Hundreds of fast food workers strike - inspired by wal mart strikes - Polidicks

[url]http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/30/hundreds_of_fast_food_workers_strike[/url] [quote]Fast-food workers walked off the job in New York City Thursday to hold a series of rallies and picket lines in what has been called the largest series of worker actions ever to hit the country’s fast-food industry. Hundreds of workers at dozens of restaurants owned by McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell and others went on strike and rallied in a bid for fair pay and union recognition. Organizers with the Fast Food Forward campaign are seeking an increased pay rate of $15 an hour, about double what the minimum-wage workers are making. Workers and their allies demanded a wage that would let them support their families. Democracy Now! co-host Juan González spoke to many of the striking workers for his latest New York Daily News column, "One-day strike by fast-food workers at McDonald’s, Burger King and other restaurants is just the beginning." [includes rush transcript][/quote] a video is in the op

The Carb Spring

Hopefully this will bring the national wages average up a bit.

[QUOTE=don818;38659096]Hopefully this will bring the national wages average up a bit.[/QUOTE] There's not always a positive result when that happens.

[QUOTE=Da Big Man;38659066]The Carb Spring[/QUOTE] Doesn't really work. Now of people who grew imitation chocolate went on strike, then we'd have something.

I actually disagree with the idea of doubling minimum wage for that up to 15 dollars.

[QUOTE=mysteryman;38659596]I actually disagree with the idea of doubling minimum wage for that up to 15 dollars.[/QUOTE] if you're a full time worker you should be paid a living wage

[QUOTE=mysteryman;38659596]I actually disagree with the idea of doubling minimum wage for that up to 15 dollars.[/QUOTE] people cannot healthily survive on minimum wage, i mean if its part time sure but there are those who could never break freefrom poverty

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38659661]if you're a full time worker you should be paid a living wage[/QUOTE] It's a part time job, not full time. I do realized that some people could only find a part time job, but that doesn't mean they get full time hours and pay or should.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38659033][url]http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/30/hundreds_of_fast_food_workers_strike[/url] a video is in the op[/QUOTE] $15 dollars an hour is a bit high in my book. Pay rates are based on skill and experience, it takes zero skill and zero experience to put a pre-cooked burger in a warmer for a few seconds and it takes zero skill to drop a basket of fries in to a deep frier then pull it out when the timer goes off. Everything is practically automated expect some of the physical labor aspects. Yes the hours may suck, customers may suck, but it does not merit a 15 dollar an hour pay In my eyes. I'm don't mean anything bad about them I worked in food service myself, I was a butcher for period of time and had deal with a lot of assholes customers and A LOT of labor intensive shit. For example I made 15 dollars an hour starting while working in corrections (It was less then that before too), My life was in danger most of the times, I've had some shit go down, I've put up with a lot of bullshit. I had a lot of risks to my health (I could have been infected with AIDS, other shit due to blood, people coming in with dirty needles hidden, etc) it was one of the most dangerous and stressful jobs ever, add on 12 hour shifts (or longer if something happens, try being on lockdown for almost 16-20 hours), doing overtime on top of that, etc.... It was fun most of the times, but it had its days. Do they deserve better working conditions, benefits, and stuff like that..yes they do. But a pay increase like that, specially for starting pay is completely asinine imo.

[QUOTE=mysteryman;38660121]It's a part time job, not full time. I do realized that some people could only find a part time job, but that doesn't mean they get full time hours and pay or should.[/QUOTE] not all jobs at fast food restaurants are part time [editline]1st December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=MR-X;38660893]$15 dollars an hour is a bit high in my book. Pay rates are based on skill and experience, it takes zero skill and zero experience to put a pre-cooked burger in a warmer for a few seconds and it takes zero skill to drop a basket of fries in to a deep frier then pull it out when the timer goes off. Everything is practically automated expect some of the physical labor aspects. Yes the hours may suck, customers may suck, but it does not merit a 15 dollar an hour pay In my eyes. I'm don't mean anything bad about them I worked in food service myself, I was a butcher for period of time and had deal with a lot of assholes customers and A LOT of labor intensive shit. For example I made 15 dollars an hour starting while working in corrections (It was less then that before too), My life was in danger most of the times, I've had some shit go down, I've put up with a lot of bullshit. I had a lot of risks to my health (I could have been infected with AIDS, other shit due to blood, people coming in with dirty needles hidden, etc) it was one of the most dangerous and stressful jobs ever, add on 12 hour shifts (or longer if something happens, try being on lockdown for almost 16-20 hours), doing overtime on top of that, etc.... It was fun most of the times, but it had its days. Do they deserve better working conditions, benefits, and stuff like that..yes they do. But a pay increase like that, specially for starting pay is completely asinine imo.[/QUOTE] um dude you were way underpaid as well.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38660944]not all jobs at fast food restaurants are part time [editline]1st December 2012[/editline] um dude you were way underpaid as well.[/QUOTE] Full time only means more hours. You get paid for the work you do, why should you get paid more per hour? Then employers would only hire Part time and give workers 39 hours instead of Full time with 40 hours. Fast food is supposed to be a path way to better jobs.

[QUOTE=laserguided;38661023]Full time only means more hours. You get paid for the work you do, why should you get paid more per hour? Then employers would only hire Part time and give workers 39 hours instead of Full time with 40 hours.[/quote] well we end up paying for these guys anyways since they qualify for food stamps and often cash benefits. the difference is these guys get paid what they need instead of getting paid a poverty wage and then having to apply for welfare [quote]Fast food is supposed to be a path way to better jobs.[/QUOTE] but its not always that way

Doubling the mininum pay wage will have issues. Companies will raise prices in general to get back what they lost and that new wage will be minimal again. The value of a dollar will slowly mean less and less over time if minimum wages are increased. Not saying it's all bad, but inflation will slowly occur, and if we just double minimum wages, it'll just hit faster.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38661111]well we end up paying for these guys anyways since they qualify for food stamps and often cash benefits. the difference is these guys get paid what they need instead of getting paid a poverty wage and then having to apply for welfare but its not always that way[/QUOTE] Then so be it, why should the employer be justified in paying more then minimum wage for a extremely easy job that anybody, even disabled can do. Thats why fast food chains typically hire 16-20 year olds and have a fast turnover rate.

why should people go hungry and become entrenched in debt because they perform a job that you consider less valuable?

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38661191]why should people go hungry and become entrenched in debt because they perform a job that you consider less valuable?[/QUOTE] Capitalism.

[QUOTE=don818;38659096]Hopefully this will bring the national wages average up a bit.[/QUOTE] Washington state minimum wage OP

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38661191]why should people go hungry and become entrenched in debt because they perform a job that you consider less valuable?[/QUOTE] waht are u, some socialist commie pinko?

[QUOTE=AJisAwesome15;38661246]waht are u, some socialist commie pinko?[/QUOTE] anti-capitalist libertarian :smile:

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38661191]why should people go hungry and become entrenched in debt because they perform a job that you consider less valuable?[/QUOTE] People will always go hungry, increasing Minimum wage will only benefit for awhile. Short Term, people will be able to enjoy life a bit more. Long Term, your kids will be living the same way you did before the increase.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38659661]if you're a full time worker you should be paid a living wage[/QUOTE] I have a lot of friends who have to work two jobs and work ridiculous hours just to make ends meet.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38661270]anti-capitalist libertarian :smile:[/QUOTE] This is America we're talking about here, alot of people are naturally going to be against government control.. say %47 of them.

Maybe I'm the only one who finds the notion of fast food workers earning $15 dollars an hour silly. Maybe like $9 or $10 at the very very most. But $15?

Well, good luck with that. Our government is heavily anti-union, the fast food industry has comparatively unlimited resources to prevent unions from forming, and there is a bottomless pool of desperate unemployed people that WILL work for minimum wage.

I might not agree with $15, but $10-$12 is certainly reasonable. In Canada it's $10 on average. It used to be $7-$8 like the United States is, but they increased it because people were really struggling and I think they linked it to increased crime rates. 15.5k vs 20k can make a substantial difference.

[QUOTE=Melkor;38661314]I have a lot of friends who have to work two jobs and work ridiculous hours just to make ends meet.[/QUOTE] Exactly. Minimum wage (depending on your state) means that, even at 40 hours a week at one job, you're likely to be earning less than $1000 per month. Again, depending on your location, that's barely enough to pay rent, much less food and other expenses. [editline]1st December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=evilweazel;38661365]Maybe I'm the only one who finds the notion of fast food workers earning $15 dollars an hour silly. Maybe like $9 or $10 at the very very most. But $15?[/QUOTE] It might seem silly, but there is a staggering demand for fast food, and as such, a lot of workers needed. Like it or not, fast food is a massive industry in America and I don't think its workers should be looked down upon so much. $9-10 is not enough to survive on, and I don't like the idea of people having to get 2 or even 3 jobs to make ends meet, just because the public opinion of the job is unsavory.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38659661]if you're a full time worker you should be paid a living wage[/QUOTE] I don't see that happening within a truly capitalistic market. For a while that would increase the standard of living for low income families but if the base price of labor increases (doubles even) then the costs for goods for everyone also increases in time to compensate - thus maintaining profit margins. You'd have to reduce other costs and give a damn about your people to keep their wages at "living" level so that product pricing does not increase with minimum wage. I don't see McDonalds executive board members giving up millions out of the kindness of their heart.

I get paid $14.50 to stand at a checkstand all day. The glories of living in a resort town. Downside is the cost of living is also higher.

A living wage is a living wage. The fact of the matter is that the labor is only as valuable as the value it produces. The skill of the labor has little to do with the product of it in most cases. Fast food workers are necessary to make fast food. Fact of the matter is that if they make 15$ worth of product, they ought to get as much of that as reasonably possible. They produce 15$, they get 15$- minus necessities. So what if it's an easy job? Does the ease of the job correlate with the value of the product? It does not. Unskilled labor often enough produces value far greater than is returned to the laborer. We ought to judge the payment of the labor on the worth of its product, and not the skill level involved. Of course this ought to be tweaked for the service industry where there is no direct product, but simple distribution based on the labor put in is sufficient in that area. Basically, if an individual working in McD's is responsible for production of 15$ worth of product, then they ought to receive a far more reasonable compensation for that. They are directly responsible for that product's value. They are not compensated based on that fact, they are compensated based on the skill level of their labor- not even the labor itself, but simply its skill. And if the bosses choose to raise prices because of an increase of wages, then you can put the blame on them- if they are paying their workers based on the value of their product then they will be paying them based on the collective income directly, and therefore the workers would receive no wage higher than they produce.