Fast Food Workers Strikes = Win for better health

To everyone saying that Minimum wage is not meant to be a Livable wage: That is absolutely its intent.

From the Fair Labor Standards act of 1938 (the thing that created minimum wage):

§ 202. Congressional finding and declaration of policy
(a) The Congress finds that the existence, in industries engaged in commerce or in
the production of goods for commerce, of labor conditions detrimental to the
maintenance of the minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency, and
general well-being of workers


(b) It is declared to be the policy of this chapter, through the exercise by Congress
of its power to regulate commerce among the several States and with foreign
nations, to correct and as rapidly as practicable to eliminate the conditions above
referred to in such industries without substantially curtailing employment or earning
power.

That pretty clearly states that minimum wage should be a livable wage.

Well that pretty much says it. Lawyered.

But there in lies the question, what is needed for "minimum standard of living" Cell phones, cable, car, would not qualify, I would qualify it as adequate amount/qualify of food, shelter, and clothing, and minimum wage jobs would get you those 3 especially if you lived with a roommate and had no kids. I don't think it can or should support a family just an individual's basic needs.

And this is coming from someone that leans to the socialist side of the line, vs. the capitalist side

Well yeah. Define "minimum standard of living". That's the real challenge, isn't it?

To everyone saying that Minimum wage is not meant to be a Livable wage: That is absolutely its intent.

From the Fair Labor Standards act of 1938 (the thing that created minimum wage):

§ 202. Congressional finding and declaration of policy
(a) The Congress finds that the existence, in industries engaged in commerce or in
the production of goods for commerce, of labor conditions detrimental to the
maintenance of the minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency, and
general well-being of workers


(b) It is declared to be the policy of this chapter, through the exercise by Congress
of its power to regulate commerce among the several States and with foreign
nations, to correct and as rapidly as practicable to eliminate the conditions above
referred to in such industries without substantially curtailing employment or earning
power.

That pretty clearly states that minimum wage should be a livable wage.

Well that pretty much says it. Lawyered.

But there in lies the question, what is needed for "minimum standard of living" Cell phones, cable, car, would not qualify, I would qualify it as adequate amount/qualify of food, shelter, and clothing, and minimum wage jobs would get you those 3 especially if you lived with a roommate and had no kids. I don't think it can or should support a family just an individual's basic needs.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

You absolutely can LIVE on current minimum wage. Can you afford the best stuff, vacations, and extra activities? No, but that's your deal. If you want more money, acquire the skills to make it. Food & shelter & clothing is more than doable on $8.25 an hour.

Not in NYC... and a few other places. And moving requires... guess what.... money!

In the current job market fast food is often the only work people can find. So it's no longer just 16 year olds and people just wanting a little extra cash. Also, the pay is quite low and nearly impossible to live on. People say "go to school and get a real job" but it isn't that simple. College is expensive and if you are already struggling it's probably not in the budget. My husband and I work good jobs that are full time and I am also a student and text book cost still kill me every semester. I can't imagine doing that on a smaller salary. These restaurants can afford to pay more they just don't want to. The CEOs and execs get huge bonuses when they already make huge salaries yet the people at the bottom producing the profits rarely see any kind of bonus. McDonalds' CEO made nearly $14 mil in one year. The previous CEO got a $10 mil bonus to leave on top of his $17 mil salary. In store employees make $7-10/hr.

Ummm, so.
Why are the top wage earners somehow obligated to raise the salaries of unskilled workers, because they demand it? In this world you get what you earn, way way way to many people are of the mindset that they somehow "DESERVE" more money. Ludicrous...

If you want it, earn it.
There are jobs available for people who are willing to work hard, I see it everyday on constructions sites. Many of the contractors are screaming for workers who will show up and work, I've seen probably a dozen new people hit this job just this season and complain that it's to hard and just stop showing up, that's the problem, nobody wants to EARN the job or pay, they want it given to them.

If a company is making giant profits then the benefits of those profits should be shared with all workers not just a select few at the top. Unskilled work doesn't equal easy work. Fast food isn't the only minimum wage job. I have an office job that pays very well and someone working fast food probably works harder than me. It isn't a hand out to raise minimum wage to reflect the economy's state (inflation for example). There are probably some that don't want to work for their pay but saying nobody wants to earn the job or pay is an unfair blanket statement. It is easy to look down on someone working minimum wage saying it's all their fault they don't have a better job but it isn't that simple. While I believe in personal accountability there are other factors. It's easy to judge another person when you haven't walked in their shoes.

Ummm... y'all are angry because fast food workers would like to be paid a fair wage?

My uncle worked in Wal-mart his entire life. He retired a millionaire because he used his money wisely, invested it and made something from that 'minimum wage' job.

I work in retail and many of my coworkers have held their job for 25 years or more. To them it IS a career. It is their ONLY career. SOMEBODY has to do these jobs so why shouldn't it be a career?

Somebody insinuated these jobs are meant to be stepping stones to REAL jobs? Really? And who is going to pay for that education for these people to acquire REAL careers if they're only barely making enough to make ends meet? Hmmmm?

Gosh guys. Check your privilege.

LoL...

Since when is an education REQUIRED to make a decent living???
I never went to college and I can promise you that I make a good living, I do because I worked my *kitten* off to get where I am today. I didn't set back on a picket line and yell that I deserved more money, I went out and bettered myself, I've learned skills of some kind from every job that I've ever held. When I got a raise or a promotion it's because I worked for it and I EARNED it.
I earned my "privilege", how did you get yours?

So people who work in fast food, don't work their *kitten* off??? GTFOH

In the current job market fast food is often the only work people can find. So it's no longer just 16 year olds and people just wanting a little extra cash. Also, the pay is quite low and nearly impossible to live on. People say "go to school and get a real job" but it isn't that simple. College is expensive and if you are already struggling it's probably not in the budget. My husband and I work good jobs that are full time and I am also a student and text book cost still kill me every semester. I can't imagine doing that on a smaller salary. These restaurants can afford to pay more they just don't want to. The CEOs and execs get huge bonuses when they already make huge salaries yet the people at the bottom producing the profits rarely see any kind of bonus. McDonalds' CEO made nearly $14 mil in one year. The previous CEO got a $10 mil bonus to leave on top of his $17 mil salary. In store employees make $7-10/hr.

Ummm, so.
Why are the top wage earners somehow obligated to raise the salaries of unskilled workers, because they demand it? In this world you get what you earn, way way way to many people are of the mindset that they somehow "DESERVE" more money. Ludicrous...

If you want it, earn it.
There are jobs available for people who are willing to work hard, I see it everyday on constructions sites. Many of the contractors are screaming for workers who will show up and work, I've seen probably a dozen new people hit this job just this season and complain that it's to hard and just stop showing up, that's the problem, nobody wants to EARN the job or pay, they want it given to them.

If a company is making giant profits then the benefits of those profits should be shared with all workers not just a select few at the top. Unskilled work doesn't equal easy work. Fast food isn't the only minimum wage job. I have an office job that pays very well and someone working fast food probably works harder than me. It isn't a hand out to raise minimum wage to reflect the economy's state (inflation for example). There are probably some that don't want to work for their pay but saying nobody wants to earn the job or pay is an unfair blanket statement. It is easy to look down on someone working minimum wage saying it's all their fault they don't have a better job but it isn't that simple. While I believe in personal accountability there are other factors. It's easy to judge another person when you haven't walked in their shoes.

Who says I haven't walked in their shoes?
Assume much?

I moved up because I wanted to better myself, I didn't ask anyone to do it for me. I looked around and said that I can do better than this so I made it happen. But first, before any of those changes occur you have to want to change it and be willing to work for it. That's the key to the whole thing here, you have to be willing to work to better yourself and your position in life, without any of that drive you'll likely spend a life saying "so you want fries with that?".

Now I have to go back to work, at the job that I've earned! LoL

Think I'll swing by a fast food restaurant tonight and bring home dinner!!!!

Minimum wage isn't suppose to support a family. Its designed so unskilled and entry level employees can gain experience. Some people bring up how some are born into poverty. Well we cant control some things in our lives but we all have control on how hard you can work. Its sad that many people have the mentality that they deserve things in life. You deserve what you WORK for.

Some people have bought up the CEO's of the fast food companies and how they make millions. Good for them. I don't suffer from envy. Go bust your butt and earn more.

What about the guy/gal who buy a franchise. That is who this $15 an hour minimum wage will really hurt. The small biz owner. Everyone thinks if you own your own biz you are rich. I am a small biz owner. I work extremely hard every day. There have been times where I didn't take home a salary so I could pay my employees and keep the biz going. I didn't whine about it. I went out and looked for ways to grow my biz. Im really tired of hearing people whine and complain about how life isn't fair. No life isn't fair but we are all in control of our own destinies. Life isn't fair and Life is hard. But Life is also fantastic... its how you choose to look at your circumstances and change them if needed!

It's not so much that they shouldn't make minimum wage, it's more about fair working conditions and livable wage/hours. Minimum wage isn't a liveable wage in most states and then to top it off the fast food places only give their workers about 10 hours a week but they make their schedules sporadically making it very hard for them to get a second job.

Some of these jobs, weren't designed for people older then 18 years old. they were people who were 16 years old, living at home and needed a part time job.
Anybody else, really needs to work on their education and get a better job. If they refuse to get an education, and refuse to look for a better job, then they deserve that pay.

The other way to get more money is to show the company that they go beyond what it is expected of them.

In the current job market fast food is often the only work people can find. So it's no longer just 16 year olds and people just wanting a little extra cash. Also, the pay is quite low and nearly impossible to live on. People say "go to school and get a real job" but it isn't that simple. College is expensive and if you are already struggling it's probably not in the budget. My husband and I work good jobs that are full time and I am also a student and text book cost still kill me every semester. I can't imagine doing that on a smaller salary. These restaurants can afford to pay more they just don't want to. The CEOs and execs get huge bonuses when they already make huge salaries yet the people at the bottom producing the profits rarely see any kind of bonus. McDonalds' CEO made nearly $14 mil in one year. The previous CEO got a $10 mil bonus to leave on top of his $17 mil salary. In store employees make $7-10/hr.

Ummm, so.
Why are the top wage earners somehow obligated to raise the salaries of unskilled workers, because they demand it? In this world you get what you earn, way way way to many people are of the mindset that they somehow "DESERVE" more money. Ludicrous...

If you want it, earn it.
There are jobs available for people who are willing to work hard, I see it everyday on constructions sites. Many of the contractors are screaming for workers who will show up and work, I've seen probably a dozen new people hit this job just this season and complain that it's to hard and just stop showing up, that's the problem, nobody wants to EARN the job or pay, they want it given to them.

If a company is making giant profits then the benefits of those profits should be shared with all workers not just a select few at the top. Unskilled work doesn't equal easy work. Fast food isn't the only minimum wage job. I have an office job that pays very well and someone working fast food probably works harder than me. It isn't a hand out to raise minimum wage to reflect the economy's state (inflation for example). There are probably some that don't want to work for their pay but saying nobody wants to earn the job or pay is an unfair blanket statement. It is easy to look down on someone working minimum wage saying it's all their fault they don't have a better job but it isn't that simple. While I believe in personal accountability there are other factors. It's easy to judge another person when you haven't walked in their shoes.

Who says I haven't walked in their shoes?
Assume much?

I moved up because I wanted to better myself, I didn't ask anyone to do it for me. I looked around and said that I can do better than this so I made it happen. But first, before any of those changes occur you have to want to change it and be willing to work for it. That's the key to the whole thing here, you have to be willing to work to better yourself and your position in life, without any of that drive you'll likely spend a life saying "so you want fries with that?".

Now I have to go back to work, at the job that I've earned! LoL

I agree with this totally. I worked hard.. with no college degree to get a job that pays me well. Am I lucky.. maybe.. but I also worked my *kitten* off for it.

Fast food should not be a career, unless it's management. To me doing this is equal to giving participation trophies, sometimes people need to work hard to get what they want, not get it handed to them on a silver platter.

It's not so much that they shouldn't make minimum wage, it's more about fair working conditions and livable wage/hours. Minimum wage isn't a liveable wage in most states and then to top it off the fast food places only give their workers about 10 hours a week but they make their schedules sporadically making it very hard for them to get a second job.

Minimum wage was never meant to be lived on.

Who says I haven't walked in their shoes?
Assume much?

I moved up because I wanted to better myself, I didn't ask anyone to do it for me. I looked around and said that I can do better than this so I made it happen. But first, before any of those changes occur you have to want to change it and be willing to work for it. That's the key to the whole thing here, you have to be willing to work to better yourself and your position in life, without any of that drive you'll likely spend a life saying "so you want fries with that?".

Now I have to go back to work, at the job that I've earned! LoL

I should have used a more general word but when I said "when you haven't walked in their shoes" I meant when a person hasn't walked in their shoes. I don't know your background but it sounds like you worked hard to get where you are. Good for you. Same here. I went through a time when I had no where to live, no job, and was a thousand miles away from family. I figured it out and worked hard but I didn't do it alone. I eventually moved back with my parents until I got a job and the job I did get was someone taking a chance on me. Eventually I hit hard times again and joined the military which changed my life. If I didn't have that help I would probably be much worse off than I am now. Not everyone is that lucky. Many people debating this seem to imply fast food workers don't work their butts off or work hard. Even if someone living in poverty manages to go to college that doesn't guarantee a job. Often it's who you know or good timing.

10-20 years ago fast food/minimum wage was a stepping stone. Today it isn't. We have more employees than jobs so often people have to settle for low income jobs to feed their families. I am not saying minimum wage should pay for all kinds of extras but being able to pay for the basic cost of living like rent, food, utilities, basic medical care, etc should be factored in when calculating minimum wage. There is a serious unbalance of income in our country and it isn't just poor people suffering. The CEO of McDonalds makes more in 1 week than the store employees make in a year. I don't think it should be that way.

Ummm... y'all are angry because fast food workers would like to be paid a fair wage?

My uncle worked in Wal-mart his entire life. He retired a millionaire because he used his money wisely, invested it and made something from that 'minimum wage' job.

I work in retail and many of my coworkers have held their job for 25 years or more. To them it IS a career. It is their ONLY career. SOMEBODY has to do these jobs so why shouldn't it be a career?

Somebody insinuated these jobs are meant to be stepping stones to REAL jobs? Really? And who is going to pay for that education for these people to acquire REAL careers if they're only barely making enough to make ends meet? Hmmmm?

Gosh guys. Check your privilege.

Maybe.. just maybe if they didn't buy $330 shoes or buy a $600 smart phone they would have the money to pay for that education.

Also, if someone has been working retail for 25 years and is still at the bottom of the totem pole, that person is doing something very wrong.

I've worked retail and I started making slightly more than minimum wage. People get raises in those jobs, they move up in the company as they gain experience and show initiative. And then they get replaced by new people coming into the workforce.

Honestly, I don't think I ever actually made minimum wage, even with my first job. Most places offer a bit over that to start and then give regular raises and promotions.

If a company is making giant profits then the benefits of those profits should be shared with all workers not just a select few at the top.

Oh ok. Go start your own business. Put your time and your money into it. Spend hours upon hours a day building your business scraping by with what you can because you've put everything you have into that business then come back and tell me that you want to "share your wealth" with your workers. That kind of thinking absolutely boggles my mind. It's that sense of entitlement that "Oh! You make SO much money! Share it with me the person who works for you and sacrificed nothing to make this business the success that it is!" I just don't get it. You want to make more money? Work harder! Don't sit back with your hand out expecting the company to just toss money at you "because they turned a profit".

My husband has independent contractors working for him and while he wants them to be successful their success is dependent on how fast they can get a job done so that they can move on to the next one. Does my husband turn a profit? Absolutely. Is he about to take his profit and divide it out amongst his IC's because his profits should be "shared" and everyone is even-steven? No because he is the one who turns the crank. Without him those that he employed wouldn't have a job.

Who says I haven't walked in their shoes?
Assume much?

I moved up because I wanted to better myself, I didn't ask anyone to do it for me. I looked around and said that I can do better than this so I made it happen. But first, before any of those changes occur you have to want to change it and be willing to work for it. That's the key to the whole thing here, you have to be willing to work to better yourself and your position in life, without any of that drive you'll likely spend a life saying "so you want fries with that?".

Now I have to go back to work, at the job that I've earned! LoL

I should have used a more general word but when I said "when you haven't walked in their shoes" I meant when a person hasn't walked in their shoes. I don't know your background but it sounds like you worked hard to get where you are. Good for you. Same here. I went through a time when I had no where to live, no job, and was thousand miles away from family. I figured it out and worked hard but I didn't do it alone. I eventually moved back with my parents until I got a job and the job I did get was someone taking a chance on me. Eventually I hit hard times again and joined the military which changed my life. If I didn't have that help I would probably be much worse off than I am now. Not everyone is that lucky. Many people debating this seem to imply fast food workers don't work their butts off or work hard. Even if someone living in poverty manages to go to college that doesn't guarantee a job. Often it's who you know or good timing.

10-20 years ago fast food/minimum wage was a stepping stone. Today it isn't. We have more employees than jobs so often people have to settle for low income jobs to feed their families. I am not saying minimum wage should pay for all kinds of extras but being able to pay for the basic cost of living like rent, food, utilities, basic medical care, etc should be factored in when calculating minimum wage. There is a serious unbalance of income in our country and it isn't just poor people suffering. The CEO of McDonalds makes more in 1 week than the store employees make in a year. I don't think it should be that way.

Why isn't it still a stepping stone?? It provides people with a way to break into the job market and gain skills.

You do bring up a good point. We do seem to have more employees then job. Maybe if people stopped demonizing the job creators and we did something about the tax code we would have more jobs

Why shouldn't the CEO.. of a company make a lot of money? They are responsible for everyone and everything in the company. The decisions they make effect the livelihood or lack their of the company.

My highest wage as store manager was $8.75. I worked my butt off and received little-nothing in return.

That's more than I made as a reporter, which required a degree and very specific skills. It also required I have my own vehicle.

My highest wage as store manager was $8.75. I worked my butt off and received little-nothing in return.

That's more than I made as a reporter, which required a degree and very specific skills. It also required I have my own vehicle.

I am leaning towards the idea that $8.75 is incredibly low amount for a reporter in this day and age.