NEW YORK – Hundreds of fast-food workers in New York City took to the streets to protest wages.

Employees from McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC and other QSRs turned out for rallies, arguing for the right to form a union without interference and sought to roughly double their hourly wage to $15, Reuters reports.

"It's a long fight. We have to stick together if we're going to have a chance," said 22-year-old Joseph Barrera, who has worked at a Brooklyn KFC restaurant for the past 10 months. Organizers of the protested estimated that there are 50,000 QSR workers in New York City who earn $10,000 to $18,000 per year.

As many as 400 workers from more than 50 restaurants around New York City participated in the day’s protests, according to Jonathan Westin, director of Fast Food Forward, organizer of the events.

Burger King and McDonald's said most of their restaurants in their chains are independently owned and operated, and offer compensation in-line with industry standards. But that was not enough to silence the protesters.

"Anywhere where the cost of living is very, very high, $9 is not enough. Everyone should be able to make a living wage," said Barrera, who is paid the current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.