New London — Elected officials, labor leaders and workers marched from the steps of City Hall to Parade Plaza on Wednesday afternoon as part of a "Fight for $15" rally advocating a pay increase to $15 per hour for those who work in health care, fast food service, retail and child care.

The rally in New London was part of a coordinated, nationwide day of action for the issue, and included speeches by American Federation of Teachers Connecticut President Melodie Peters and other organized labor groups.

“It’s unconscionable that so many corporations pay their employees poverty-level wages,” Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio said in a statement. “Child care workers shouldn’t have to depend on SNAP benefits to feed their own children; home health aides and fast food workers should be able to keep a roof over their families’ heads; retail employees should be able to afford the products they sell.”

Similar rallies were held Wednesday in Hartford, Danbury and Manchester.