Black Money Business Jobs : McDonald’s Should Share Billions in Profits With Fast Food Workers: Labor Organizer

In the Spirit of Sankofa,



McDonald’s Should Share Billions in Profits With Fast Food Workers: Labor Organizer

When 250,000 people marched on the National Mall 50 years ago they demanded among other things a hike in the minimum wage from $1.25 to $2 an hour. Today thousands of fast food workers are holding a one-day strike in cities across the country, demanding a wage of $15 an hour. That's equivalent to the $2 an hour protestors called for in 1963, after adjusting for inflation.
Protestors also want the right to form a union without intimidation or retaliation from their employer.
Related: 50 Years After March on Washington Many Americans Are Still Falling Behind: Urban League President

It's also low-wage jobs that are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. job market, accounting for about 70% of new jobs created in the second quarter, says Dan Alpert, managing partner at Westwood Capital. Ahead, he sees "a hard row to hoe" for labor organizers and fast food workers because there are so few other jobs available and so many people are looking for work.
Watch the video above to learn why some fast food workers are willing to battle those odds for higher pay.

suggested reading:
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/dail...rofits-fast-food-workers-labor-134659802.html

 

In the Spirit of Sankofa,




Protesting fast food workers fill a McDonald's restaurant on New York's Fifth Avenue, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013. Organizers say thousands of fast-food workers are set to stage walkouts in dozens of cities around the country Thursday, part of a push to get chains such as McDonald's, Taco Bell and Wendy's to pay workers higher wages. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Fast-food workers stage largest protests yet

In largest protests yet, fast-food workers seeking higher wages walk off job across US

By Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | Associated Press – 45 minutes ago

NEW YORK (AP) -- Fast-food workers and their supporters beat drums, blew whistles and chanted slogans Thursday on picket lines in dozens of U.S. cities, marking the largest protests yet in their quest for higher wages.
The nationwide day of demonstrations came after similar actions organized by unions and community groups over the past several months. Workers are calling for the right to unionize without interference from employers and for pay of $15 an hour. That's more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, or $15,000 a year for full-time employees.
Thursday's walkouts and protests reached about 60 cities, including New York, Chicago and Detroit, organizers said. But the turnout varied significantly. Some targeted restaurants were temporarily unable to do business because they had too few employees, and others seemingly operated normally.

suggested reading:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/fast-food-workers-stage-largest-190011288.html

 

In the Spirit of Business and Employment,



What would a $15/hour wage mean for McDonald’s?


This morning, McDonald’s responded, saying:

“The story promoted by the individuals organizing these events does not provide an accurate picture of what it means to work at McDonald's. We respect the strong relationship which exists among McDonald's, our independent operators, and the employees who work in McDonald's restaurants. Our restaurants remain open, with our dedicated employees providing strong service to our customers.
“McDonald's aims to offer competitive pay and benefits to our employees. We provide training and professional development for all of those who wish to take advantage of those opportunities. Our history is full of examples of individuals who worked their first job with McDonald's and went on to successful careers both within and outside of McDonald's.”


http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/talking-numbers/15-hour-wage-mean-mcdonald-170436977.html​

With 1.8 million employees worldwide, McDonald’s is one of the top employers on the planet behind Wal-Mart, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, and the US Department of Defense. In the United States alone, they employ 760,000 people. It is believed that one in every eight Americans has worked at McDonald’s at one time or another.

 

Why Is Chicken More Expensive? Ask McDonald's

When McDonald’s (MCD) introduces a new menu item, the entire food industry feels it. The company added apples to its menu and became one of the country’s largest apple buyers. It put cucumbers on its new McWrap and now expects to buy 6 million pounds of cukes this year.

As it stands, wings are a volatile commodity. “Birds only have two wings, so there is already a somewhat limited supply,” says Tom Super, a spokesman for the National Chicken Council. Farmers typically raise chickens for breast meat, he said. “It is not economically feasible for companies to raise birds just for the wings.”
Wing prices typically start to rise during football season, beginning in September, and peak around the Super Bowl, Super says. While wing prices have come down from last football season’s high, the new season is just getting started.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-chicken-more-expensive-ask-191041283.html




BusinessWeek - Courtesy McDonald's

 

Until this democratic republic established capitalistic mind frame of a system is changed, nothing will really be changed. Say they go ahead and make $15/hr the minimum wage, do you think all else in this economy would stay stagnant as is? Think about it, really think about it. I do not think I have to spell it out.

 

Well, these folk just want decent wages, they wish to be able to pay their bills and such, they say 7.25 per hr. isn't enough ... I support them in their efforts.

 

Don't get me wrong. I support them, but this system will NEVER support them. That is my point.

 

Oh, okay ... Exactly, in fact, they wouldn't even be close to receiving fair wages if this strike had not been staged; yep!

 

My point is whenever the "Mendoza Line" of wages get moved (in this system) all other things get moved, other wages, prices on goods and services, taxes, etc. The wealthy, business owners, and those in power will not give up much in profit no matter the inflation. Then you will have those that worked in the system to try to attain some foothold and get educated (which ain't cheap) to attain a relatively "decent" job realize that their entry level position wage is on par with someone who does not have to finish high school...

Think of the mess, things will adjust, they will just adjust in favor of the wealthy given the current system. I'm just being real here. It will always be more than raising minimum wage because if that happens, the cogs get moving elsewhere to keep things status quo. I do not know if I am being clear on how I am explaining this. I know what I am trying to say, but I don't know if the point is getting across. lol

 

@ mendoza line, good one ... Well, its been 3 years, since it was increased in 2009, and those increases you speak of need paying. Which makes this whole process, circular.

TUE JUL 24, 2012 AT 11:05 AM PDT
Three years at $7.25 is too long. It's past time for a minimum wage increase.​

The last time the minimum wage went up was July 24, 2009. That's three years. During that time, the price of milk has increased more than 10 percent, public university tuition and fees have increased more than 15 percent, the price of gas has gone up by nearly 50 percent and the price of fuel oil by more than 50 percent.
The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour, making for a full-time annual income of $15,080; if the minimum wage had kept up with inflation since 1968, it would now be $10.55 an hour, for an annual income of $21,944. Workers in 19 states benefit from higher state minimum wages, with 10 states increasing the minimum wage along with inflation. Many pollsfind that raising the minimum wage is widely popular, and economists say that doing so would give 28 million workers a raise, not just those making $7.25 an hour but millions earning slightly more whose pay would be increased as companies adjusted their pay scales.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/...ng-It-s-past-time-for-a-minimum-wage-increase