Fast Food Workers

You're out there protesting today for respect, the right to organize, and fifteen dollars an hour.  I agree you should have two of the three.  The other one will hurt you, as well as those on fixed incomes.  As you read this keep in mind that I also worked in the fast food industry for several years.

Because of my experience in fast food I know workers don't get much respect.  Much of the general public think fast food workers are dumb.  Fast food workers are looked upon as the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to jobs. If a person is out there doing a job they should be givin respect no matter what the jom happens to be.

If fast food workers want to organize go ahead.  If you can find enough people who have worked the job long enough to be concerned about organizing gather them up and go for it.  If you want to take union dues out of your pay check along with federal taxes, State taxes, Social Security, and Medicare, go ahead; just make it an open shop.  With the high turnover in fast food workers are there really enough people to see this one through?

Also because I worked fast food, I know the skills needed to work a fast food job don't warrant fifteen dollars an hour.  Computers in the cash registers add order amounts and tell how much change to give back.  No basic math skills required.  The little bit of food preparation is nothing more complicatated than what you do at home.  Workers may have to add milk or water to biscuit biscuit mix, bread chicken, or make salads.  Cooked foods are times so there's no guess work.  Just put the food in, hit the timer, remove the food when the timer goes off.  No rocket science here.  Burger King's burgers and buns are even simpler, just place the raw hamburger patties or untoasted buns on their respective conveyer belts and they come out the other end cooked and toasted.  Yes you work hard, especially at lunch and dinner rush.  Yes cleaning is a pain, and yes your pay is low to start.  After working at Hardee's for a few months I was given a raise; after a few more months another raise, and so on.  After I had more experience I was able to get a job at Olive Garden which pays significantly more than Hardee's.  I didn't stay at Burger King long enough o get a raise.

Fifteen dollars an hour is out of line for basic fast food work is many ways.

1. The first two reasons are a bit self serving but it's my blog.  Who is going to pay my inexperienced teenaged daughter fifteen dollars an hour when they can hire an experienced worker who will be, by virtue of experience, more productive than a newbie. Teenagers aren't the only group in jeopardy of fewer employment chances.  The disabled have enough trouble finding jobs as it is.  Employers don't want to take a chance on us.  If they have to pay fifteen dollars an hour for fast food positions they will definitely look past the disabled. 
2. Companies will pass the cost of doing business on to their customers.  How much will menu items rise if the newest crew member is getting fifteen dollars and hour?  With fast food wages doubled, how many people on fixed incomes will stop patronizing these businesses?  How many coupons will be made available to the general puplic after these increased labor costs?  
3. Companies will do all they can to maintain their bottom line.  If wages double the easiest way to maintain the bottom line is to cut staff by half.  If you're in the half let go that old wage starts looking better. 
4. Back to lack of respect.  As mentioned earlier the perception of fast food workers isn't all that positive.  Now if fast food workers get fifteen dollars and hour all other workers will want more for what they do.  They aren't going to sit by as fast food workers make more than they do when they think they deserve more.  And if they have a skill they do deserve more.
5. My friend and neighbor is an EXPERIENCED and CERTIFIED forklift operator.  She recently got a job that pays less than fifteen dollars an hour.  She immediately started looking for another position.  Her last offer was for the graveyard shift paying just over minimum wage.  So if she can't get fifteen dollars and hours a fast food worker doesn't deserve that much.  My sister is another example; she is a highly educated lady.  Her salary from her recent case management job doesn't equal fifteen dollars an hour.  If a position that requires a Masters Degree doesn't command fifteen dollars an hour then fast food definitely doesn't. 

Basic fast food jobs are meant to be stepping stones; too bad they have become a career for so many people.  The industry and consumers shouldn't be made to pay for your thwarted desires.    The skill level commands low wages.  If you are able bodied stop whining about low fast food wages and do something about it.  Why not work to become manager and work your way up the ladder?  Learn a skill so you can earn more than minimum wage.  Stop getting stuck in low wage positions because of parenthood at too young of an age.  If you can't live on your pay, cut back on designer clothes, smartphones, and fancy accessories.  How about working two fast food jobs?  I got tired of working seven days at week at three jobs so I got married. 

A soundbite of a lady who works at Churches is being played on the news today because of the fast food walk out.  She says she would like a nice home and car.  She shouldn't have to take the bus to work.  They didn't delve into her circumstances: education, if she has children and her age when the first one was born, cellphone plan, other part time jobs, etc.  So she wants to add the stress of wondering if she will keep the job she has if fast food workers are paid fifteen dollars an hour. 

To me the disabled are of more concern that these able bodied whiners.  There are people with disabilities out there who can't do as well, forget better, than fast food.  The few employers who take a chance on a disable worker find they have hired a good worker who is hard working and dependable.  It's a shame more employers don't take that chance now.  They won't when or if they have to pay fifteen dollars an hour to find out disabled workers are good workers.