McStrike

[BearCat204]

Fast food workers strike for higher wages

So it begins.......God forbid that if you dont like your pay situation, which you knew full and well what it was when you took your job, that you wouldnt strive to better your employment marketability.

Naquasia LeGrand, 22, of Brooklyn, says this was her sixth strike since 2012. She has worked as a cashier at Kentucky Fried Chicken for three years in Park Slope, an affluent neighborhood in Brooklyn. She makes $8 an hour and pays $1,300 a month for her apartment. She says fast food workers all over are struggling to survive. "We live in New York City--a multi-billion dollar city," she said. "These corporations are taking everything from us. They are making all this money. It's only right that we (workers) come together."

Dijon Thornton, 22, a cashier, has worked at a Wendy's in Harlem for the last year and a half. On Thursday morning, he walked out of work as the store was readying to serve breakfast. For him, the decision was about asking for respect, in the form of better pay. He says that paying him $8 an hour is like "spitting in my face."

The strike's organizer says that the fast-food giants have the money to pay reasonable wages. "At the end of the day, there is more than enough money to pay these workers $15 an hour," says Kendall Fells, the 34-year-old organizer of Fast Food Forward, who marched with protesters in New York on Thursday. Two-thirds of the the workers are women -- and most of them have children, he says. "They're just trying to support their families and makes ends meet."

 

[davethevol]

I can certainly see both sides of the argument. Companies do suppress wages, but most of these people are low skilled workers. If the girl from the article can afford a $1300 apartment, she's either making more than $8.00 an hour or she's getting government benefits.

 

[lawgator1]

I get that you can point to many examples of labor union management abusing their power or engaging in nefarious tactics, but what is wrong in principle with these workers joining forces so that they collectively have enough power to negotiate better wages? By themselves, they have zero power. As a group, they can try to do better.

Are you claiming that they should not make a living wage because they are fast food workers? Look at their ages -- both of the quoted workers are 22 years old. I have friends who ended up going to and graduating from Harvard that worked at Burger King beforehand, so let's not jump to conclusions just because they are young and work fast food.

 

[volfanjustin]

I get that you can point to many examples of labor union management abusing their power or engaging in nefarious tactics, but what is wrong in principle with these workers joining forces so that they collectively have enough power to negotiate better wages? By themselves, they have zero power. As a group, they can try to do better.

Are you claiming that they should not make a living wage because they are fast food workers? Look at their ages -- both of the quoted workers are 22 years old. I have friends who ended up going to and graduating from Harvard that worked at Burger King beforehand, so let's not jump to conclusions just because they are young and work fast food.

They have 100% of the power, they can get a higher paying job or move somewhere they can make 8/hr and get the same size apartment (probably larger) for half the price.

 

[BearCat204]

I get that you can point to many examples of labor union management abusing their power or engaging in nefarious tactics, but what is wrong in principle with these workers joining forces so that they collectively have enough power to negotiate better wages? By themselves, they have zero power. As a group, they can try to do better.

Are you claiming that they should not make a living wage because they are fast food workers? Look at their ages -- both of the quoted workers are 22 years old. I have friends who ended up going to and graduating from Harvard that worked at Burger King beforehand, so let's not jump to conclusions just because they are young and work fast food.

Jump to conclusions??? I have zero sympathy for these people, zero. In most of the situations they are complaining that they dont earn enough to support their children, who the **** made that decision? It's all about the push for income equality, which is socialistic IMO. I worked full time and raised a daughter while finishing my undergrad and Masters to put myself in a better position, I have no sympathy for anyone who complains they cant do that themselves. I'm completely ok with their right to organize, but go ahead, there will always be people right behind them in a worse situation who are willing to work for a wage that lines up to their skills and education.

 

[tennvols77]

They have every right to protest, and the franchise owners have every right to fire them for not being at work and replacing them.

 

[davethevol]

I'm completely ok with their right to organize, but go ahead, there will always be people right behind them in a worse situation who are willing to work for a wage that lines up to their skills and education.

Illegal aliens?

 

[lawgator1]

Jump to conclusions??? I have zero sympathy for these people, zero. In most of the situations they are complaining that they dont earn enough to support their children, who the **** made that decision? It's all about the push for income equality, which is socialistic IMO. I worked full time and raised a daughter while finishing my undergrad and Masters to put myself in a better position, I have no sympathy for anyone who complains they cant do that themselves. I'm completely ok with their right to organize, but go ahead, there will always be people right behind them in a worse situation who are willing to work for a wage that lines up to their skills and education.

So if they made a bad decision and had children they shouldn't want to do better? Let the kids starve, go untaken care of or uneducated, and end up on the public dole that you complaint about?

And you recast their complaint about their wages as income inequality and socialism. I think saying you believe that the businesses can afford to pay better is pretty much the American way.

 

[Spartacavolus]

waffle house is hiring managers for 30k. Go over there, or stfu and give me a medium coke in a large cup and just fill it up the rest of the way.

 

[utvolpj]

organize, strike and get fired. There are companies chomping at the bit to get their touchscreen POS systems installed in McD's or BK. Doing that will result in making the companies even more profitable (and reliable). Best of luck with your efforts

 

[davethevol]

So if they made a bad decision and had children they shouldn't want to do better? Let the kids starve, go untaken care of or uneducated, and end up on the public dole that you complaint about?

And you recast their complaint about their wages as income inequality and socialism. I think saying you believe that the businesses can afford to pay better is pretty much the American way.

That's right. They shouldn't be responsible for their actions. In fact, they shouldn't even have to work or raise their kids to collect benefits, free food and free housing. The republicans can suck it!


Am I doing it right?

 

[utvolpj]

So if they made a bad decision and had children they shouldn't want to do better? Let the kids starve, go untaken care of or uneducated, and end up on the public dole that you complaint about?

And you recast their complaint about their wages as income inequality and socialism. I think saying you believe that the businesses can afford to pay better is pretty much the American way.

the desire to do better != claiming you're owed a bigger cut of the company's profits

since when did the American Way become about holding your company hostage for increased wages your skills don't command?

 

[Cyclopskiller]

If you're working for somebody you haven't even met and see them getting $10 every 45 seconds and dealing with public and only getting $8 an hour you might be a lil pissed too.. But hey, they chose that job. Right? Atleast there not selling drugs or there body's.

 

[BearCat204]

So if they made a bad decision and had children they shouldn't want to do better? Let the kids starve, go untaken care of or uneducated, and end up on the public dole that you complaint about?

And you recast their complaint about their wages as income inequality and socialism. I think saying you believe that the businesses can afford to pay better is pretty much the American way.

Shouldn't want to do better??? When did I say that? Of course they should want to do better, but that doesn't equate to beating your chest because "life isnt fair". These businesses dont have to pay more because there is another worker right around the corner who is willing to work for that wage. Like I said, I have no sympathy because I was in the similar situation under I decided to do something about it. I would be willing to bet money that 90% of these people have cell phones, cable tv, and other things that they deem "necessities". The bottom line is that say they up the minimum wage to $15.00/hr, who do you think is going to eat that cost? Every bit of that cost is going to go to the consumer, which is funny because that consumer includes these workers as well. Soon, the buying power of that $15.00/hr will be that same as that $8 is now, except now you have devalued the dollar..........its basic economics and something these burger flippers seem to lack a grasp of.

 

[W.TN.Orange Blood]

organize, strike and get fired. There are companies chomping at the bit to get their touchscreen POS systems installed in McD's or BK. Doing that will result in making the companies even more profitable (and reliable). Best of luck with your efforts

Yeah, nowdays you can go into a Kroger or a Walmart SuperCenter & check yourself out w/no help at all.

 

[utvolpj]

and if anyone believes this is a grassroots movement designed to help those poor min wage fast food workers they are an idiot. This is a move by organized labor to increase wages across the board which in turn increases their bank account

 

[bamawriter]

So if they made a bad decision and had children they shouldn't want to do better? Let the kids starve, go untaken care of or uneducated, and end up on the public dole that you complaint about?

These striking workers aren't trying to "do better". They are trying to get paid better for doing the same thing. If they were willing and able to "do better", they'd get a better paying job doing more than punching buttons with pictures on them.

 

[BeecherVol]

These striking workers aren't trying to "do better". They are trying to get paid better for doing the same thing. If they were willing and able to "do better", they'd get a better paying job doing more than punching buttons with pictures on them.

Exactly.

Doing better would involve leaving MCDs for a nicer establishment or leaving that industry altogether.

 

[lawgator1]

Exactly.

Doing better would involve leaving MCDs for a nicer establishment or leaving that industry altogether.

And if they either cannot geographically do that, or are unqualified at 22 years old for other things, they are obligated to be homeless?

You people are cruel. Hope they get a raise.

 

[utvolpj]

And if they either cannot geographically do that, or are unqualified at 22 years old for other things, they are obligated to be homeless?

You people are cruel. Hope they get a raise.

you claim they're unqualified for a better paying job at 22yo yet you hope they get a raise. Do you hand out raises to your employees simply because they show up daily and ignore the impact of their contributions to the company?

hoping a worker gets their wages doubled for doing absolutely nothing extra is absurd

 

[BearCat204]

And if they either cannot geographically do that, or are unqualified at 22 years old for other things, they are obligated to be homeless?

You people are cruel. Hope they get a raise.

Cannot geographically do that?? Rent a ****ing Uhaul and move to Mississippi where they arent paying 1300 a month in rent.....Jesus, so many ****ing excuses. Also being unqualified is a problem that isnt my problem and one that all of us have had at one time. Are you suggesting we all came out of high school qualified to work on rockets or something? If you think that we are cruel, why dont you march your happy ass down to your local McDonalds and hire these people at 15.00/hr to work at your office..............oh thats right, you wont because they arent qualified to do that, only qualified to fill a 16oz cup for $15.00/hr. Ridiculous

 

[tumscalcium]

Doubled wages will come with significantly higher prices. Much fewer people will pay ridiculous prices for fast food. They're shooting themselves in the foot. Everything will increase. They'll still not afford rent until they do something worth a crap.

 

[bamawriter]

And if they either cannot geographically do that, or are unqualified at 22 years old for other things, they are obligated to be homeless?

You people are cruel. Hope they get a raise.

What qualifications does it take to find a gig that pays more than 8 bucks an hour?

If I'm cruel for not expecting someone to get paid 15 bucks an hour simply because he is capable of breathing and walking, then I'm perfectly okay with being cruel.

 

[utvolpj]

on June 1 every worker in the US should have their wages doubled. There would be no ill effects and everyone would instantly be doing better in life. Right?

 

[VolsSportsFan]

And if they either cannot geographically do that, or are unqualified at 22 years old for other things, they are obligated to be homeless?

You people are cruel. Hope they get a raise.

I hate to break it to you, but moving is an option. If you're going to try to live in one of the most expensive cities in the US on minimum wage, and you're not going to get more than a minimum wage job, then you need to consider moving to an area that you can sustain on a minimum wage. Or get a second job.

There's nothing "cruel" about this, it's called life.