Fast-Food Workers in NYC Stage Strikes, Rallies

[Politically_Incorrect12]

Workers at McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's restaurants across New York walked out Monday in a one-day strike to demand better pay and the right to unionize, calling for minimum wage to more than double from $7.25 to $15 an hour and the end to what activists called "abusive labor practices."

"It's noisy, it's really hot, fast, they rush you. Sometimes you don't even get breaks. All for $7.25? It's crazy," said Nathalia Sepulveda, who works at a McDonald's opposite Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, where one protest took place.

Outside the McDonald's as well as a Wendy's in lower Manhattan, workers chanted "we can't survive on $7.25" and "supersize our wages." At the Wendy's, the crowd shouted at customers not to go in and two police officers were stationed inside.

They were among hundreds of people who took part at locations throughout New York, activists said. Similar strikes were planned across the country this week, organized by the national Fast Food Forward campaign, which was launched last year to tackle stagnating wages and the proliferation of low-wage jobs as the nation recovers from the recession, said campaign director Jonathan Westin.
"The workers' actions will lift up all of New York City," he said. "If they have more money in their pockets, they'll spend it right here, helping to boost the entire economy."

Doubling the minimum wage would have a "significant effect on the private sector's ability to create jobs, especially those typically filled by first-time workers and teens," said Scott DeFife of the National Restaurant Association. McDonald's had directed requests for comment to the trade group.

Spokesmen for Burger King and Wendy's both said they respect the rights of their workers.

"We're proud that Wendy's provides a place where thousands of people with different backgrounds and education levels can enter the workforce," said Wendy's spokesman Bob Bertini.

Glenda Soto, 35, a single mother supporting four children said that though she works full-time and often puts in 13-hour days at the Bronx McDonald's, money is a constant headache.

Read more at:  abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/fast-food-workers-nyc-stage-strikes-rallies-19806966

[zibazinski]

Is there a single father in the picture?

[fairlycrazy23]

We are going to see an explosion of automation for fast food like we never have...and say good bye to entry level jobs.

[Angel!]

"The workers' actions will lift up all of New York City," he said. "If they have more money in their pockets, they'll spend it right here, helping to boost the entire economy."

This person is a moron.  You increase wages significantly and prices will rise leaving them with no more buying power than they had before.

Add in the automation aspect and well, they are just idiots.

[whoisjohngalt]

Once again, all about rights and nothing about the other side of it  - responsibilities

Why does everyone think they are underpaid but NO ONE thinks they are under worked?

I've yet to see a demonstrations of people saying that they need more work for the money they are getting

[zdaddy]

Jul 30, 2013 10:01:21 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Once again, all about rights and nothing about the other side of it  - responsibilities

Why does everyone think they are underpaid but NO ONE thinks they are under worked?

I've yet to see a demonstrations of people saying that they need more work for the money they are getting

I think regularly pulling 13-hour days speaks to the question of whether these people are "underworked." While I don't support a jump to $15/hour, $7 in NY also seems criminal to me. Minimum wage here in Seattle is $9, and while nobody's getting rich low wage workers can at least pay their basic bills. And Seattle's income is doing quite well, so the fears of runaway inflation and economic doom for raising wages a couple bucks an hour seem unfounded.

[whoisjohngalt]

I wish I organized accountants' strike when I was still working.  Seems that doubling your salary shouldn't be a big deal.  G-d knows I've done 13 hr days, SURELY I deserved a huge raise.

[Sum Dum Gai]

So, here's my question, the workers walk out and stage their strike.  Cool.  Free country, they have a right to organize, and all that stuff.  Can the business legally fire them and hire new workers?  Whether you agree with their argument about needing more money or not, you have to admit that they just purposely skipped work and cost their employer money.  Normally you get fired for doing things like that.  Why should striking workers get special protections? 

[EVT1]

Maybe the government should quit subsidizing low wages and fix the minimum wage for good.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Jul 30, 2013 8:56:58 GMT -5 fairlycrazy23 said:

We are going to see an explosion of automation for fast food like we never have...and say good bye to entry level jobs.

Didn't I post something about an automated fast food restaurant here somewhere?

[jkapp]

Jul 30, 2013 17:54:28 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

Maybe the government should quit subsidizing low wages and fix the minimum wage for good.

Deal...raise the minimum wage and cut ALL welfare programs, including SNAP, Section 8, and EIC. 

[Angel!]

Jul 31, 2013 10:24:09 GMT -5 jkapp said:

Jul 30, 2013 17:54:28 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

Maybe the government should quit subsidizing low wages and fix the minimum wage for good.

Deal...raise the minimum wage and cut ALL welfare programs, including SNAP, Section 8, and EIC. 

Well that has disaster written all over it for so many reasons.

I don't see that significantly adjusting the minimum would do anything but cause inflation and reduce jobs.

[EVT1]

Jul 31, 2013 10:24:09 GMT -5 jkapp said:

Jul 30, 2013 17:54:28 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

Maybe the government should quit subsidizing low wages and fix the minimum wage for good.

Deal...raise the minimum wage and cut ALL welfare programs, including SNAP, Section 8, and EIC. 

That's the idea. Not just cut- but eliminate the programs. 

[Deleted]

well if they get paid a "living wage" as some here like to call it, they wont need any of those other programs....right?

[Virgil Showlion]

I wonder if these people realize that the tech companies of the world are just waiting--with bated breath--for minimum wage to rise above $9.25 so that the cost/benefit of fast fooderies buying the Flip-omatic 2000 Robotic Burger Preparation System finally slides into "cost-effective" territory.

[Opti]

"The workers' actions will lift up all of New York City," he said. "If they have more money in their pockets, they'll spend it right here, helping to boost the entire economy."


This person is a moron. You increase wages significantly and prices will rise leaving them with no more buying power than they had before.

Add in the automation aspect and well, they are just idiots.


I don't think we are at the point that fast food restaurants are going to be fully automated.

Fast food workers in North Dakota are already earning $15/hr. Of course its not enough because
rents are really high because the top end payscale has bumped living costs for everyone. What
is rarely discussed here is that upping the top of the payscale also causes inflation of living expenses.
That's why where there are groups of highly paid individuals the cost for everyone is high.
Yes raising the minimum wage will have an effect on raising costs. So does a concentration or raising
pay of the top end effect real estate costs etc. I agree $15 is too much especially for places with
low cost of living, but higher seems valid for places like NYC.

[EVT1]

Jul 31, 2013 13:48:06 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

I wonder if these people realize that the tech companies of the world are just waiting--with bated breath--for minimum wage to rise above $9.25 so that the cost/benefit of fast fooderies buying the Flip-omatic 2000 Robotic Burger Preparation System finally slides into "cost-effective" territory.

Personally- if I am going to eat fast food I would rather have a robot prepare it.  I worked a few of these Mcjobs when I was in school and you do not want to know what I know. 

[Virgil Showlion]

Jul 31, 2013 15:58:50 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

Jul 31, 2013 13:48:06 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

I wonder if these people realize that the tech companies of the world are just waiting--with bated breath--for minimum wage to rise above $9.25 so that the cost/benefit of fast fooderies buying the Flip-omatic 2000 Robotic Burger Preparation System finally slides into "cost-effective" territory.

Personally- if I am going to eat fast food I would rather have a robot prepare it.  I worked a few of these Mcjobs when I was in school and you do not want to know what I know. 

As long as what I don't know can't hurt me.

I'd rather have flesh-and-blood human beings preparing my food, but at some point they have to realize that the work they do is only worth a certain hourly wage. If wages are artificially forced up to a point where unskilled employees aren't able to compete with automated production lines, companies will turn to the production lines. McDonalds is in the business of making money, not of giving people jobs.

To a degree I believe corporate ethics (DJ, you can stop rolling your eyes ) and public pressure will force the McJob providers to rely on human labour. Robotics isn't going places so quickly that a fully-automated burger plant is going to be a reality any time soon, and maintaining/operating a burger-making robot will probably end up costing at least $5.00/hr. anyway. No company in its right mind is going to make the switch over a disparity of a few dollars an hour. But the larger that margin gets, the more willing they'll be to start replacing people with machines.

[workpublic]

let's put it into perspective, skilled IT workers in Westchester county NY one of, if not the highest COL areas are getting paid $11 - $17 an hour.  desktop support in manhatten is offering $17 - $19 an hour. corporate new hires make less than $17 an hour.

fast food workers want $15?

puleeze.

[fairlycrazy23]

angel.co/momentum-machines

[fairlycrazy23]

The first casualty will be the order and money takers.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Jul 30, 2013 9:55:06 GMT -5 Angel! said:

"The workers' actions will lift up all of New York City," he said. "If they have more money in their pockets, they'll spend it right here, helping to boost the entire economy."

This person is a moron.  You increase wages significantly and prices will rise leaving them with no more buying power than they had before.

Add in the automation aspect and well, they are just idiots.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Aug 1, 2013 12:36:49 GMT -5 fairlycrazy23 said:

The first casualty will be the order and money takers.

I have wondered for a long time why restaurants have servers taking orders?  They just end up tippy tapping it into a touchscreen in the back.  Why not have a touchscreen at the table, or an interactive menu app and WiFi? Yes, you'd need servers for alcohol, and to deliver the food-- but even that could be interactive and electronic ordering.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Jul 31, 2013 10:24:09 GMT -5 jkapp said:

Jul 30, 2013 17:54:28 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

Maybe the government should quit subsidizing low wages and fix the minimum wage for good.

Deal...raise the minimum wage and cut ALL welfare programs, including SNAP, Section 8, and EIC. 

AND CUT TAXES accordingly.

[Sum Dum Gai]

let's put it into perspective, skilled IT workers in Westchester county NY one of, if not the highest COL areas are getting paid $11 - $17 an hour. desktop support in manhatten is offering $17 - $19 an hour.

Umm... I think you meant unskilled IT workers.  Desktop support and call center is the bottom of the pyramid in that profession.  Those aren't mid career jobs, and aren't meant to raise a family on either.  They're the foot in the door crap jobs that brand new graduates get.

[Angel!]

Aug 1, 2013 13:03:27 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

Aug 1, 2013 12:36:49 GMT -5 fairlycrazy23 said:

The first casualty will be the order and money takers.

I have wondered for a long time why restaurants have servers taking orders?  They just end up tippy tapping it into a touchscreen in the back.  Why not have a touchscreen at the table, or an interactive menu app and WiFi? Yes, you'd need servers for alcohol, and to deliver the food-- but even that could be interactive and electronic ordering.

My guess is they are worried the public isn't ready.  You get someone like my Mom and she wouldn't go into a restaurant where she has to enter her own order.  It took her well over a decade to try a self checkout at a store.

[workpublic]

Umm... I think you meant unskilled IT workers. Desktop support and call center is the bottom of the pyramid in that profession. Those aren't mid career jobs, and aren't meant to raise a family on either. They're the foot in the door crap jobs that brand new graduates get.

imho, you have no idea what you are talking about in this case. or you don't know what desktop support reps have to do. it's not reading from scripts and rebooting computers. it's hands on hardware and software support. you need to be able to think to do those jobs. the frauds are the managers who couldn't fix an issue if their life depended on it. is that what you do?

i was just at a 10 year anniversary party at the corp I'm contracting at. it was for level II desktop support workers. they are making a living at it because they were hired as employees in the time before the "war on workers".

level II desktop is not a foot in the door job. programming is not a foot in the door job.

also if what you say is true, shouldn't they make more than fast food workers? you need at least an associates degree and most time certifications to get these jobs.

plus my point was that these days there are a lot of "real" jobs that are being contracted or just paying very low that require professionalism, knowledge, integrity that make burger flippers demanding $15 an a joke.

[zdaddy]

Aug 2, 2013 9:21:21 GMT -5 workpublic said:

Umm... I think you meant unskilled IT workers. Desktop support and call center is the bottom of the pyramid in that profession. Those aren't mid career jobs, and aren't meant to raise a family on either. They're the foot in the door crap jobs that brand new graduates get.

imho, you have no idea what you are talking about in this case. or you don't know what desktop support reps have to do. it's not reading from scripts and rebooting computers. it's hands on hardware and software support. you need to be able to think to do those jobs. the frauds are the managers who couldn't fix an issue if their life depended on it. is that what you do?

i was just at a 10 year anniversary party at the corp I'm contracting at. it was for level II desktop support workers. they are making a living at it because they were hired as employees in the time before the "war on workers".

level II desktop is not a foot in the door job. programming is not a foot in the door job.

also if what you say is true, shouldn't they make more than fast food workers? you need at least an associates degree and most time certifications to get these jobs.

plus my point was that these days there are a lot of "real" jobs that are being contracted or just paying very low that require professionalism, knowledge, integrity that make burger flippers demanding $15 an a joke.

Overall I think Americans are way underpaid considering the huge gains in productivity we've seen over the past couple decades, and the fact that we're seeing record corporate profits. I don't see it as being a bad thing if everyone's pay went up a few dollars an hour. Granted, I'm not saying fast food wages should double, only that $7.25 is way too low for people living in NYC.

[workpublic]

imho the bottom line is that there are too many workers and not enough jobs. so we will continue to see former middle class workers working at shoprite, home depot, walmart, mickey D, etc.

low wages have less to do with skill sets these days.

[Deleted]

In the unskilled job market, the wages fall as the unemployment rate goes up.