. I want to ask McDonald’s to give back the money that they stole from the workers and be fair. Will you join me?

*Ian is the son of an Interfaith Worker Justice staff person. For more information about wage theft and the struggles of fast food workers, visit www.iwj.org*