"Thousands" of min-wage McDonalds workers to walk off jobs to demand better pay

[diesbudt]

No, it a joint agreement as to who gets to decide the worker's worth.

Exactly. It has to be agreed upon.

However the payer gets to set the mark. The payee either accepts or doesn't then someone else does. The payee has no real control (by themselves) on that mark. Hence it is all up to the payer.

If the Payer says your worth X, and the Payee says no I am worth more than X, good chance the payer will thank you for your time and move on to another Payee.

 

[Veliko]

Actually they have not increased their worth. They have just increased their wage. Increasing their worth, would mean if McD fired them say 2-3 years down the road. They have nothing more to show for it, except a little extra money.

Increasing wealth does not mean increasing their worth. Increasing their worth would be to learn skills, get more education, get "better" work experience (promotions, or achievements done at work).

Not saying if this result works (very doubtful it will) that it is stupid, because they make more money now. Just that worth =/= wealth when it comes to the understanding of a labor force.

They will have increased what McDonalds consider it worth paying them for their labour.

They will have increased their worth because they know that organising the workers gives them more clout.

 

[Veliko]

Exactly. It has to be agreed upon.

However the payer gets to set the mark. The payee either accepts or doesn't then someone else does. The payee has no real control (by themselves) on that mark. Hence it is all up to the payer.

If the Payer says your worth X, and the Payee says no I am worth more than X, good chance the payer will thank you for your time and move on to another Payee.

No, it is not all up to the payer.

If I'm only willing to pay a doctor £1 an hour, I'm not going to get many takers.

 

[silverpig]

How did you do a one-way move for only $20 for the rental? Did the van also have 'Free Candy' on the side or something?

My g/f needed a 20+ foot truck and for the 600 mile move it was over $500. I had to fill the thing 3-4 times.

Sounds like he borrowed his parents' van and got a roadside hj for $20.

 

[purbeast0]

No, it is not all up to the payer.

If I'm only willing to pay a doctor £1 an hour, I'm not going to get many takers.

but the problem is, many people ARE willing to work for what mcdonalds is currently offering, or else they wouldn't have a billion customers served daily.

and yeah, many doctors won't work for that little money, and if they were offered that, they would go elsewhere to get higher pay. and the company offering such low pay probably won't be in business very long either.

if these mcdonalds workers who think they are worth double their current pay are truly worth that much in the industry, they should be able to go find a job elsewhere at that rate in the industry with no problem.

 

[Veliko]

but the problem is, many people ARE willing to work for what mcdonalds is currently offering, or else they wouldn't have a billion customers served daily.

and yeah, many doctors won't work for that little money, and if they were offered that, they would go elsewhere to get higher pay. and the company offering such low pay probably won't be in business very long either.

if these mcdonalds workers who think they are worth double their current pay are truly worth that much in the industry, they should be able to go find a job elsewhere at that rate in the industry with no problem.

Or they could strike to try and improve their existing deal.

 

[Train]

Or they could strike to try and improve their existing deal.

Key word being try.

Ignorance of the over abundance of people at that skill level is what kills them.

 

[purbeast0]

Or they could strike to try and improve their existing deal.

or they could strike and lose their job and be replaced by someone just as skilless as they are.

i'm not putting them down for trying to get higher pay, i'm putting them down for trying to DOUBLE their current pay.

 

[alkemyst]

Alky don't give my secret on easy moving away.

Actually I just moved 1.5 years ago 230 miles. Costed $210. Truck was $145 for daily rental + gas.

So for the "truck scenario" everyone is doing. Take that as you will.

mom and dad paying half?

 

[Veliko]

or they could strike and lose their job and be replaced by someone just as skilless as they are.

Such is the potential risk of sticking your neck out.

i'm not putting them down for trying to get higher pay, i'm putting them down for trying to DOUBLE their current pay.

It's a standard negotiating tactic. Think of a number and then double it, as you'll only end up being bargained down anyway.

It also gets some nice extra publicity as well.

 

[BoberFett]

Exactly. It has to be agreed upon.

However the payer gets to set the mark. The payee either accepts or doesn't then someone else does. The payee has no real control (by themselves) on that mark. Hence it is all up to the payer.

If the Payer says your worth X, and the Payee says no I am worth more than X, good chance the payer will thank you for your time and move on to another Payee.

Not necessarily. I gave my notice at one job, they begged me to stay. I told them I wanted a third more than I was making (taking me from $75K to $100K) and they agreed. They had to agree to it, but I would have walked for anything less, so I chose what I was worth.

The person who is willing to walk away has the power. If the employer can easily walk away from you and find somebody else to do the job, then yes, they have the power. If you're willing to walk away from the job, then you have the power.

 

[alkemyst]

or they could strike and lose their job and be replaced by someone just as skilless as they are.

i'm not putting them down for trying to get higher pay, i'm putting them down for trying to DOUBLE their current pay.

To me it's not so much the doubling but thinking flipping burgers is a $31,000 a year job.

 

[DrunkenSano]

If this strike action results in them getting a payrise, how is it stupid?

There are many ways someone can increase their worth. You've listed one way.

They've chosen another way.

Because everyone knows that there are a ton more people more than willing to work that wage to replace them. So if they strike, they aren't getting a pay raise. They are getting a pay cut to zero dollars. How is that not stupid?

The workforce determines that job's worth, not the employees.

 

[purbeast0]

To me it's not so much the doubling but thinking flipping burgers is a $31,000 a year job.

i think public school teachers around here (dc metro area) start out at like $39k or so. dc fire fighters start at around $42k/yr, which have a very long and intense training.

wonder why these people who think they deserve more don't go become a police officer or firefighter. oh yea, i know ... because they are lazy and have the entitlement mentality that they deserve more than they are really worth, "just because".

 

[Veliko]

Because everyone knows that there are a ton more people more than willing to work that wage to replace them. So if they strike, they aren't getting a pay raise. They are getting a pay cut to zero dollars. How is that not stupid?

Given that nothing has actually happened yet, you either have psychic abilities or a time machine.

The workforce determines that job's worth, not the employees.

The what?

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

so then they all live in mcdonalds restaurants?

I lol'ed.

 

[JM Aggie08]

I can't help but feel those supporting the Mc employees are just playing devil's advocate for the sake of stirring the pot...either that, or a handful of you are completely delusional.

 

[alkemyst]

I can't help but feel those supporting the Mc employees are just playing devil's advocate for the sake of stirring the pot...either that, or a handful of you are completely delusional.

They or their parents are probably McD employees.

 

[Veliko]

I can't help but feel those supporting the Mc employees are just playing devil's advocate for the sake of stirring the pot...either that, or a handful of you are completely delusional.

What do you mean?

For what reason would anyone be against what the workers are doing?

 

[Craig234]

I can't help but feel those supporting the Mc employees are just playing devil's advocate for the sake of stirring the pot...either that, or a handful of you are completely delusional.

Nothing delusional - we're dealing with scumbags or at best ignorant people here.

 

[Craig234]

Because everyone knows that there are a ton more people more than willing to work that wage to replace them. So if they strike, they aren't getting a pay raise. They are getting a pay cut to zero dollars. How is that not stupid?

The workforce determines that job's worth, not the employees.

You're ignorant about what sets wages. 'The workforce' doesn't determine it.

 

[BoberFett]

Nothing delusional - we're dealing with scumbags or at best ignorant people here.

Finally, Craig admits that McDonald's employees are ignorant scumbags.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Nothing delusional - we're dealing with scumbags or at best ignorant people here.

You sure are quick to name call and make on-the-fly assessments of people's character.

I see that my previous question has still gone unanswered.

 

[BoberFett]

You're ignorant about what sets wages. 'The workforce' doesn't determine it.

Actually it does, you ignorant scumbag. As long as people are willing to work for an amount of money, that's what that job was worth. If nobody was willing to do a job at a given rate, the employer would have to raise the rate until they could find people willing to do that work at the higher rate.

You truly don't understand how trade works, do you? No wonder you believe such stupid shit. You don't by any chance flip burgers at McDonald's, do you?

 

[jagec]

i'm not putting them down for trying to get higher pay, i'm putting them down for trying to DOUBLE their current pay.

Would you put down a CEO for trying to double his current pay?

Taking risks to improve your fortune is quintessentially American, really.

Now I agree that it's unlikely that McDonald's will agree to double their current salary, but I'm not sure that it is as easy to find THOUSANDS of people willing to work minimum wage in NYC as some people in this thread claim. Not to mention the loss of productivity while they train up the new workers, and the bad press. McDonald's may well choose to negotiate a salary increase for these workers that is somewhere between what they're currently paid and what they're asking. Which would mean that this was a pretty successful strategy, no?

Many of the attitudes in this thread seem to imply that people making minimum wage don't deserve to negotiate for a better salary, or that they are somehow wronging McDonald's by refusing to work. These aren't cops or air traffic controllers providing vital civil services and they aren't contractually obligated not to strike.