Chiocago fast food workers' strike (Chicago: 2013, home, high school)

[Chi-town Native]

Hundreds of service workers strike in Chicago

[Chicagoist123]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Hundreds of service workers strike in Chicago

I don't agree with increasing it to $15 (although I am sure those businesses could) but certainly a bump could be made. Life is expensive nowadays!

[marothisu]

The jump is quite a bit, and I do see where they're coming from, but realistically.....if this increase happens, don't be surprised if some companies actually fire some workers. There are a lot of companies out there, when faced with having to pay more money in a situation like this, that will let a few people go even if they're profitable.

I think it would also cause a psychological ripple of sorts into others. Some other people might say "Wait a minute, I do ____, ____, and ____ and barely get paid more than a cashier at McDonald's!?"

[Chi-town Native]

the inspiration:

McJobs Should Pay, Too: Inside Fast-Food Workers' Historic Protest For Living Wages - Sarah Jaffe - The Atlantic

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

the inspiration:

McJobs Should Pay, Too: Inside Fast-Food Workers' Historic Protest For Living Wages - Sarah Jaffe - The Atlantic

I worked at a Panera/St. Louis Bread in high school...and I was a short order cook for an outdoor pool at a country club in college one summer and it was busy all the time in both jobs and it wasn't easy, but it's far from the "most difficult" job I've had. The hardest thing about either of them was the fact I had to be in a cabana behind a grill for 8 hours a day even when it was 95 F out for that college summer job. I would have loved to be inside with A/C.

[Chicagoist123]

Originally Posted by marothisu

I worked at a Panera/St. Louis Bread in high school...and I was a short order cook for an outdoor pool at a country club in college one summer and it was busy all the time in both jobs and it wasn't easy, but it's far from the "most difficult" job I've had. The hardest thing about either of them was the fact I had to be in a cabana behind a grill for 8 hours a day even when it was 95 F out. I would have loved to be inside with A/C.

The thing is the MOST people can do those jobs, meaning most people have the basic skills to carry out those jobs. However, most people do not have the skills to carry out more professional skills.

I work for a large agency, and I am pretty sure most people here could easily take orders as a cashier or assemble a cheesburger. But not everyone can do what we do here, without extensive training or a certin type of critical skill.

Fast food chains jobs don't require an enormous amount of specific skills nor are they skills that are highly valued.

I say bring it up to $10.50 an hour.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

The thing is the MOST people can do those jobs, meaning most people have the basic skills to carry out those jobs. However, most people do not have the skills to carry out more professional skills.

I work for a large agency, and I am pretty sure most people here could easily take orders as a cashier or assemble a cheesburger. But not everyone can do what we do here, without extensive training or a certin type of critical skill.

Fast food chains jobs don't require an enormous amount of specific skills nor are they skills that are highly valued.

I say bring it up to $10.50 an hour.

Yes. EXACTLY. 100% agree. I hate to use this word, but I was pretty disposable when I had my high school/first summer after college jobs. But now? Most people cannot do software development at the level that I do now period and the people who can take years of training to get to a decent level...and that is why I have a good salary (as well as the fact that I bring in revenue but that's another story).

[Chicagoist123]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Yes. EXACTLY. 100% agree. I hate to use this word, but I was pretty disposable when I had my high school/first summer after college jobs. But now? Most people cannot do software development at the level that I do now period and the people who can take years of training to get to a decent level...and that is why I have a good salary (as well as the fact that I bring in revenue but that's another story).

I worked at Potbelly's for a couple of years in college so I know what you mean. It's exhausting, but it's a different type of exhaustion, more physical. At work it tends to be more mental.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

I worked at Potbelly's for a couple of years in college so I know what you mean. It's exhausting, but it's a different type of exhaustion, more physical. At work it tends to be more mental.

Oddly enough, my first month at my first office job was more exhausting to me - because it was so mentally draining. I would come home for the first month at 5:30pm and fall right to sleep for 2-3 hours. I never had that with the fast food jobs back in the day. I have many friends who have told me the same thing

[Chicagoist123]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Oddly enough, my first month at my first office job was more exhausting to me - because it was so mentally draining. I would come home for the first month at 5:30pm and fall right to sleep for 2-3 hours. I never had that with the fast food jobs back in the day. I have many friends who have told me the same thing

You do have a point. I take more naps now then ever with my job. There are some weeks we I am drained and have nothing left. Sounds a lil dirty that last sentence, but you know what I mean.