St. Louis, MO  (KTRS)   Workers in several industries across the country are participating today’s “National Fight For Fifteen Day of Action.”

Child care workers held a rally this morning in south St. Louis to call on the government to provide higher subsidies.
Tammy Dale, owner of Teachers Loving Children, says she could pay her employees higher wages with an increase in subsidies.

“Our workers deserve $15 an hour. I have a child care. I can’t run it by myself. These workers are dedicated. This is what these children see when they come. They’re here twelve hours a day.” said Dale

Dale said the starting wage at her child care center is $7.65 an hour and goes up to $12 an hour.

Tamika Collins, an employee at Teachers Loving Children, says she and her co-workers are dedicated to the children and parents they serve. “We’re basically with them more than their parents and we’re spending a lot of time with the children. It would be better for us as teachers to get just a little bit more.” said Collins.

Carrie Oliver, the director of Kiddiversity Child Care and Developmental Center, says it’s a challenge for her employees to meet their financial obligations.

“Most of the women that work for me either work another job, a secondary job or they have some other form of supplemental income to make ends me.” said Oliver.

Workers in several other industries, including fast food workers and adjunct professors also held demonstrations for “National Fight For Fifteen Day of Action.”