Today, fast-food workers in about 150 cities nationwide organized a sit-in civil disobedience to protest their current minimum wage pay, about $7.50 an hour. Their demands were for their wage to be raised to a minimum of $15 an hour. Workers in these low pay, fast food jobs find it hard to make ends meet and support a family on a pay of $7.50 and hour. This one day sit-in is now the seventh one-day strike protested by fast food workers. After fast-food strikes began in 2012, pressure on fast-food chains to raise the minimum wage floor to $15 an hour has been increased. The fast-food workers were joined, in their organized civil disobedience, by many health care workers and janitors who also have hopes of their minimum wage being raised to $15.
Though the strike has received support for many non-fast food workers, there are also many who are critical of the strike. Rob Green, the executive director of the National Council of Chain Restaurants, was quoted saying that the civil disobedience is not only irresponsible, but disturbing and illegal for the works to to choreograph the sit-ins, calling it trespassing. The company of McDonald's stated this morning, that they, "support paying our valued employees fair wages aligned with a competitive marketplace...We believe that any minimum-wage increase should be implemented over time so that the impact on owners of small and medium-sized businesses — like the ones who own and operate the majority of our restaurants — is manageable.”
Such a factual and logical statement to be made in this situation. It is important for workers to know and understand the reasoning behind their level of pay. $7.50 an hour is what the economy has worked out to be fair for the skills required by these jobs. If wages were to double over night, like what the workers are demanding, the businesses would have to greatly increase their menu prices, creating frustration among their consumers, who, in turn would cut back on their consumption of the more expensive products. This decrease in sales creates a decline in profits. If the minimum wage floor were to be raised, a decline in profits would mean that employers have to decrease their labor force by double to be able to keep up with payroll, which then increases unemployment.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/05/business/economy/fast-food-workers-seeking-higher-wages-are-arrested-during-sit-ins.html?_r=0
The logic behind an 100% increase in wages for fast-workers is absurd. Not only does that hurt these fast food companies but it also hurts the consumer. The concept for fast food is based of quickly prepared or already prepared food at a relatively low price. This pay hike would defeat the purpose as stated early cause shockwaves through the industry that would be detrimental to all.
ReplyDeleteFast food restaurants are already in a sort of dilemma with the recent health awareness campaigns. With these campaigns a number of restaurants have tried to either provide healthier options or improve the quality of their products. This costs money. A pay hike of 100% costs even more money and its effects do not justify it. I agree with the idea of wages being raised gradually over time relative to the market and the success of these businesses, but I will say it again, a wage raise of that magnitude is ridiculous.
It makes sense when put in perspective that the company of McDonalds put it in. However, there's always two sizes to an argument lol For example workers don't care what the economy said to be fair for those skills. & who exactly is the "economy" in this sense? Is it your average citizen(doubt it)? Is it other CEO's and companies using a form of ruling ideology (probably)? lol
ReplyDeleteIf restaurants were to double their minimum wage overnight, they may not be able to keep all their employees. Also, the raise in the minimum wage would have other consequences. Food prices would increase, thus resulting in a decline in demand for the foods. On one hand I can understand why these employees want a higher wage, because they are struggling to makes ends meet. On the other hand, the work they are doing is fairly basic and does not take a lot of skill. These workers are replaceable, and sometimes uneducated. A smaller increase in minimum wage to maybe $9-10 would be more reasonable, but even then it would be unlikely to happen anytime soon. A strike by chain restaurant employees could show how serious they are about the issue.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that wages should be doubled for fast food workers. This wage increase would decrease the amount of workers fast food chains would be able to hire, which would hurt their productivitly. Also the price of the product they sell would have to be raised, with this, fast food chains would lose their "fast and cheap" reputations which would decrease the amount of customers who will buy their product. If the workers want a raise, try and go little by little, try a dollar raise and work your way up, don't try and double your wages. I believe it would only have a negative effect on fast food chains if they doubled their employees wages.
ReplyDeleteOf course I agree it is ridiculous economically to raise minimum wage by that much that quickly, with all of the reasons previously given. But it is difficult to not have sympathy for the workers. The number of working poor in America is heartbreaking. Perhaps the workers could consider asking employers for things that would more reasonably improve their standard of living, such as flexible hours to attend community college or trade school. This isn't possible for every worker, but becoming a skilled worker could greatly improve wages, job security, etc.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do agree that minimum wage should be raised, I do think that it has to be a slow and gradual process. I do feel for the workers who are being paid minimum wage, and I do believe that their income is not enough to support themselves, let alone a whole family, but suddenly doubling the minimum wage is going to hurt than it will benefit. It has to be a process that will take several years.
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