Fast-food strikes widen into social-justice movement

[edjr 6,898]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/04/15/fast-food-strike-fight-for-15-service-employees-international-union/25787045/

 

 

 

Low-wage workers — and their sympathizers — had their say coast to coast on Wednesday.

Thousands of workers and protesters from New York City to Los Angeles walked, marched and shouted their demands in front of fast-food locations and on several major college campuses for $15-an-hour wages. No arrests were reported. At least one McDonald's in New York City was temporarily closed by protesters. Several McDonald's stores kept drive-throughs operating, even while the restaurants were temporarily locked.

Central to Wednesday's strike is the evolution of its scope. What began two years ago as a fast-food workers movement has propelled into something wider, with Wednesday's protests including a range of workers workers from adjunct professors to home care and child care providers to Walmart employees.

Strikers and protesters were occasionally joined by high-profile officials, such as former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who led a walkout at a McDonald's in Oakland prompting three workers to go on strike.

Organizers called it the largest-ever mobilization of U.S. workers seeking higher pay. That could not be confirmed, but thousands took part in the protests and campus activities in what organizers claim are 226 cities coast to coast. There also was a global element to the protests, with McDonald's stores in Athens, Toronto, Sao Paulo and Hong Kong all hit by protesters demanding higher wages.

"It's something different," said Kendall Fells, organizing director of Fight for $15, which is funded by the Service Employees International Union. "This is much more of an economic and racial justice movement than the fast-food workers strikes of the past two years."

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets across New York City. In Brooklyn, crowds blocked traffic. In Manhattan, organizers lay on the pavement outside a McDonald's. Many chanted, "This is what democracy looks like," and waved "Fight for $15" signs.

"We are the backbones of these fast-food restaurants, and I believe that we should be more rewarded," said Jorge Math, a McDonald's cashier who makes $8.75. "Most of us have to get a second job so we can sustain ourselves."

Keeshan Harley came as a member of Make the Road New York, a nonprofit that focuses on justice issues. "In New York City, it's kind of impossible to work on $8 an hour when you have $1,900 to $2,000 rents," Harley said. "So we need $15 an hour. That's the bare minimum. That is just moving toward sustainability in the city."

The timing of the strikes on Tax Day was intentional, Fells said, to focus public attention on the strain that low wages place on public budgets and taxpayers when working families are forced to rely on public assistance.

As the 2016 presidential campaign just begins to take shape, wage fairness is an issue that presidential candidates may increasingly have to address. Today's strike takes shape even as two of the nation's largest private employers — Walmart and McDonald's — both made recent, small movements to improve wages for employees.

This strike has some outspoken sympathizers, too. Among them: George Zimmer, founder and former CEO of Men's Wearhouse. "I think that capitalism needs some modifications if it's going to remain sustainable," he said in a phone interview. "But I'm encouraged. I think this is the first generation since mine that's prepared to collaborate, not just compete."

Not everyone is so sympathetic. "The protests aren't about wages or working conditions, they are about promoting the SEIU's campaign to unionize the fast-food industry. Yet after investing two years and at least $30 million in these PR stunts, the SEIU still struggles to find actual employees to participate, let alone express an interest in joining a union," said Glenn Spencer, vice president of the Workforce Freedom Initiative for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in a statement.

McDonald's, at the focal point of the protests, continues to insist that wages are set not by the company but by the independent franshisee owner at about 90% of its U.S. restaurants.

In a statement, McDonald's said: "We respect people's right to peacefully protest, and our restaurants remain open every day with the focus on providing an exceptional experience for our customers. Recently, McDonald's USA announced a wage increase and paid time off for employees at its company-owned restaurants and expanded educational opportunities for eligible employees at all restaurants. This is an important and meaningful first step as we continue to look at opportunities that will make a difference for employees."

 

 

 

Nitwits. all of em.

 

Sure, lets charge $10 for a happy meal, so you stupid focks working at McDonald's can make $15 an hour.

 

Enjoy being laid off in 6 months from McD's going in the tank from no customers.

[Strike 6,019]

What will happen, and is already starting, is fast food will go to even more automation. Which is fine by me. These idiots who want $15/hour get my order right about 50% of the time. I'm sorry, if you want to make that kind of coin it should very close to 100%. So keep pushing, and doing a crap job, and watch as instead of getting a raise your job is just eliminated.

[Saint Elistan 106]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/business/owner-of-gravity-payments-a-credit-card-processor-is-setting-a-new-minimum-wage-70000-a-year.html?_r=0

[edjr 6,898]

What will happen, and is already starting, is fast food will go to even more automation. Which is fine by me. These idiots who want $15/hour get my order right about 50% of the time. I'm sorry, if you want to make that kind of coin it should very close to 100%. So keep pushing, and doing a crap job, and watch as instead of getting a raise your job is just eliminated.

 

[edjr 6,898]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/business/owner-of-gravity-payments-a-credit-card-processor-is-setting-a-new-minimum-wage-70000-a-year.html?_r=0

 

I'm pretty sure other than the person at the front desk and the 2 people in office services, everyone at the law firm makes 70+

[Saint Elistan 106]

I used to scoff at these people, too...but they're not wrong. Wealth Inequality is a major problem in the United States and it's coming to a head.

[Saint Elistan 106]

 

I'm pretty sure other than the person at the front desk and the 2 people in office services, everyone at the law firm makes 70+

 

The paychecks of about 70 employees will grow, with 30 ultimately doubling their salaries, according to Ryan Pirkle, a company spokesman. The average salary at Gravity is $48,000 a year.

[Mungwater 601]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/business/owner-of-gravity-payments-a-credit-card-processor-is-setting-a-new-minimum-wage-70000-a-year.html?_r=0

That's good for a publicity, but keep in mind he's a private company. No way a company who answers to share holders would allow that, he'd by fired in a day.

[Strike 6,019]

That's good for a publicity, but keep in mind he's a private company. No way a company who answers to share holders would allow that, he'd by fired in a day.

 

And there's no way that's feasible for a fast food restaurant. I applaud him for doing that but that story is really not relevant to this thread.

[HenryHill9323 65]

If you want to be paid $15 an hour go get the skills that you can sell for that.

 

Flipping burgers isn't a skill requiring that pay.

[Magnificent Bastard 192]

I'm all for demanding a higher wage, it's good for all of us actually, but when you mix it up with the racial justice angle it tempers my support a bit.

[Strike 6,019]

I used to scoff at these people, too...but they're not wrong. Wealth Inequality is a major problem in the United States and it's coming to a head.

 

You're right. However, if someone is trying to support a family working fast food because they did squat during their formative years to acquire the skills to earn a decent living I'm not really feeling bad for them. Certain jobs, such as fast food, should be considered transitional. They're a job a person does while preparing for a long term career.

[kilroy69 1,268]

the mcdonalds near me is like a game of roulette. you know what you want. you just never know what you are going to get. sometimes you get someone elses entire order. Thats not 15 buck an hour work.

[Saint Elistan 106]

[IGotWorms 4,063]

I used to scoff at these people, too...but they're not wrong. Wealth Inequality is a major problem in the United States and it's coming to a head.

They're right about the problem but I question the proposed solution.

[IGotWorms 4,063]

 

You're right. However, if someone is trying to support a family working fast food because they did squat during their formative years to acquire the skills to earn a decent living I'm not really feeling bad for them. Certain jobs, such as fast food, should be considered transitional. They're a job a person does while preparing for a long term career.

Some yes, some no. Many people working those jobs just don't have other options. They can't afford college or they have too many family obligations or maybe they're just too damned stupid. And somebody HAS to work those jobs.

[Voltaire 5,491]

 

Enjoy being laid off in 6 months from McD's going in the tank from no customers.

we can only dream of the cure

[Baker Boy 1,710]

Many of the protesters were paid by the SEIU, I wonder if they got $15 an hour?

[vuduchile 1,947]

I used to scoff at these people, too...but they're not wrong. Wealth Inequality is a major problem in the United States and it's coming to a head.

Do you know what the average profit margin of a fast food restaurant is?

[Saint Elistan 106]

They're right about the problem but I question the proposed solution.

 

I can agree with that. There is a reason that adults are forced to take these jobs and for most cases it's from no fault of their own.

 

Fixing that problem, however, is more of a pipe dream than $15/Hour Minimum Wage.

[Djgb13 2,339]

I say f*** all of them. Let them keep their minimum wage salaries. You want to skip class in high school, not do your work or study, don't even attempt to go to college or learn some type of skill and you want to make what I was almost making in the military doing a job that a 15 year old can do? No. People want to be lazy and still have things handed to them. Work your a** off like I did in school and you can earn a decent wage. I honestly couldn't give a s*** about you supporting your family on a mcdonalds wage. If it's too low then too bad. You f***** up by getting someone pregnant by not wrapping it up and now you got kids. Poor life decisions should not be rewarded. Which is exactly what the are pushing for

[Saint Elistan 106]

Do you know what the average profit margin of a fast food restaurant is?

 

That's a trick question. Why not state your point instead of being so passive aggressive?

 

Yes, franchised locations have a relatively low profit margin. But the parent company, McDonalds, for example, profited $5.5 Billion on $27.6 Billion in revenue. That's 20 percent. The average company on the S&P 500 profits at about 8.7 percent. McDonalds deflects wage accusations, unfairly, onto the franchise owners, when in reality they could accommodate wage increases by lowering franchising costs.

[Magnificent Bastard 192]

I say f*** all of them. Let them keep their minimum wage salaries. You want to skip class in high school, not do your work or study, don't even attempt to go to college or learn some type of skill and you want to make what I was almost making in the military doing a job that a 15 year old can do? No. People want to be lazy and still have things handed to them. Work your a** off like I did in school and you can earn a decent wage. I honestly couldn't give a s*** about you supporting your family on a mcdonalds wage. If it's too low then too bad. You f***** up by getting someone pregnant by not wrapping it up and now you got kids. Poor life decisions should not be rewarded. Which is exactly what the are pushing for

What do you care what they make? Do you eat at those s-holes a lot? I don't see what they make has to do with you. Don't eat there if you don't like it. Simple

[mobb_deep 920]

Over 50% of fast food workers are on public assistance. I'd prefer the companies pay them a living wage, instead of my tax dollars. We don't have any factories anymore, so the working poor need to work somewhere. Everybody can't get paid 6 figures to surf the Internet all day, like we do.

[Djgb13 2,339]

What do you care what they make? Do you eat at those s-holes a lot? I don't see what they make has to do with you. Don't eat there if you don't like it. Simple

Yes I do fhkin eat there DA. It pisses me off that this country wants more for less. Instead of increasing mcdonalds workers wages why not increase teachers wages to help prevent this kind of thing? No let's just give them a big increase in their pay so they can fhk up your order and not have to do anything to get the job

[Saint Elistan 106]

I say f*** all of them. Let them keep their minimum wage salaries. You want to skip class in high school, not do your work or study, don't even attempt to go to college or learn some type of skill and you want to make what I was almost making in the military doing a job that a 15 year old can do? No. People want to be lazy and still have things handed to them. Work your a** off like I did in school and you can earn a decent wage. I honestly couldn't give a s*** about you supporting your family on a mcdonalds wage. If it's too low then too bad. You f***** up by getting someone pregnant by not wrapping it up and now you got kids. Poor life decisions should not be rewarded. Which is exactly what the are pushing for

 

Fock you and your stereotypes. You don't know shite about these people and you focking disgust me.

[HenryHill9323 65]

Over 50% of fast food workers are on public assistance. I'd prefer the companies pay them a living wage, instead of my tax dollars. We don't have any factories anymore, so the working poor need to work somewhere. Everybody can't get paid 6 figures to surf the Internet all day, like we do.

That says more about our welfare system than it says about McDonalds. A job flipping burgers isn't meant to pay enough to support a family of four.

 

"living wage"???? WTF is that? Seriously, how much is a "living wage"?

[Saint Elistan 106]

Over 50% of fast food workers are on public assistance. I'd prefer the companies pay them a living wage, instead of my tax dollars. We don't have any factories anymore, so the working poor need to work somewhere. Everybody can't get paid 6 figures to surf the Internet all day, like we do.

 

[Djgb13 2,339]

 

Fock you and your stereotypes. You don't know shite about these people and you focking disgust me.

Fock you and your incompetence. Nobody likes you so why are you still here? I know plenty about those people because, fact, I worked with them when I was younger. But unlike them I actually worked hard to improve my situation instead of no do s***. Who are you to even attempt to try to argue a point you have no idea about? GTFO and never return

[HenryHill9323 65]

You should start a business and pay everyone $15/hr.

[edjr 6,898]

Over 50% of fast food workers are on public assistance. I'd prefer the companies pay them a living wage, instead of my tax dollars. We don't have any factories anymore, so the working poor need to work somewhere. Everybody can't get paid 6 figures to surf the Internet all day, like we do.

 

I wish I made 6 figures.

 

even if I add in my DJ and BJ money, I don't get there. close, but not quite.

[Djgb13 2,339]

 

I wish I made 6 figures.

 

even if I add in my DJ and BJ money, I don't get there. close, but not quite.

I know a lot of people working at McDonald's an Hardee's making like 40K a year cause of government assistance. They don't want to work any more than a certain amount of hours a week cause if they go over that then their government assistance stops. Which is why they want $15 an hour. Work same amount of hours but get paid more and keep government assistance

[MDC 7,883]

 

I wish I made 6 figures.

 

even if I add in my DJ and BJ money, I don't get there. close, but not quite.

You should work harder to deliver better BJs. Then you'll be able to charge more for your skills.

[Saint Elistan 106]

Fock you and your incompetence. Nobody likes you so why are you still here? I know plenty about those people because, fact, I worked with them when I was younger. But unlike them I actually worked hard to improve my situation instead of no do s***. Who are you to even attempt to try to argue a point you have no idea about? GTFO and never return

 

How are you not seeing the moronic irony of your statements made here? If you worked with them when you were younger and while you "bettered yourself", then YOU WERE THEM.

 

Jesus focking Christ, dude. I have perspective on this subject because I employee these people. Not one of them fits the description you have so "eloquently" laid out for us.

[Djgb13 2,339]

 

How are you not seeing the moronic irony of your statements made here? If you worked with them when you were younger and while you "bettered yourself", then YOU WERE THEM.

 

Jesus focking Christ, dude. I have perspective on this subject because I employee these people. Not one of them fits the description you have so "eloquently" laid out for us.

No s*** I was them. I didn't complain about what I was getting paid either. Would I have liked more? Yes. Did I deserve more? Hell no. You employ them right? So you think someone who drops out of high school with no skills deserves as much as teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and military members make? That is where your argument falls invalid quick and in a hurry

[Magnificent Bastard 192]

I know a lot of people working at McDonald's an Hardee's making like 40K a year cause of government assistance. They don't want to work any more than a certain amount of hours a week cause if they go over that then their government assistance stops. Which is why they want $15 an hour. Work same amount of hours but get paid more and keep government assistance

 

Oh. You're in Hardee's land. Forget it.

[edjr 6,898]

I know a lot of people working at McDonald's an Hardee's making like 40K a year cause of government assistance. They don't want to work any more than a certain amount of hours a week cause if they go over that then their government assistance stops. Which is why they want $15 an hour. Work same amount of hours but get paid more and keep government assistance

 

How does that even work? If you collect unemployment and work (not under the table) they take off what you made from your unemployment?

[Djgb13 2,339]

Oh. You're in Hardee's land. Forget it.

Well where I'm at now it's Carls Jr. Same thing though. I call it Hardee's since that's what is was in SC

[Djgb13 2,339]

 

How does that even work? If you collect unemployment and work (not under the table) they take off what you made from your unemployment?

Fock if I know. I just know a couple ladies I was working with kept saying that. They would add up their scheduled hours and if it went over then they let the manager know so he could change it

[Magnificent Bastard 192]

Well where I'm at now it's Carls Jr. Same thing though. I call it Hardee's since that's what is was in SC

 

Easy to think so high of yourself in Hardee's or Carl hrs land. Just saying the competition isn't much