Fast Food Workers Strikes = Win for better health

cacklingcat

I think what really needs to happen is that some controls need to be put in place to manage the cost of living. I have worked fast food. We all have. It was never a livable wage. It was never meant to be a livable wage. But the cost of living gets higher and higher and wages, in general (not just fast food), have not kept up.

Honestly, demanding that something be done to lower the cost of living... that's a cause I could support and rally behind and protest for.

Yes.

See: The entire history of the labour movement Wat Tyler - Lech Walesa.

It gets pretty interesting 1848-1952.....

Yes both these I would give a thumbs up if it would let me.

pepperpat64

There's a documentary called 'Inequality for all' made by Bill Clinton's economic advisor you could watch on Netflix that basically talks about the importance of raising the minimum wage and is probably where this idea for the strike started since it mentions raising the min. wage to $15 in the film.

It's by Robert Reich, who was actually Clinton's labor secretary. A very intelligent and compassionate man. I haven't seen the film yet but it's on my list.

smittybuilt19

Yea, so let's all demand what we think we should make and force employers to pay it. Because there would be no repercussions in terms of impacting our economy.

This thread has a very strong socialist mentality. Lol.

Yeah. That's how asking for a raise works. I see nothing wrong with it if you're an essential part of the company you work for and they have the profits to afford it.

We really don't need to fear socialism in this country. Not by a long shot. The wealthy in this county are light years ahead of even the middle class.

If you're truly concerned about socialism you'd realize that you can only oppress the lower class for so long before things get ugly. A healthy middle class is the key to economic security.

Throughout history the rich and powerful have believed they can dictate how the lower classes are treated and if they don't like it they can shut up about it. It's never ended well.

A thought provoking post. Thank you for the different angle.

pepperpat64

The fact is that the minimum wage has stayed the same, while the purchasing power of the dollar has gone down. See the chart in the link below which compares what the minimum wage was at various times at "current level" dollars:

http://www.dol.gov/minwage/minwage-gdp-history.htm

The cost of living has already increased incredibly since 2008 -- housing, food, fuel, you name it, while wages have remained stagnant. Those who argue that prices will have to go way up again are ignoring the fact that prices have already gone way up, and not because companies are paying workers more. If one sticks to the argument that if wages rise, prices will rise, so we shouldn'[t raise wages, then we would never raise wages. Why don't we just pay our workers what they pay in Bangladesh -- that will keep the price of everything low?

By the way, in Mass., many of my associates who were small business owners actually paid above minimum wage because they had an interest in keeping their employees and insuring the same level of continuity and service to their customers. Those fighting the minimum wage -- big corporations making huge profits who see employees as cogs in the wheel. There are also some companies like GAP and Costco that have gone public in their commitment to pay their employees above minimum wage. Gee, I just bought a brand new workout outfit at GAP with my Rewards -- $26.00 -- it didn't exactly break the bank.

It's possible to pay a fair wage and make a profit. However, some companies decide that there's never enough profit.

COLA since 2008 has not "already increased incredibly". CPI in 2009 was negative, and on average from 2009 through 2013 it is a little more then 1.5% per annum. Hardly 'increased incredibly'. You are going to see a very slow and steady climb out of the real estate valuations in the US for many years. You can thank Dodd-Frank and the government for some of it(government over reach). The greatest increases, personally, are college costs(demand increase) and prescription drugs. They are both closer to double digit increases then food, fuel, and housing.

And since corporations like Home Depot, Costco, and GAP(the few you have mentioned) are paying a better wage then people at McDonald's and Walmart can apply for those jobs if they choose to. The economy is what you make of it; if you want a job tied to minimum wage working for a large corporation and be eligible for federal assistance stay at those jobs. If you want more, apply for the jobs when they are available at the above referenced companies.

There is only 1 GAP, 1 Costco, and 1 Home Depot in a 15 mile radius in my area. Whereas, there are about 10 McDonald's and at least 3 WalMarts. Maybe those Walmart and McDonald's employees are applying for those jobs, but not getting them.

The fact is the cost of living has gone up 1.5% per year, but wages have not kept pace. This is the argument in the film another poster referenced on income inequality, which is by Robert Reich I used his book, "Beyond Outrage" to teach a course on Economic Justice and Social Change. For those who are saying it is unfair for the minimum to go as high as $15 an hour because it would make other jobs worth less, Reich and others feel that all wages need to rise. Wages for other fields have also stagnated, across the board. My spouse is in software engineering/project management (a more "elite" profession) -- he didn't get any pay increase from 2001 until last year. Another friend who worked in construction 20 years ago made $18 an hour. Guess what the pay is for the same position today -- $18 and hour because his son was applying for a similar job. My dad after he retired did substitute teaching in 1987 -- the pay $45 a day. The pay for a sub today -- it went up -- a whole $65 a day for being a in class all day with school children -- what is that, a little over $8.00 an hour? So to the EMTs and other who say their wages should go up to $22 a day, yes, they should.

One of the reasons that middle class skilled workers are angry is that their wages have also remained stagnant. But instead of blaming a system that rewards CEOS and investment income more than income earned through labor (of whatever kind); instead their anger is redirected at low wage workers, unions, and anybody who is on some type of "safety net" program, which more and more working people are.

QFT

bugaboo_sue

So going off a thread from the other day and this thread is it safe to say teachers and fast food workers don't deserve raises? Or is it more of a "anyone who isn't me" doesn't deserve a raise type of thing?

I don't get a raise.

When I worked for a company sure I got a raise but I wasn't of the "Oh, I totally know I'm going to get one because I deserve it!" mind set like everyone else I worked with. I knew that it wasn't something I was guaranteed even though I was an excellent employee so I never felt as though I was entitled to it.

And should teachers get raises? Sure but it shouldn't be something that's guaranteed and written into their contract. If you're a crappy teacher then no, you shouldn't get a raise. Same with fast food workers. Yes, they should get raises but it shouldn't be a blanket thing. Why should someone who slacks off get an increase in salary along with the person who busts their butt? If I were the person who busted my butt, came in on my days off, worked extra hours etc. etc. and found out that the guy who calls in on every nice day, comes in late, skips out early and did the minimal amount of work got an increase in salary as well where is MY incentive to continue to be a good employee? If you're going to reward everyone regardless of what they put in then why should I continue to work hard if my reward isn't a reward at all?

It's not an issue of whether or not someone should get a raise it's the issue of wanting to raise the minimum wage to $15/hr. So ok. The minimum wage is raised to $15/hr. So the people who are now earning that have some extra cash in their pocket which they spend. Fine but then they complain that they can't live on the $15/hr increase because they're spending that extra money they have so they need more so lets raise it to $20/hr. Then $30/hr. Where does it stop?

ninerbuff

We have the right to demand and our employers have the right to say yes or no. Then we have the choice to accept that or quit.

I don't believe in oppressing the lower class. I believe in working as hard as we can to progress.

Yes, employers can and often say no. Sometimes it becomes such a problem in a company or industry that workers choose to go on strike, as is happening here. There are options besides, "You'll earn what I give you or leave."

Can the striking workers be replaced, yes. Do you think that's a wise decision for the company?

People may feel that fast food workers are unskilled, I disagree but that's separate from what matters. What matters is that they are absolutely essential to the company. Without burgers being cooked and cash registers being operated they don't make one dollar. Not one. All your "skilled" CEO's and Vice Presidents of Northwest Operations and marketing geniuses are suddenly useless, the company makes it profits on the backs of the people on the front lines. The people they pay the least of all.

But they can be replaced easily, right? Ever gone to a restaurant when someone was brand new, they're never good are they? Now imagine an entirely new staff that needs to be trained. It'd be a financial nightmare for the company. People would be turned away in droves.

These people at the bottom, these "unskilled, lazy, entitled" employees, are absolutely essential to the survival of the company. Period. They provide an important service and help the company earn a fortune in revenue. As such they deserve better than poverty wages.

I'm guessing at one time or another, everyone here worked in a minimum wage job. I highly doubt they would have considered themselves "unskilled, lazy, entitled" when they applied and worked.

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rml_16

So going off a thread from the other day and this thread is it safe to say teachers and fast food workers don't deserve raises? Or is it more of a "anyone who isn't me" doesn't deserve a raise type of thing?

I think someone who works hard and earns a raise should get a raise. I don't think an entire random group of people -- some of whom do a great job and some of whom really suck at their jobs -- should get a raise "just because."

I also think you will find that even in fast food, being skilled at customer service and at least pretending not to hate your job will result in upward momentum in both pay and position, regardless of education. At the same time, doing the absolute bare minimum or less will not, no matter one's education level.

I have shopped at Walmart enough and been to enough fast food restaurants to know that there are many people in those jobs who really don't deserve raises and I'd venture to say they probably aren't worth minimum wage.

ninerbuff

It's not an issue of whether or not someone should get a raise it's the issue of wanting to raise the minimum wage to $15/hr. So ok. The minimum wage is raised to $15/hr. So the people who are now earning that have some extra cash in their pocket which they spend. Fine but then they complain that they can't live on the $15/hr increase because they're spending that extra money they have so they need more so lets raise it to $20/hr. Then $30/hr. Where does it stop?

Um, when I was 18 and working minimum wage jobs, the pay way $3.25 an hour. Somehow our economy has survived the current minimum wage without the country going under.
What I find ironic here is "skilled" people all over America complaining about the minimum wage raise proposal on "unskilled" workers in fast food/restaurant industry, yet aren't "skilled" enough to prepare food for themselves or family, so they go to place where "unskilled" workers do it for them.:laugh:

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KnM0107

If MW increases, the price of goods and services will also increase. Nobody will actually have more money because they will be paying more for the things they buy. My prediction would be that if fast food employees got 15 an hour the price of food would go up to make sure the company doesn't lose money. That 2$ burger will 6$ or more. Who is going to pay that? Fast food restaurants will lose money because people won't pay the higher prices and then the fast food restaurant will start firing workers because they don't have the business to warrant that number of employees.

bugaboo_sue

It's not an issue of whether or not someone should get a raise it's the issue of wanting to raise the minimum wage to $15/hr. So ok. The minimum wage is raised to $15/hr. So the people who are now earning that have some extra cash in their pocket which they spend. Fine but then they complain that they can't live on the $15/hr increase because they're spending that extra money they have so they need more so lets raise it to $20/hr. Then $30/hr. Where does it stop?

Um, when I was 18 and working minimum wage jobs, the pay way $3.25 an hour. Somehow our economy has survived the current minimum wage without the country going under.
What I find ironic here is "skilled" people all over America complaining about the minimum wage raise proposal on "unskilled" workers in fast food/restaurant industry, yet aren't "skilled" enough to prepare food for themselves or family, so they go to place where "unskilled" workers do it for them.:laugh:

A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
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Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

If you raise the minimum wage dramatically then you have to raise everyone else's wages to compensate for the increase. If the minimum wage is increased to say $30/hr then the person who currently gets paid $30/hr wouldn't want to be paid "minimum wage" so their compensation would need to be increased which would cause a hardship on companies big and small. As it stands if the minimum wage is increased to $15/hr there are a lot of small businesses who won't be able to support this and therefore will have to let people go.

Slacker16

Today I learned that unskilled workers shouldn't be allowed to survive. Maybe it would be simpler to just execute high school dropouts and the bottom 10% of each graduating class...

rosebette

Today I learned that unskilled workers shouldn't be allowed to survive. Maybe it would be simpler to just execute high school dropouts and the bottom 10% of each graduating class...

No, we should reinstitute slavery or at the very least, indentured servitude for those who can't achieve a certain skill or education level. After all, it worked so well pre-1860.

smittybuilt19

Yea, so let's all demand what we think we should make and force employers to pay it. Because there would be no repercussions in terms of impacting our economy.

This thread has a very strong socialist mentality. Lol.

Yeah. That's how asking for a raise works. I see nothing wrong with it if you're an essential part of the company you work for and they have the profits to afford it.

We really don't need to fear socialism in this country. Not by a long shot. The wealthy in this county are light years ahead of even the middle class.

If you're truly concerned about socialism you'd realize that you can only oppress the lower class for so long before things get ugly. A healthy middle class is the key to economic security.

Throughout history the rich and powerful have believed they can dictate how the lower classes are treated and if they don't like it they can shut up about it. It's never ended well.

A thought provoking post. Thank you for the different angle.

Thanks for saying that. You made many good points yourself.

Nothing at all will be solved by this thread. But if we can all learn something from the other I consider that to be a win.

I was very close to bowing out of the thread, but I am glad I stuck around. Speaking to others with different opinions is the best way to learn, and may solve something eventually.

Bry_Fitness70

Maybe this will make an impression on those who think this minimum wage increase will benefit fast food workers (or anyone else):

Also:

The Daily Signal also reports that when this is applied to some of our favorite fast food items:
A Big Mac meal increases from $5.69 to $7.82.
Wendy’s Son of a Baconator combo increases from $6.49 to $8.92.
Taco Bell’s 3 crunchy tacos combo increases from $4.59 to $6.31.
A Whopper meal increases from $6.15 to $8.46.
Subway’s turkey breast Footlong increases from $6.50 to $8.94.

Edit- the image is huge, here is the direct URL: http://static.ijreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Screen-Shot-2014-09-04-at-10.03.58-PM-1024x529.png?10ae6a