Thousands of fast food workers across the country were on strike yesterday, conducting sit-ins and marches outside restaurants protesting their low wages; these protests have resulted in hundreds of people being arrested for civil disobedience.People just can't live on those wages, not without working a second (and sometimes even third) jobs, and even then that still doesn't cover their basic needs and necessities. Meanwhile, these fast food companies are raking in money hand over fist, while complaining that raising wages would be cost prohibitive. Any and all attempts by Obama and/or legislative attempts at raising the federal minimum wage have been dismantedled by Republicans and business lobby groups. And thus, the strikes.Spoiler: B-B-B-B-B-OOOOONNNNNUUUUUUS-S-S-S-S-S-S (click to see content)
If you cant afford a raise, then you definitely cant afford to lose large chunks of your workers. Unless, of course, you intend to use those chunks for your mystery meat. Same concept for walmart, though it supports a min wage increase since most of the workers shop there and it would benefit them overall. They cant do it unless forced to for max profit reasons though
Yay, I get to complain about my rl problems.I'm feeling it; I'm in the process of finding a second job to help my family. I'm "homeless" technically speaking (temporarily live with my parents friend with no formal address of my own). Cost of living is too high; my lone job doesn't cover the kind of expenses to live in a residence of my own. It's a relatively shitty situation.Might get shit for this one (understandably so), but I actually do support the idea of not raising the minimum wage (at least not to the degree that having a job that pretty much anyone can get means you can make a decent living). Where I work (grocery store/supermarket), too many people try to get over without doing any real work and half-assing their job (and I'm in one of the higher-end supermarkets). This is what I did back in my time in school; can't say I don't deserve to be in the situation I'm in. I'm a much harder worker than I used to be and embrace the challenge of being man enough to work 50-60 hours to get shit done (because that imo is the true measure of a man). I'd hate to know that someone who puts half as much effort would be able to live with the same kind of comfort. Of course this doesn't get into people who have a financial partner (girlfriend/wife, roommate, parent, etc) who would naturally have it a bit easier.Sounds unemphatic, somewhat shitty, and borderline "republican," but people need to learn that the good things in life are obtained by those who work for them. Some people never do unfortunately.
Lost_Avenger said, September 05, 2014, 12:09:37 pmIf you cant afford a raise, then you definitely cant afford to lose large chunks of your workers.Except losing workers can be fixed by hiring more workers, since you can pretty much pick anyone off the street to do that job.
at the mcdonalds i worked at you im pretty sure you got fired for even mentioning union activities or strikesyeah anyone can do it, that doesnt mean people dont deserve more for it. its hard, hard, hard fucking work, its stressful as hell. the pressures during a busy night is enough to make you want to jump out a window. thats behind and in front of the grill. if youre working front counter or the drive through booths you pretty much have to deal with societys worst at a breakneck pace. youre the one who gets yelled at for most fuckups regardless of whether you have done it. and behind the grill the work is so frantic and constant even the most experienced crew trainers and managers get exhausted and frustrated. and cleaning and maintenance? that shit deserves 15 dollars an hour. you try cleaning a mcdonalds to company standards and youll see.
Increasing minimum wage in general would cause fluctuations in the American economy. And for that matter, the world's economy since they're such powerhouses. Plus that would fuck with small businesses.A better solution is a relative minimum based on income. McDonald's can definitely afford to pay more money than their disgusting current wages.
Just No Point said, September 05, 2014, 02:23:02 pmWouldn't increasing minimum wages raise prices anyway and thus not fix a thing?exactly!These jobs are not meant to be careers. These jobs are meant for young people to use them as a stepping stone to better things.
Umezono said, September 05, 2014, 02:15:08 pmyeah anyone can do it, that doesnt mean people dont deserve more for it. its hard, hard, hard fucking work, its stressful as hell. the pressures during a busy night is enough to make you want to jump out a window. thats behind and in front of the grill. if youre working front counter or the drive through booths you pretty much have to deal with societys worst at a breakneck pace. youre the one who gets yelled at for most fuckups regardless of whether you have done it. and behind the grill the work is so frantic and constant even the most experienced crew trainers and managers get exhausted and frustrated. and cleaning and maintenance? that shit deserves 15 dollars an hour. you try cleaning a mcdonalds to company standards and youll see.Yeah, working at mcd's is fuckin awful (didn't you say something about living in nyc some time ago, holy shit i know that feeling). 15's a bit of a stretch (although again cost of living), but certainly deserves more than 7.25 (federal min wage).I guess what doesn't help is the minimal qualifications it takes to perform the tasks, resulting in the horrid pay. Easier to give crap wages when workers are easily expendable. Even so, I guess it's one of those things where those the lower class have to make due with what they're able to. Elephants ruling the house doesn't help any.More personal stuff, my plan is to work enough to get a residence obviously and then a car so that I can find work in a wider location radius that would likely pay more. Gotta go through the bullshit grinder first to get there however, tih.
Umezono said, September 05, 2014, 02:15:08 pmat the mcdonalds i worked at you im pretty sure you got fired for even mentioning union activities or strikesyeah anyone can do it, that doesnt mean people dont deserve more for it. its hard, hard, hard fucking work, its stressful as hell. the pressures during a busy night is enough to make you want to jump out a window. thats behind and in front of the grill. if youre working front counter or the drive through booths you pretty much have to deal with societys worst at a breakneck pace. youre the one who gets yelled at for most fuckups regardless of whether you have done it. and behind the grill the work is so frantic and constant even the most experienced crew trainers and managers get exhausted and frustrated. and cleaning and maintenance? that shit deserves 15 dollars an hour. you try cleaning a mcdonalds to company standards and youll see.I completely agree with is. I worked a McDonald's for a year and half before actually getting a decent job. You have to have done it before you can criticize. Some jobs that pay a lot more and workers doing absolutely nothing. Let's take any management position. Most people are fucking morons in this position who just got in through nepotism. Others work their way up. Besides telling people what to do and maybe filing a few forms every now and again (yes, I'm generalizing the process...), it's a cake-walk compared to what you have to go through in a retail position, let alone a fast-food position.
ink said, September 05, 2014, 02:31:26 pmJust No Point said, September 05, 2014, 02:23:02 pmWouldn't increasing minimum wages raise prices anyway and thus not fix a thing?exactly!These jobs are not meant to be careers. These jobs are meant for young people to use them as a stepping stone to better things.But in the current economy those jobs end up being all some people can attain, should they be forced to go homeless just because they are at the lowest rank? If you pull in a work shift you deserve to get paid, we are not talking about people that are just coasting through by sitting at mcds instead of wanting something better, we are talking about people that cant get better things.its like asking "why dont the ethiopians just move to america for a better life?" Thats not a option sometimes.
ink said, September 05, 2014, 02:31:26 pmThese jobs are not meant to be careers. These jobs are meant for young people to use them as a stepping stone to better things.I'm pretty sure the jobs are there to keep the business afloat and nothing more.
Iced said, September 05, 2014, 03:04:20 pmBut in the current economy those jobs end up being all some people can attain, should they be forced to go homeless just because they are at the lowest rank? If you pull in a work shift you deserve to get paid, we are not talking about people that are just coasting through by sitting at mcds instead of wanting something better, we are talking about people that cant get better things.its like asking "why dont the ethiopians just move to america for a better life?" Thats not a option sometimes.By increasing minimum wage you make it so more people will end up like you are saying. Increasing minimum wage would increase all prices. Jobs that paid more would not get the increased salary. So someone making $15 an hour now would be making minimum wage.If prices stayed the same this would be great. But prices for everything would increase drastically because the corporations will not want to lose money.The value of the dollar would decrease.Now having these places volunteer to pay more would be a better idea. They can afford it. But forcing a higher minimum wage will only hurt everything.
Do you guys think they are doing hard work that deserves more pay or are you thinking the company makes so much money they can give a little more?Just because someone is down on their luck doesn't mean they should get a little more pay. Thats bad business.Raising minimum wage just makes the company raise prices to compensate for the extra dollar they are handing out. It doesn't solve anything, it's a pointless battle. what JNP said. Алексей said, September 05, 2014, 03:05:56 pmink said, September 05, 2014, 02:31:26 pmThese jobs are not meant to be careers. These jobs are meant for young people to use them as a stepping stone to better things.I'm pretty sure the jobs are there to keep the business afloat and nothing more. You're pretty sure... whats your point?
Minimum wages should be hold in accordance to the place they are aimed at, if someone cant sustain themselves on minimum wage, its not a minimum wage! Thats the whole point of having a minimum wage to begin with.
ink said, September 05, 2014, 03:17:49 pmDo you guys think they are doing hard work that deserves more pay or are you thinking the company makes so much money they can give a little more?Both (even if my first post seems to contradict the former).For the first point, it's fair to say everything is more expensive than it used to be. For wages to be stagnant would be inconsistent and economically detrimental for citizens (and eventually, business owners).For the second, these are billion dollar corporations; I'm sure one extra dollar won't cripple them (for the record, minimum wage in some states is in the 8-9 dollar range).edit: i know not everyone is a citizen but that's besides the point.
QuoteMinimum wages should be hold in accordance to the place they are aimed at, if someone cant sustain themselves on minimum wage, its not a minimum wage! Thats the whole point of having a minimum wage to begin with.I didn't know there was an official reason. (Honestly, I am not being a smart ass)I guess life would be tough without going out for entertainment, cable, internet and a smartphone. Seriously though, do the math. You can live on that, it's just not fun.
Iced said, September 05, 2014, 03:24:19 pmMinimum wages should be hold in accordance to the place they are aimed at, if someone cant sustain themselves on minimum wage, its not a minimum wage! Thats the whole point of having a minimum wage to begin with.What you are saying is true but does not change what I'm saying. There needs to be a better trickle down from the top. Corporations do not need execs making so much money and making so much profit then paying their employees so little (or making prices for their products so high)The problem is at the top. Nothing you do on the bottom level will change things because the top will simply increase prices so they don't lose out.The way the US works right now the true definition of minimum wage is not possible. Increasing it will put more people at the bottom is all.
ink said, September 05, 2014, 03:17:49 pmJust because someone is down on their luck doesn't mean they should get a little more pay. Thats bad business.The problem is when the whole country has only this kind of job left because the economy is shit and no one else will hire them.People earning more money (for the same cost of living) can live better, and living better means a better economy because they're buying stuff (and they're buying because they can buy stuff). If no one can buy anything (either they have no money at all, or the little money they have is too low to buy stuff because stuff had their price grow at the same time - or faster), that's when the economy drops. But who's going to make the first step ?
