McDonalds Workers in New York Striking

[eliza61]

Maybe? Or they could just hire some unskilled labourers to replace them.

sounds like you've never owned a business. replacing workers cost money even unskilled workers.

Now fast food joints have very high turnovers because they mainly get students but they also get a high percentage of horrible employees. kids that call out at a drop of a dime, kids that have horrible customer service skills.

Many employees have found out the hard way that some times paying more and treating your employees with respect keeps the good ones and lowers turnover.

Case in point: we use to have a horrible problem with our janitorial services. all unskilled contract workers. did a horrible job, stole from the company. when we took control of the hiring, paid them a higher salary, gave them a few benefits like earned vacation days and flex time. Viola, turnover dropped, no more complaints about the quality of cleaning and office thefts are a thing of the past.


I really can't understand this fully American mindset of because you are unskilled it's perfectly ok to treat you like dirt?

 

[eliza61]

I'm not sure that one should be one of your options if you don't want to deal with what John Q Public hands to you

LOL. you may have a point. unless of course I could use the pole for a weapon.

Boy o boy, working at Macys 34st during Christmas was all it took to make me take my studies seriously.

Even Disney. I saw this women almost reduce a poor cm to tears because she couldn't get into TTS. evidently she did not know about adr's and had been to all the restaurants in MK only to be told no walk ups. Called her a fat (*&, asked her the ole "do you know how much money I spent on this vacation" called her some thing to the effect of an illegal alien. Manager finally came out to relieve the poor women. I wanted to give her a serious tip, for simply not slapping girlfriend onto the monorail.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

I don't think anyone expects a 100 percent raise , I think it's a starting point for a negotiation. You can't live on minimum wage in NYC. While I have no dog in the fight, I do not begrudge anyone who's willing to stand together to better themselves. Good for them for trying. And what do they really have to lose? A minimum wage job, there are others. They have nothing to lose. Heck, Burger King in my area pays 10 an hour and its much cheaper to live here than NYC. You pay more for a value meal in NYC, why should the workers still make the same as elsewhere? I think anyone working full time should at least be able to house themselves. Otherwise there is no incentive to get off welfare. If we keep letting companies increase profits a the expense of workers, we ultimately foot the bill.

 

[carrie1626]

The selection of potential hires is going to be different everywhere.
EX: Urban big city, to small town to driving miles to an interstate or highway.

When I was in HS ( many years ago) it was cool to have a job at McD's. That's certainly not the feeling where I live (urban). The HS and young College age kids would rather work at Starbucks, Panera, or retail like American Eagle, Banana Republic and Hollister.

The closest McD's to me has a very adult aged staff in the morning and afternoon.

I wouldn't be surprised from a business perpective, that McD's would have to pay a certain starting wage just to get applicants. It probably varies across the US.

 

[luvmy3]

I don't think anyone expects a 100 percent raise , I think it's a starting point for a negotiation. You can't live on minimum wage in NYC. While I have no dog in the fight, I do not begrudge anyone who's willing to stand together to better themselves. Good for them for trying. And what do they really have to lose? A minimum wage job, there are others. They have nothing to lose. Heck, Burger King in my area pays 10 an hour and its much cheaper to live here than NYC. You pay more for a value meal in NYC, why should the workers still make the same as elsewhere? I think anyone working full time should at least be able to house themselves. Otherwise there is no incentive to get off welfare. If we keep letting companies increase profits a the expense of workers, we ultimately foot the bill.

But that is the thing, McDonalds and other minimum wage jobs are not meant as a means to house yourself. They are meant as a stepping stone to more lucrative careers, whether or not that is within the same company, or working while in school etc.
Also, everyone is talking about how these employees should be paid based on the COL in NY, but did anyone take into account the cost of running a business in NYC? 80% of McDs are franchises.

 

[ladypage]

Heard on the news this morning that McDonalds workers in New York City are striking. They make minimum wage (not sure of the exact amount, but it's over $7/hour) and what do they want? Double that!!

Seriously? Good grief!

I can understand a small yearly raise, but to double it? Ridiculous. If they want more money, go to college, learn a skill and get a better paying job.

I rarely support anyone on strike, and sure don't support this one at all.

Bolding mine.


Okay, seriously? A lot of people who work at McDonald's ARE going to school while they work. Even if they aren't who are you to judge them for working there? Minimum wage in NYC will barely cover rent, and that's even if you are lucky. I lived there for a short period of time and had to come home because even working two full time fast food jobs wouldn't have been enough to really make ends meat. Now consider that a lot of the people can't just leave NYC to go home, because the city IS their home. What do they do then?

Having worked at Mickey D's, I ca tell you that it's not always easy. Sure, it doesn't require a whole lot of skill, but it does require a thick skin (working with the public and people like you in particular that insult them) and hard work. These aren't just teenagers who need a little extra cash working there, but mothers and fathers too. How do you expect them to pay for a college degree if they can barely put food on the table?

Instead of looking down on people who are WORKING to make a living, why don't you look at the whole situation? I'm not saying that they should automatically get their pay doubled, but it should be up to negotiation. It looks other fast food workers are making more than that:

Currently, the median pay for the nearly 50,000 fast food workers in New York City is $9 an hour

The Huffington Post article said $8.90, so let's just assume it's somewhere around there. That's almost $2 more an hour, which for a lot of people would make a bug difference. And also consider that (in my experience) most people aren't pulling full time hours as that would mean they would be eligible for full time benefits. So just imagine pulling in $200-$300 a week (minus taxes of course), paying for health insurance, maybe school supplies, food, and rent. Could you do it, or would you try to get a raise if at all possible?

 

[dakcp2001]

More power to them! I hope it works out how they wish. If not, they can find another entry level job.

 

[dakcp2001]

But that is the thing, McDonalds and other minimum wage jobs are not meant as a means to house yourself. They are meant as a stepping stone to more lucrative careers, whether or not that is within the same company, or working while in school etc.
Also, everyone is talking about how these employees should be paid based on the COL in NY, but did anyone take into account the cost of running a business in NYC? 80% of McDs are franchises.

Meant by whom?

 

[TinkerBelled]

I am really taken aback at some of the responses. These are people who work at a thankless and ill-paying job. And while the job isn't complicated, it doesn't mean it's easy. I've known plenty of people who worked 10-hour shifts at jobs like these, and it's exhausting, occasionally tedious, and frequently unpleasant. And yet, people do it, because they need to make ends meet. I think that looking down at workers is appalling. Whether or not you think they should be able to strike, and whether or not you think they make a decent wage, sneering at them for the kind of work they do is pretty breathtaking.

 

[dakcp2001]

I am really taken aback at some of the responses. These are people who work at a thankless and ill-paying job. And while the job isn't complicated, it doesn't mean it's easy. I've known plenty of people who worked 10-hour shifts at jobs like these, and it's exhausting, occasionally tedious, and frequently unpleasant. And yet, people do it, because they need to make ends meet. I think that looking down at workers is appalling. Whether or not you think they should be able to strike, and whether or not you think they make a decent wage, sneering at them for the kind of work they do is pretty breathtaking.

 

[luvmy3]

Meant by whom?

Minimum wage was not created to make sure people could afford their rent in NYC, it was created to ensure employees received fair pay for the work they provided.

 

[dakcp2001]

Minimum wage was not created to make sure people could afford their rent in NYC, it was created to ensure employees received fair pay for the work they provided.

Poverty level doesn't seem fair to me.

 

[Planogirl]

Working with the public is extremely hard IMO. In fact this is probably one of the hardest types of jobs to have.

 

[luvmy3]

Poverty level doesn't seem fair to me.

You are right, we should all be paid exactly the same so that nobody is poor, middle class or rich. McD's cashiers should be paid the same as teachers and CEOs and doctors.

 

[dakcp2001]

You are right, we should all be paid exactly the same so that nobody is poor, middle class or rich. McD's cashiers should be paid the same as teachers and CEOs and doctors.

You said that, not me. That isn't what I said at all. But you look down on fast food workers, while I respect all working people.

 

[Rafiki31]

I think cost of living should make a difference in minimum wage. 7.25 an hour might be enough to rent a place in Mississippi,but not even lose where I live in New England. But that's why McDonalds can't get help in my area. They are always hiring because most places here, even fast food and retail, pay more than the minimum wage.

 

[luvmy3]

You said that, not me. That isn't what I said at all. But you look down on fast food workers, while I respect all working people.

I see so in your mind stating that minimum wage jobs are not meant to "support" a person but to be a stepping stone to a better job or career, I'm looking down on ff workers? Because I stated why minimum wage was created I'm looking down on ff workers?
Um, okay then, clearly you don't have a clue so any further discussion with you isn't worth it. Have a nice night.

Oh and BTW, I started my retail career making minimum wage in a ff restaurant. I worked my *** off for what seemed like pennies, and no way was I able to house myself doing it. After a few years I worked my way up to a management position and was able to afford to support myself by making enough to pay rent and other bills. That is how it works with minimum wage jobs. So, please go bait someone else with your "I don't think poverty is fair line" because I'm not talking about poverty, I'm talking about what minimum wage is and what those jobs typically are.

 

[Southernmiss]

I think cost of living should make a difference in minimum wage. 7.25 an hour might be enough to rent a place in Mississippi,but not even lose where I live in New England. But that's why McDonalds can't get help in my area. They are always hiring because most places here, even fast food and retail, pay more than the minimum wage.

Minimum wage doesn't get you a lot in my area of Mississippi either, but I guess it's not meant to anyway.


Even DS19 knows the jobs that pay a bit more than minimum wage and would seek those out before fast food.

He's being hired back to his summer job of 3 years, but was willing to leave that minimum wage job (and go to retail, where he's also worked) until he learned this week he's getting a promotion and raise this summer.

 

[dakcp2001]

I see so in your mind stating that minimum wage jobs are not meant to "support" a person but to be a stepping stone to a better job or career, I'm looking down on ff workers? Because I stated why minimum wage was created I'm looking down on ff workers?
Um, okay then, clearly you don't have a clue so any further discussion with you isn't worth it. Have a nice night.

Oh and BTW, I started my retail career making minimum wage in a ff restaurant. I worked my *** off for what seemed like pennies, and no way was I able to house myself doing it. After a few years I worked my way up to a management position and was able to afford to support myself by making enough to pay rent and other bills. That is how it works with minimum wage jobs. So, please go bait someone else with your "I don't think poverty is fair line" because I'm not talking about poverty, I'm talking about what minimum wage is and what those jobs typically are.

You see in my mind? That's reaching. I was referring to your comment about making fancy coffee drinks.

 

[luvmy3]

You see in my mind? That's reaching. I was referring to your comment about making fancy coffee drinks.

Well I do see humor is lost on you.