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[AwakenedCloud]

http://www.examiner.com/article/nat...rsday-will-support-higher-minimum-wage-unions

Thursday might be a tough one for fans of the Big Mac, as the "Fight for $15" movement is set to stage a massive, nationwide protest in the pursuit of higher minimum wage and the right to form a union. In more than 150 cities throughout the United States, fast food workers employed at McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, Domino's and the like will walk off the job in an effort to spur management into increasing their base salary to $15 an hour.

Some arrests have already been reported.


What do you think? I'm all for increasing the minimum wage, but having it nearly double seems like a lofty goal. In some states like California, $15 is probably the bare minimum it should be, but the asking price should vary on a state to state basis.

One of the more interesting comments I saw when reading up on the subject was that the fast food worker paradigm has changed dramatically over the past decade. Everyone knew this to some extent, with the job market crash, but it does put fast food chains in a strange position. A few years ago, no one really saw McDonald's as a permanent career, but some now see it as their only resort.

Interested in hearing others opinions on this. I worked at a restaurant in college and the wages were pretty dire. Any previous or current fast food workers care to weigh in?

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Have any McDonald's franchisees offered $15/hr to their employees?

 

[NoctisVsStar]

Idk about 15 but they do deserve a raise especially in here in NYC anyone who works at a fast food joint cannot pay a one room apt, hell barely they can pay their phones bill with that salary.

Edit: the most they could pay with that salary is renting a room in an apt if they're lucky.. Cause paying a room goes from 125 and up on weekly basis.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

I think it's a good thing. Minimum wage is too low and fast food is no longer just a job for high schoolers. Workers should be able to live off of minimum wage.

 

[bennywhatever]

Holy cow, I barely make that and I've been at a big-boy job for 4 years!

I think it should be state-by-state. Cost of living is way different in different parts of the country. You could probably live off of $10-$11/hr where I am as long as you budget well, but that's pretty rare.

 

[Rootbeer]

Good for them. $15 is a much more realistic baseline in today's world. How can any adult survive on $10 or $11/hr? Apart from living 4 adults to a houseold or living with your parents, that is. Not everyone even has these options available.

 

[CyclopsRock]

I worked at McDonalds for 2 years and I earned about 10p above the minimum wage. I don't feel like I really deserved any more - the job isn't difficult or stressful, it takes a few weeks to become entirely competent at it, and they're often pretty flexible with regards to time etc which make them great options for students and parents. I don't think the remuneration offered is an unfair one for the work actually conducted. The problem occurs when people's outgoings are, for various reasons, too high for this meagre amount of pay to be sufficient, as is becoming more and more the case.

So I sympathise with both sides, really.

 

[PhantomHound]

I think it's a good thing. Minimum wage is too low and fast food is no longer just a job for high schoolers. Workers should be able to live off of minimum wage.

Honestly it depends on the state or area. Workers in NYC deserve like $30 an hour for the amount of customer traffic those stores see.

 

[OldAsUrSock]

They are hastening the rise of robots in the fast food industry.

 

[Tempesta di Fuoco]

Not gonna happen. If $15 became the new minimum wage, get ready for the entire country to bitch that they need to get the same $7 ish raise a lot of these folks are getting.

Fast food definitely needs to pay more though.

 

[Downhome]

Didn't McDonald's recently invest in, buy, or something along those lines thousands of automated cashier machines in order to counter these protests for raises in pay like this?

In time, sooner rather than later, almost all of these jobs will be phased out entirely and it'll all be automated by touchscreens.

 

[dave is ok]

Fast food is a 200 billion dollar industry with good margins. I think they can afford to pay a little more than minimum wage.

15 dollars an hour is a dream, but 10 is a start.

 

[Deleted member 20415]

Not gonna happen. If $15 became the new minimum wage, get ready for the entire country to bitch that they need to get the same $7 ish raise a lot of these folks are getting.

The rolling inflation would be incredible, and then we're back to the same place.


I worked at McDonalds when I was 14-16 years old. I made $4.25 an hour in 1996. It was a great job, taught me about being reliable, and to work hard. Even at that time, I couldn't understand why anyone over 25 would work there. If I had to work my ass off all summer just to get a PlayStation 1, they certainly weren't making enough to live.

 

[kirblar]

National minimum wage has to be on the low side to avoid cost of living differences. 15 is not happening.

 

[Pickman]

$15/hr? That's more than I make working a skilled office job for the government... fuck me.

 

[Mix Master]

these are extra income jobs, not make a living and stay here for 10 years type of job. these positions are for high schoolers, college kids, and people who just need a little money on the side, not for people who have 3 kids, bills, and a goddamn car note.

 

[Servbot24]

Damn. That's nearly as much as I make and I work in an office and have actual responsibilities.

 

[Tempesta di Fuoco]

The rolling inflation would be incredible, and then we're back to the same place.

Yep, it's like they expect minimum wage to go up that much but for everything else to stay the same, which is ridiculous.

 

[NoctisVsStar]

Good for them. $15 is a much more realistic baseline in today's world. How can any adult survive on $10 or $11/hr? Apart from living 4 adults to a houseold or living with your parents, that is. Not everyone even has these options available.

Good point bro, but let me play devil's advocate for a second.. Fast food job is always pictured for young people that are in their college years or summer jobs to earn some extra money. so my question is, is it possible these huge corporations view workers as disposable and thus have no incentive to raise salaries? By that I mean they're probably like " hey this isn't a job for you to live off in the long run" I always got that smug reaction from the corporations.

 

[WaffleTaco]

So ridiculous. Work at a fast food joint and we even laugh at it. However I think in large cities with higher living costs, there should be somewhat of a change. In a small town like mine? Hell naw.

 

[Aiii]

15 bucks an hour seems like a lot of money for a job like that.

 

[Deleted member 20415]

Yep, it's like they expect minimum wage to go up that much but for everything else to stay the same, which is ridiculous.

AND... all the money I saved over the last few years is now worth WAY less.

That would be a huge kick in the nuts... save, save, save... huge chunk of value gone. If this ever went through, I would immediately invest everything i had... because it's at least worth gambling at that point.

 

[Downhome]

I think it should be state-by-state. Cost of living is way different in different parts of the country.

Absolutely. I can almost get this in NY, LA, or places like that. However, if places here in upstate SC were forced to pay everyone at least $15 an hour it would cripple, if not destroy, most places of businesses in my area. There would be mass layoffs, businesses would shut down left and right, and the mom and pop stores would all but go extinct except for those that are owned and operated by a husband and wife team who don't need to pay other people in the first place.

 

[weekend_warrior]

Damn. That's nearly as much as I make and I work in an office and have actual responsibilities.

That's more then I make and I'm in the Army.

 

[Zabuza]

Not everyone has the same opportunities to get a job other than a fast food restaurant, even if they are adults.

 

[akira28]

They are hastening the rise of robots in the fast food industry.

good. the sooner the robots rise, the sooner the human armies can defeat them.

Damn. That's nearly as much as I make and I work in an office and have actual responsibilities.

That's more then I make and I'm in the Army.

itt: people realize they've been getting shitty pay

 

[Coriolanus]

The rolling inflation would be incredible, and then we're back to the same place.


I worked at McDonalds when I was 14-16 years old. I made $4.25 an hour in 1996. It was a great job, taught me about being reliable, and to work hard. Even at that time, I couldn't understand why anyone over 25 would work there. If I had to work my ass off all summer just to get a PlayStation 1, they certainly weren't making enough to live.

Not a closed system. Might wanna take a look at the history of inflation during minimum wage increases.

Americans should keep in mind that, as is, the pay these companies offer is so low their workers have to turn to welfare, thus allowing the companies to offload labor costs to the government.

 

[Real Hero]

good

 

[TacticalFox88]

You all do realize that fast food jobs aren't the only jobs that pay minimum wage...right?

RIGHT?!

 

[xbgamer]

Maybe if the fast food workers at my local mcdonalds can get better pay they can have more pride in their work and actually get my order right.

 

[Hollycat]

What? $15? Wonder if amazon will consider raising their minimum.

 

[Zoe]

Absolutely. I can almost get this in NY, LA, or places like that. However, if places here in upstate SC were forced to pay everyone at least $15 an hour it would cripple, if not destroy, most places of businesses in my area. There would be mass layoffs, businesses would shut down left and right, and the mom and pop stores would all but go extinct except for those that are owned and operated by a husband and wife team who don't need to pay other people in the first place.

Not just businesses, it would hit many public service jobs as well.

 

[bennywhatever]

Not everyone has the same opportunities to get a job other than a fast food restaurant, even if they are adults.

So, should we punish the people that do have those opportunities?
I feel like, since I worked my ass off in college and to get a great job, I should be able to make more than someone two blocks down at McDonalds that dropped out of high school.

[/end over-generalizing and stereotyping]

 

[akira28]

Maybe if the fast food workers at my local mcdonalds can get better pay they can have more pride in their work and actually get my order right.

that's the idea. they're still getting paid like they're soda jerks from 1955.

 

[The Technomancer]

these are extra income jobs, not make a living and stay here for 10 years type of job. these positions are for high schoolers, college kids, and people who just need a little money on the side, not for people who have 3 kids, bills, and a goddamn car note.

Its crazy then how when I walk into my local McDonalds half the staff looks to be at least in their 30s

Its almost like people besides college and high school kids are being forced to take these jobs because they can't find work elsewhere

 

[Mix Master]

i believe that this is due to the higher numbers of older people working at these places, at the mcdonalds in knightdale there are only middle age women working there, no younger people in sight.

 

[CyclopsRock]

Good point bro, but let me play devil's advocate for a second.. Fast food job is always pictured for young people that are in their college years or summer jobs to earn some extra money. so my question is, is it possible these huge corporations view workers as disposable and thus have no incentive to raise salaries? By that I mean they're probably like " hey this isn't a job for you to live off in the long run" I always got that smug reaction from the corporations.

They absolutely are, but that's always going to be the case in jobs where you can learn all the skills in a few weeks.

 

[NoctisVsStar]

Should be a state by state case, this seems like a problem for workers in big cities.. But 15 is out of the question even if Mcdonalds could do it.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

So, should we punish the people that do have those opportunities?
I feel like, since I worked my ass off in college and to get a great job, I should be able to make more than someone two blocks down at McDonalds that dropped out of high school.

[/end over-generalizing and stereotyping]

So what you're saying is that you're being punished by other people making more money?

 

[Camwi]

I went to Wendy's yesterday (MN) and they had a "Now Hiring - Up to $8.50 an hour" sign in front of the building. All I could think was "Yeesh." :/

 

[Downhome]

Not just businesses, it would hit many public service jobs as well.

Oh yes, absolutely.

For those of you who actually want to see it take place nation wide in one swift motion, you have no idea what it would do to areas like where I live. Things would go to hell overnight, it would be a nightmare.

 

[Bjomesphat]

Sweet. Looking forward to the future where most of these positions are replaced by machines because that's the future they're protesting for.

To be honest, when I go into a fast food place and it seems like I'm the one inconveniencing them just for being a customer, I don't have much sympathy for a higher minimum wage.

 

[CrankyJay]

Anyone saying raising the minimum wage will cause problems needs to read this...now

http://www.politico.com/magazine/st...orks-are-coming-for-us-plutocrats-108014.html

The model for us rich guys here should be Henry Ford, who realized that all his autoworkers in Michigan weren’t only cheap labor to be exploited; they were consumers, too. Ford figured that if he raised their wages, to a then-exorbitant $5 a day, they’d be able to afford his Model Ts.
What a great idea. My suggestion to you is: Let’s do it all over again. We’ve got to try something. These idiotic trickle-down policies are destroying my customer base. And yours too.

Which is why the fundamental law of capitalism must be: If workers have more money, businesses have more customers. Which makes middle-class consumers, not rich businesspeople like us, the true job creators. Which means a thriving middle class is the source of American prosperity, not a consequence of it. The middle class creates us rich people, not the other way around.

On June 19, 2013, Bloomberg published an article I wrote called “The Capitalist’s Case for a $15 Minimum Wage.” Forbes labeled it “Nick Hanauer’s near insane” proposal. And yet, just weeks after it was published, my friend David Rolf, a Service Employees International Union organizer, roused fast-food workers to go on strike around the country for a $15 living wage. Nearly a year later, the city of Seattle passed a $15 minimum wage. And just 350 days after my article was published, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray signed that ordinance into law. How could this happen, you ask?

It happened because we reminded the masses that they are the source of growth and prosperity, not us rich guys. We reminded them that when workers have more money, businesses have more customers—and need more employees. We reminded them that if businesses paid workers a living wage rather than poverty wages, taxpayers wouldn’t have to make up the difference. And when we got done, 74 percent of likely Seattle voters in a recent poll agreed that a $15 minimum wage was a swell idea.
R

Because here’s an odd thing. During the past three decades, compensation for CEOs grew 127 times faster than it did for workers. Since 1950, the CEO-to-worker pay ratio has increased 1,000 percent, and that is not a typo. CEOs used to earn 30 times the median wage; now they rake in 500 times. Yet no company I know of has eliminated its senior managers, or outsourced them to China or automated their jobs. Instead, we now have more CEOs and senior executives than ever before. So, too, for financial services workers and technology workers. These folks earn multiples of the median wage, yet we somehow have more and more of them.

 

[JJDinomite]

Brb dropping out of school to work at McDonald's

 

[Abounder]

$15 should be the minimum for any 24/7 business like McDs or Wally world

 

[Protein]

good. the sooner the robots rise, the sooner the human armies can defeat them.





itt: people realize they've been getting shitty pay

Meanwhile, CEO-to-worker pay ratio has ballooned almost 1000% since the mid 20th century. That wealth will trickle down any day now.

 

[Eddie Griffin]

I think it's a good thing. Minimum wage is too low and fast food is no longer just a job for high schoolers. Workers should be able to live off of minimum wage.

That's only because the economy is bad and people with degrees sometimes have no choice but to work at mcdonalds.

$15 for a mcdonalds job? That's insanity. if it was like a harder fast food chain maybe, and even then I would stop at around $10 unless you get to a sub-senior position.

 

[The Lamp]

Honestly it depends on the state or area. Workers in NYC deserve like $30 an hour for the amount of customer traffic those stores see.

$30? Lmao no. Someone flipping burgers and serving coffee should not earn near the average engineering graduate's salary.

 

[Slammin_Hammon]

With such a high unemployment rate today I don't think that walking off the job is going to be effective. There are way too many people who are willing to take your job and do it for less money while you are off protesting.

 

[Discusguy]

State by state and McDonalds should decrease their franchise fees.