Fast Food walkout - Nationwide

[Zorkorist]

Oh, and werepossum, is just a Government flunky. The more the better, as far as he is concerned.

-John

 

[diesbudt]

Well it should be raised to support a family of four!! At least that's what everyone who for increasing the minimum wage has said! Well it's what everyone here on AT has said it should be raised to!


/s

Btw, how much would the hourly rate be to support a family of four?

It would be near $21/hr minimum required to raise a family of 4 on just 1 salary.

And truth be told many college graduates don't even make that much day 1 outside of college on a career job.

 

[diesbudt]

And by the way, before most of the usual dummies even say the predictable, when I drive around I notice that better quality restaurants than fast food have HELP WANTED signs up all the friggen time. So the predictable excuse doesn't fly either.

Haha this. Like 50% of the Restaurants, and almost every gas station I see along with temp office jobs (and online a lot of engineer, programmer and so on jobs) have help wanted.

 

[nehalem256]

It would be near $21/hr minimum required to raise a family of 4 on just 1 salary.

And truth be told many college graduates don't even make that much day 1 outside of college on a career job.

Which is why for all the liberal shouting about a "living wage" they will never actually tell you numerically what a living wage is.

Because if they did it would make the Republican's day in much the same was as Obama holding a press conference and announcing he was in fact a Kenyan Muslim.

 

[EagleKeeper]

What worked for you doesn't work for everyone else because its decades old advice thats why. When you've worked in McDonalds in 2013 let me know how you valiantly climbed your way out of that dead end job. When you go to apply as a hotel busboy and it gets 1,000 applications in 24 hours, hah. You just don't know I guess. You haven't actually looked at the situation in a long time. Not that I'm stuck there myself, I just know talented, smart people who work there and its not really their fault they are stuck there.

There is a big difference between working there as a gap filler and being stuck there.

IF they are stuck there; then they made some wrong choices further back in the time line and are unwilling to now make the sacrifice to recover.

 

[waggy]

$9-$15 is enough for middle class lifestyle? Lol!

I will say depends on where you live. BUT it can be enough for middle class lifestyle (granted lower middle class).

where i live it is possible. i know a few families that survive on $12-15 an hour. Yes they even own a house. They do all work on the house themselves (granted not everyone has the knowledge to re-roof a house or build a addition), they drive used cars, they don't have satellite (cable is not here yet) and a cheap internet (them and a older neighbor "share").

they get the "needed" bills paid (house, electric, heat and food). they survive.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

What worked for you doesn't work for everyone else because its decades old advice thats why. When you've worked in McDonalds in 2013 let me know how you valiantly climbed your way out of that dead end job. When you go to apply as a hotel busboy and it gets 1,000 applications in 24 hours, hah. You just don't know I guess. You haven't actually looked at the situation in a long time. Not that I'm stuck there myself, I just know talented, smart people who work there and its not really their fault they are stuck there.

I knew in the late 70's that I was in a dead end job working in a grocery store as either a stock clerk or butcher. I joined the Navy and chose a job/skill that would translate into a decent civilian job. I've built on my skills (electrical) since I got out. I taught myself how to calibrate/troubleshoot instrumentation devices commonly used on steam turbines/industrial compressors. I taught myself how to program Allen Bradley PLC's. I've learned how to install and commission (controls and mechanical) steam turbines, generator, and industrial compressors. I learned how to perform machinery alignment using dial indicators (Rim & Face, Double reverse) and the newer laser alignment devices. I've learned how to overhaul steam turbines/gearboxes and all the critical clearances to ensure proper operation. I took a position in one of the company's repair facilities in order to learn all the different repairs to steam turbines. Now I have a position as a technical manager. I provide technical assistance/guidance to the company's field service personnel and clients maintenance personnel/engineers. I also mentor the company's junior engineers.

I'm currently watching the newer people with a similar background to myself begin their journey and they're paid a little over double what I started at in 1990.

PLC = Programmable Logic Controllers

 

[Svnla]

It would be near $21/hr minimum required to raise a family of 4 on just 1 salary.

And truth be told many college graduates don't even make that much day 1 outside of college on a career job.

~ $42K per year before taxes for 1 hubby, 1 wife, and 2 kids? That would be tight, even at the low cost of living area around here.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

~ $42K per year before taxes for 1 hubby, 1 wife, and 2 kids? That would be tight, even at the low cost of living area around here.

Wow maybe, just maybe... you shouldn't make the choice to pump out a bunch of kids when you're on a single income of $42k per year.

 

[Ns1]

Wow maybe, just maybe... you shouldn't make the choice to pump out a bunch of kids when you're on a single income of $42k per year.

+infinity

 

[diesbudt]

~ $42K per year before taxes for 1 hubby, 1 wife, and 2 kids? That would be tight, even at the low cost of living area around here.

Tight. But doable. Even so 42k a year is a little on the low end, but is the average Engineering Graduate salary for some engineering (like Civil).

So do we want fast food wages to equate that of a college engineer graduate now?

 

[Ns1]

So do we want fast food wages to equate that of a college engineer graduate now?

clearly; they have done so much to deserve it.

 

[Engineer]

PLC = Programmable Logic Controllers

Just a FYI but it's very difficult to get a programming job in PLC's or automation without an EE degree now. Many companies simply won't look at you regardless of your experience. I've seen this time and time again (and have experienced it as my interviewers have told me this outright).

Technicians (changes and troubleshooting), not so much but if you're doing full programming, the times are changing (sadly).

 

[MooseNSquirrel]

Bullshit on almost all counts. Millennials are the stupidest American generation so far and "work harder" is laughable.

Kids today I tell you!

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Just a FYI but it's very difficult to get a programming job in PLC's or automation without an EE degree now. Many companies simply won't look at you regardless of your experience. I've seen this time and time again (and have experienced it as my interviewers have told me this outright).

Technicians (changes and troubleshooting), not so much but if you're doing full programming, the times are changing (sadly).

Oh, believe me I know very well. Even though some of the new engineers that have been hired recently can program the PLC, their logic needs modification to work properly. I spend several hours a week working with field service technicians/engineers troubleshooting and correcting the logic. Though this really isn't a new problem as I used to correct logic when I was in the field. Some projects I worked on have as much as 60% of my logic to make the equipment perform per the contract,

 

[East56]

In my opinion anyone that thinks fast food workers should be paid more should buy a fast food franchise and pay them whatever they want.

Good luck seeing a bunch of left wing progressive nutjobs actually buying their own business.

Left wing progressive nutjobs?

Nice maturity and rationality from the right here. Advocating for compensation for workers enough for them to actually survive does not equate being a 'progressive nutjob'.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

It would be near $21/hr minimum required to raise a family of 4 on just 1 salary.

And truth be told many college graduates don't even make that much day 1 outside of college on a career job.

That depends on the location.

In other words 21 dollars an hour is chump change in many major metro areas like SF, NYC, DC etc. You'd probably have to raise it to at least 30 or more dollars an hour for it to be a viable "living wage" for someone raising a family of four as the sole provider.

Then again that much of rise for minimum skilled jobs wouldn't be justifiable economically speaking and thus exposes the flaws in those who seek to artificially raise the government's arbitrarily established minimum wage law.

 

[shady28]

Oh, believe me I know very well. Even though some of the new engineers that have been hired recently can program the PLC, their logic needs modification to work properly. I spend several hours a week working with field service technicians/engineers troubleshooting and correcting the logic. Though this really isn't a new problem as I used to correct logic when I was in the field. Some projects I worked on have as much as 60% of my logic to make the equipment perform per the contract,

Smallish world I guess, I'm in the controls engineering field as well though I am primarily in the software side. I do material handling systems. Most of our systems are 'custom' using OPTO-22 boards connected to a PA-Mux bus and driven by custom software. We do have some software which uses OPC to directly communicate with AB PLCs.

Most of what I've seen is that a true controls engineer at a senior level makes around $100k, and at that level needs an EE.

But, I would differ on the path to that position. Many start out as technicians, with an AA, and if they are good and in the right place at the right time they can advance to mid-level ranks. At that point, they have the direct experience with equipment and, if they get that BSEE, they'll move up to those senior ranks quickly. Of course, controls technicians / installers do what amounts to back-breaking work.

The 31k is a lot more comparable to a controls technician with possibly an AA and just starting out.

That's patently ridiculous though - you have to have an AA and a budding technical career to make a Wendy's clerks salary?

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Smallish world I guess, I'm in the controls engineering field as well though I am primarily in the software side. I do material handling systems. Most of our systems are 'custom' using OPTO-22 boards connected to a PA-Mux bus and driven by custom software. We do have some software which uses OPC to directly communicate with AB PLCs.

Most of what I've seen is that a true controls engineer at a senior level makes around $100k, and at that level needs an EE.

But, I would differ on the path to that position. Many start out as technicians, with an AA, and if they are good and in the right place at the right time they can advance to mid-level ranks. At that point, they have the direct experience with equipment and, if they get that BSEE, they'll move up to those senior ranks quickly. Of course, controls technicians / installers do what amounts to back-breaking work.

The 31k is a lot more comparable to a controls technician with possibly an AA and just starting out.

That's patently ridiculous though - you have to have an AA and a budding technical career to make a Wendy's clerks salary?

The new hire field service reps with either military experience or a AA start out in the low $50k where I work. Though I don't have either a BS or AA degree I have a combined military and experience with the company where I work of 35 (12 & 23 respectively) years, my salary is just over $100k.

 

[diesbudt]

That depends on the location.

In other words 21 dollars an hour is chump change in many major metro areas like SF, NYC, DC etc. You'd probably have to raise it to at least 30 or more dollars an hour for it to be a viable "living wage" for someone raising a family of four as the sole provider.

Then again that much of rise for minimum skilled jobs wouldn't be justifiable economically speaking and thus exposes the flaws in those who seek to artificially raise the government's arbitrarily established minimum wage law.

Very true. However it may not be easy, but if they don't have the skills or the knowledge to get a better job, one good enough for living salary in a metro area, it may be in their best bet to move out of the metro.