Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) — Protesters clamoring for higher wages at fast food restaurants were arrested outside a McDonald's Corp. restaurant in New York's Times Square, part of a nationwide demonstration planned for 150 cities.

The New York Police Department said there had been at least 19 arrests at the event this morning, including 14 men and five women. The protesters were taken into custody for disorderly conduct when they blocked vehicle traffic in front of the 42nd Street McDonald's, Officer Arlene Muniz said.

Rallies demanding a $15-an-hour wage for fast food workers are planned across the country today in what may be the largest labor action since the movement started in 2012. The arrests were part of strategy to draw more attention to the effort, said Kendall Fells, an organizing director with Fast Food Forward in New York.