Rep. Tammy Duckworth endorsed a union attack on McDonald’s after the chain restaurant forgot to give her a cheeseburger.
The Illinois Democratic congresswoman and Senate hopeful went to McDonald’s immediately before tweeting out her support for the union front groups staging protests outside the franchise. She left disappointed, as the workers she claims are entitled to $15 hourly wages forgot to include a cheeseburger with her cheeseburger order.
"Bummer! Got a @HappyMeal as i hopped on a flight&just opened it 2find they forgot the cheeseburger! OhNo @McDonalds," she exclaimed (sic throughout).
Bummer! Got a @HappyMeal as i hopped on a flight&just opened it 2find they forgot the cheeseburger! OhNo @McDonalds pic.twitter.com/bTOFnpyAbc
— tammyduckworth (@tammyduckworth) November 10, 2015
The forgotten hamburger is just McDonald’s latest assault against Duckworth’s sensibilities. Less than an hour later, she tweeted out her support for the Fight for 15 movement—a project from the Service Employees International Union aimed at boosting wages and union organizing at the country’s largest fast food chain. "I stand Chicago workers calling today 4 higher wages & union rights. Anyone working full time should earn a living wage. #FightFor15," she said (sic throughout).
I stand Chicago workers calling today 4 higher wages & union rights. Anyone working full time should earn a living wage. #FightFor15 — Tammy Duckworth (@TammyforIL) November 10, 2015
The Service Employees International Union has spent tens of millions of dollars staging protests outside of the nation’s second largest chain restaurant in the hopes of boosting organizing efforts. The movement has attracted large political support from Democratic candidates, though few actual McDonald’s employees.
America Rising, a Republican research firm, released footage from numerous cities showing the union busing activists to protests while chanting "I believe that we will win." It is unclear whether any of them are actual employees at the restaurant.
"Do you work here yourself?" a reporter asked a woman standing outside a McDonald’s holding a sign saying "$15 and union!"
"No, I’m a community organizer," she said in response.
The union has long supported Duckworth’s political career, endorsing her congressional run in 2012.
"The SEIU Illinois Council is proud to endorse Tammy Duckworth as the next Congresswoman from the 8th Congressional District and looks forward to working with her in advancing President Obama's agenda for working families," said Tom Balanoff, the president of the union’s Illinois arm, in a 2012 endorsement message.
"To have the endorsement of the SEIU Illinois Council is so significant and I am honored by it," Duckworth said after getting the news. "I look forward to working with SEIU to provide a better life for working families."
The Duckworth campaign did not return a request for comment.