A struggle for good paying jobs? (Pittsburgh: home, income, prices)

[Ray_Velcoro]

I hope my old hometown turns it around. Granted not every city has this issue, but there are far more have nots than haves in this country. Good wages reduce crime, poverty and drug use.

As Pittsburgh Grapples With A Changing Workforce, The Fight For 15 Comes To Town

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Sounds like Pittsburgh is in good company.

[Choosing] whether to follow the examples set by Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles

I think you could do a better job of rabble rousing if you tried a little harder. Maybe pick a city vs burbs fight.

[BigPizzaHutFan]

$15/hr is a fair and reasonable income for fast food workers.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by BigPizzaHutFan

$15/hr is a fair and reasonable income for fast food workers.

getting $15 worth of value out of a teenager is a tough proposition. A $15 wage would make fast food a strictly adult occupation- dealing mostly with keeping the robots and automated ordering systems which will be doing the actual production in good working order.

[charisb]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

getting $15 worth of value out of a teenager is a tough proposition. A $15 wage would make fast food a strictly adult occupation- dealing mostly with keeping the robots and automated ordering systems which will be doing the actual production in good working order.

Fast food work is already a job that is mostly done by adults today. I don't have Pittsburgh-specific statistics, but the majority of fast food workers are older than age 20.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by charisb

Fast food work is already a job that is mostly done by adults today. I don't have Pittsburgh-specific statistics, but the majority of fast food workers are older than age 20.

Mostly by adults, sure, but about 1/3 of fast food workers are teenagers, and the industry has traditionally provided them with their first opportunities.

That's going to go by the boards with a lot higher wage, for which the employer will require a lot higher degree of expertise to keep the automated systems running smoothly as well as a lot more professionalism in providing hospitality to the customers.


It isn't like the fast food industry can just raise prices- too much competition. No one has to eat fast food, they can bring a braunchweiger sandwich from home for lunch.

[BigPizzaHutFan]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

getting $15 worth of value out of a teenager is a tough proposition. A $15 wage would make fast food a strictly adult occupation- dealing mostly with keeping the robots and automated ordering systems which will be doing the actual production in good working order.

Counterpoint: I make $85,500 per annum and I spend most of that time wasting time.

The guy who makes my sandwich deserves $15 an hour.

[BigPizzaHutFan]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Mostly by adults, sure, but about 1/3 of fast food workers are teenagers, and the industry has traditionally provided them with their first opportunities.

That's going to go by the boards with a lot higher wage, for which the employer will require a lot higher degree of expertise to keep the automated systems running smoothly as well as a lot more professionalism in providing hospitality to the customers.


It isn't like the fast food industry can just raise prices- too much competition. No one has to eat fast food, they can bring a braunchweiger sandwich from home for lunch.

Prices are already as high as the market will bear. The cost of labor and materials have nothing to do with what the final product is priced at.

That product is priced at what you'll pay for it.

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by BigPizzaHutFan

Prices are already as high as the market will bear. The cost of labor and materials have nothing to do with what the final product is priced at.

That product is priced at what you'll pay for it.

What are you talking about, the cost of labor and material has everything to do with what the final price will be, if the final price is higher than what the market will bear, the business will close.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by BigPizzaHutFan

Prices are already as high as the market will bear. The cost of labor and materials have nothing to do with what the final product is priced at.

That product is priced at what you'll pay for it.

Usually true, that's certainly the quest of the merchant. Although sometimes they are able to raise prices unilaterally like Chipolte did earlier this year to increase their margins.

But mostly, if they have to raise prices, its the end of the business, sooner or later. Customers will only pay so much as well.