US fast food workers walk out in organised strike against low wages

[FreakinDJ]

Source: Guardian News and Media

New York City-based campaign spreads around the country as workers unite to demand minimum $15 per hour wage

Thousands of fast food workers went on strike in cities across the US on Monday as part of a campaign for better wages.

Employees of selected branches of McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Wendy's walked off their shifts at various points throughout the day. In New York City more than a hundred workers marched to a McDonald's in Union Square, chanting for the restaurant to "supersize" their wages.

The Fast Food Forward campaign is calling for workers to receive a minimum of $15 per hour, more than double the federal minimum wage.

"A lot of the workers are living in poverty, you know, not being able to afford to put food on the table or take the train to work," Jonathan Westin, director of Fast Food Forward, told New York's 1010 WINS radio station.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/29/fast-food-workers-strike-wages

---

Bout Time

[rpannier]

1. Bout time Agreed 100%

rec

[Llewlladdwr]

2. I'm not sure I understand what's going on here.

Is it the position of these workers that they should be able to support a family by working part-time at MacDonald's? If so that seems unrealistic.

[FreakinDJ]

3. .... ^^^ Face Palm ^^^

If we had to explain I'm sure you wouldn't understand

[Llewlladdwr]

10. Thank you so very much!

That was so very helpful! I'm so glad there are smart folks like you around!

[daleanime]

30. Smart enough to realize....

there's no sense in discussing it with you.



Are they wrong?

[CreekDog]

52. you're a resident conservative who posts a conservative opinion on it

were you expecting congratulations?

Llewlladdwr (1,877 posts)
60. Do people living in public housing have a right to privacy? nt

[Major Nikon]

4. That's why they are going on strike

[Llewlladdwr]

11. So, they do believe that they should be able to support a family on a part-time job?

I'm just trying to understand why a person working the fry machine part-time at MacDonald's rates $15.00 an hour. That just doesn't seem realistic to me.

[alp227]

15. Do you realize some work those jobs FULL TIME now?

Even seniors who should have retired but lost all their savings?

[Major Nikon]

21. Are you OK with the government subsidizing cheap labor via the social safety net?

If you want realism, figure out how much an employer needs to pay it's employees to keep them off the government dime. Then you'll have a realistic figure regarding how much these employees should be paid.

[Major Nikon]

42. So what do you think unemployment insurance is for?

And the employer's share of FICA?

[Major Nikon]

44. Actually it wasn't where I was going

Where I was going was simply to give you the opportunity to get both feet in the bowl before I pulled the chain.

Cheers!

[Major Nikon]

66. I hate to say I told you so

At Tue Jul 30, 2013, 03:39 PM you sent an alert on the following post:

They are taxes that only serve to drive down wages, increase unemployment, and
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=552494

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)

YOUR COMMENTS:

Wingnut troll begone!

JURY RESULTS

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Tue Jul 30, 2013, 03:54 PM, and voted 2-4 to LEAVE IT ALONE.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT and said: Smells like a wingnut to me.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT and said: Troll.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Not a progressive position and I disagree but it doesn't appear to be a violation of TOS.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Need an open debate - this comment needs response, not censorship.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given

[Scootaloo]

22. You should be able to support yourself from your work, yes.

Is this hard to understand?

[Systematic Chaos]

7. They they should all just borrow their way through college, to get professional careers?

Never mind that they can barely afford to live as it is, and may end up missing half their classes due to the crazy schedules these McJobs force you to work.

We'll just make them debt slaves on top of wage slaves, and then they'll slide right into some professional job which likely won't even fucking exist anyway.

[Llewlladdwr]

13. Perhaps they could learn a trade?

Carpentry, plumbing, electrical all pay good money. Training for these jobs is much cheaper than college. Or join the military, they'll pay you while they teach you a trade.

[alp227]

16. Not everyone is capable of that.

Different people, different mindsets, different skill abilities.

[Llewlladdwr]

18. I understand that.

But almost everyone can do better than minimum wage, especially once they've established a work history. If you are physically unable to work then that's a whole different situation.

[ChazInAz]

23. Not at all.

You've never been to a "Right To Work" state, such as Arizona, have you?

[limpyhobbler]

25. But somebody has to serve food. Somebody has to mop floors, stock shelves, answer phones,

run a cash register, wash dishes, wait tables, pick tomatoes, etc.

People who do these jobs deserve a decent life.


These are the jobs that need to be done. So then when people do them they should get paid enough to live decently. Because they are doing something that is needed.

[SunSeeker]

28. +1

[bread_and_roses]

36. + 1000's (n/t)

[bread_and_roses]

38. Have you noticed the unemployment rate lately?

Are you aware of the numbers of "discouraged" workers - etc - who are not even included? Are you totally unaware of the data on inequality in US and the disconnect between workers' productivity and wages? Of wage stagnation over - oh, what is it? last thirty years or so?

I can't believe anyone even marginally informed about conditions in US today for workers could write the post you did.

[CreekDog]

55. how does one get ahead if they are making a wage they can't live on?

a minimum wage job not only lacks resources to properly take care of oneself, if you can't take care of yourself, it will be very difficult if not impossible to find other work that pays better if 1) you have to work 2nd and 3rd jobs to make ends meet and 2) your health fails because you can't afford to eat properly, lack health care, etc.

but of course as a resident apologist for the status quo of poverty, this all has to be explained to you and you won't bother supporting a higher minimum wage even after the explanations are provided.

because philosophically, you are to the right of nearly all of us.

you even use the term 'Democrat' instead of "Democratic".

[Niceguy1]

26. aren't wages determined

Capabilities????? How would you merge an communistic system with one that pays based on skill? Pay so much over skill would upset the Apple cart and result in an utter failure. As attractice as it sounds paying $15 hour for part time no skill jobs is not sustainable.

[daleanime]

31. And CEO wages are?

[alp227]

33. Did you just say communist?

Are you sure you are on the right message board?

[Systematic Chaos]

20. That would be all well and good, except for...

...the facts that it is possible to have gluts of tradespeople; many trades pay rather low now due to influxes of Mexican immigrants which were hired into a lot of positions for less than American citizens would take; and finally many of these people are in their 40s and up and working fast food because it's all they can find so they're too old for the military.

These problems will only be solved when we do two things. First and foremost we have got to re-work a huge percentage of the nation's infrastructure (which, for a time at least, would relieve any gluts of tradespeople). Second, our manufacturing base needs to be restored. Good luck with either of these.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

39. Good idea.

The poor should all just go join the military and fight wars for the rich. How progressive of you.

[UglyGreed]

63. LOL those jobs are

going down in pay due to undocumented workers. Or risk your life to serve corporate interests abroad, nice. I don't mind paying 68 cents more for a burger and I'm a crippled former Carpenter....

[Omaha Steve]

12. McDonald's doesn't hire many FULL timers

Benefits like Obamacare etc. kick in for FULL timers.

Need I say more?

Power to the workers!

OS

[Ash_F]

34. "Part time" <-----WHAT?!

You really should explain where you got this from.

[CreekDog]

50. you post conservative talking points and expect congratulations

please.

[Socal31]

5. Part time fast-food labor is not meant to support a family.

It is meant as a stepping-stone to something more.

I'd rather see the money be put into educational programs to teach these workers a skill that is worth $15 per hour.

On a side note, In-N-Out (West coast burger chain) was paying $10/hr 7+ years ago. However, I don't think they offer as many opportunities to people who did not learn English as their first language, if you get my drift. Anyone who has been inside one would understand.


I was a cashier at McDonalds @ 15. Had to get a worker's permit....I believe I earned 5.75/hr, which was a very progressive minimum wage (1999). That bought the weed that I would smoke in the walk-in freezer.

[FreakinDJ]

6. $15 per hour is a stepping stone

You ideals of worth seem fairly antiquated.

20hrs a week at $7.50 won't even afford the food to feed these workers. So some one some where is subsidizing the low wages the employer pays to feed these workers so the can keep working for THE CHEAP FUCKING SON OF A BITCH

Make sense now

[Socal31]

8. So what should they make?

What should someone who makes $15/hr currently make?

I know a couple Yum! Brand franchise owners, and they are not swimming in their gold coins at night, believe me.

If the theory is that it should be a requirement that any employee you hire should be able to afford an apartment, transportation, etc, then say goodbye to how much goods and services cost currently.

I know it would get more of a *hoorumph hoorumph* if I said everyone should make $30/hr, but in reality I have seen in both fast-food and full-serve restaurants just how tight they run, and how labor effects the bottom line in an extreme way.

[strategery blunder]

17. Fast food places survived and expanded in the 1960s

back when the minimum wage (in today's inflation-adjusted dollars) was somewhere around...

...surprise!

$15 an hour

[Socal31]

24. ..

Nearly 3,000 cars are crushed each year at monster truck events. Full sized steel-bodied cars from the 1970's and early 1980's are the ones most typically used.

[PoliticAverse]

29. The Federal minimum wage in 1968 was $1.60. This translates to $10.74 in 2013.

Historical minimum wage rates:
http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/chart.htm

$1.60 in 1968 converted to 2013:
http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=1.60&year1=1968&year2=2013

[reformist2]

9. OK, but 40 hours of "part-time" labor per week had damned well better add up to a living wage.

And by that, I do mean enough to support one person and one child.

[Trillo]

27. Stepping stones are mostly just corporate BS

They are mere carrots held in front of our noses to make us work longer and harder for less.

Almost any person with a grounding in reality knows that a promise is worth the paper it isn't usually written on. Stepping stones are mostly just corporate BS. There may be a very small, microscopic sliver of truth to the idea of working your way up a career ladder, one that works for a very small percentage of the total employed, of those employees are perfect, and only if they're willing to get educated and remain in continuing education and various job trainings for the rest of their lives.

For the rest of us, if we don't get paid today, not two weeks from now, but for today's labor, there ain't gonna be any more coming down the payment pike. In fact, I'm thinking that given the lack of honesty in most employers, the employees should be paid before they do any work. Otherwise, the employer might take the money and run.

[limpyhobbler]

32. Career Opportunities!!

Not so much.

All workplaces are shaped like pyramids. Not everybody can move up the pyramid. That's a myth. Most people get stuck towards the bottom.

The people at the bottom of the pile deserve a decent life.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

64. "Meant to be"?

"Meant to be" by who? Do you believe in the trickle down fairy too?

"Worth 15 dollars an hour" disgusting.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

14. Good! I think they should get $20 an hour

if they are full-time

[mindwalker_i]

19. The Great Burger Strike

People shouldn't go to McD's though. That place is awful.

[FreakinDJ]

35. Look at all the sock puppets advocating starvation wages

[ForgoTheConsequence]

40. Its no wonder.

The Republicans have moved to the far right and the Democrats (some still think they're "liberal&quot have moved comfortable into the center-right. The amount of neo-liberal, anti worker, crap I read on here really astounds me. But it also made me realize why we're going backwards as a country. ALL of the republicans and a good chunk of the democrats don't give a shit about workers.

[Blasphemer]

68. Compare DU circa 2001 to DU today and it's a startling and depressing shift... nt

[One_Life_To_Give]

37. Good $20/hr employees might boost profits

Having worked in a local fast food place years ago. The difference between a compliant employee and a motivated employee in that environment can make a world of difference. If $20/hr gets you motivated employees. The rise in productivity is likely to offset the increase in cost IMO.

[wordpix]

67. $20/hr. employees still does not give a customer good fast food

It is the same old poor quality everything.

[Brigid]

45. For the naysayers, let me try putting it this way:

Part-time or not, these workers bust their butts, and they deserve better than minimum wage and all the respect that implies. Does that help?

[AngryOldDem]

46. Sadly, I don't think it will.

Some of these comments are absolutely jaw-dropping, especially the suggestion that under/unemployed workers join the military to learn a trade.

Excuse me while I double-check to make sure what site I'm on....

Unbelievable.

[Brigid]

49. Shitting all over low-wage workers.

Great idea.

[Brigid]

56. "Multitude of opportunities?" Really?

Where have you been for the past several years?

[AngryOldDem]

62. In most cases, those are the only jobs out there.

Sure, keep striving for something better. But in the meantime, you have to put food in your mouth (or your family's mouth), clothes on your back, and a roof over your head. Health insurance -- or insurance of any kind -- is a luxury. Tell me, how do you do that on what fast food workers currently get paid?

You're right -- these jobs are not meant to be long term careers but in this economy -- if you are being completely honest with yourself -- that is exactly what they have become. For too many, this is the best the can do, through no fault of their own.

All they want is a fair wage for flipping burgers and frying potatoes around hot grease, mopping floors, putting up with sometimes rude and abusive customers, and mucking out restrooms that are more like horse stalls, most often thanks to said rude and abusive customers. And given the profits most companies pull in, it CAN be easily done, but the "I got mine, fuck everyone else" mindset (also known as the Horatio Alger Story) is just too strong.

I'd rather see a huge pay raise go to the person behind the counter, rather than the CEO that is getting fat and happy off that worker's efforts. Because, unlike some people, I recognized a long time ago that the American Dream is dead and those who want to foist that myth on the rest of us are just as much a part of the problem as below-subsistence level wages.

[FreakinDJ]

51. Maybe if you paid them right they get the order right

Its not Rocket Science even you should understand

[Newest Reality]

54. Don't you think your leanings are

just too obvious? That is, for being at DU?

Welcome and good luck with that.

[Newest Reality]

58. Ah!

A sense of humor.

[Comrade Grumpy]

59. You are obviously lost. You meant to take a right turn somewhere back there.

On your way to Palin campaign headquarters.

Take your anti-worker shit and go away.

[Comrade Grumpy]

60. For you, worker would do more than screw up your order. You'd get the special sauce. And deserve it.

[UglyGreed]

65. LMFAO

Spot on Grumpy spot on!!!!

[ConcernedCanuk]

69. Gonna be quite a few fast-food workers with NO income shortly.

.
.
.

These workers are not unionized, so nothing stops the companies from starting to hire and fire right away.

Besides, expecting, or even just demanding double their wages is unrealistic.

I have been a Union rep in he past, as well as Chair on health and Safety Committees on the employee side.

It's hard enough to maintain employment even in some Unionized employments.

Minimum wage in Ontario is 10.25/hr - that's over 21k/year.

I survived, not comfortably mind you on 7k a year for quite some time, now up to 16k.

Many workers that do not particularly get along with their management will be most likely be hitting the Welfare rolls shortly.

AND - many future employers require previous work history, including why they lost their previous employment(s).

Although I empathize with people on low income, - I suspect the end result is gonna hurt quite a few - at least for the short term.

I suspect those in government may make moves to raise the minimum wage as a result, but more like 9 - 10/hr.

Meanwhile - the big companies like McDuck are gonna cull their work force.

When I worked for McD's in the 80's, they had 1200 stores/franchises.

And we had a rule book given to each one of us before employment - and it had to be followed to a tee.

There is no way McDs gonna allow a massive wage increase - and they have the power to prevent it.

It ain't right, it's just the way it is.

(sigh)

CC

[FreakinDJ]

70. I know the drill - I'm Union earning +100K

And some jobs you leave for Greener Pastures

In a strong ProUnion town such as New York, MickyDs will feel some pain over using tactics like that.