Fast-food restaurants in over 120 cities saw thousands of workers walk off their jobs in protest for higher wages on Thursday. The SEIU, although not representing the employees officially has been assisting in organizing these types of labor actions all across the country. The number of employees willing to walk out in the protests on Thursday is significant given the difficulty to find a job, the declines in U.S. union membership, and the real possibility of negative consequences for exercising their federally protected rights. In addition to organizing these actions, SEIU was a major proponent in campaigns to raise the minimum wage in states like New Jersey and California.
See "Fast-food workers: Labor movement?s new lease on life", Claire Zillman, CNN Money, December 5, 2013