McDonalds workers go on strike in the UK

[DCrawshawJr]

Just like in many parts of America, many McDonalds employees in the UK are protesting low wages and non-union membership. My first instinct was, WHY? Why is your current wage not enough?

Then I read an article about how a father of 4 worked multiple fast-food jobs and still couldn't make enough. So, this is why they're protesting: They can't afford to live off of fast-food jobs. Exactly, because fast-food jobs aren't designed to raise families.

But raising their wages to $15 / hr is not the solution. It will raise prices, cause others to lose hours, or even lose their jobs. So, lifting them out of poverty has to come from somewhere else, NOT the job itself.

Going back to this father of 4:

* Is he unable to live with other family members?
* Is his wife working?
* Are there other ways to lift this man's burdens without him risking losing his job due to a $15 / hr minimum wage?

 

[Jakob]

Maybe im ignorant on this subject, but just wanted to say something
I think they should give 15 dollars an hour, I mean why not?
No need to worry about prices going up,or loosing jobs. There's SO much the whole fast-food-chain mcdonalds earns that is given to the "rich" of the mcDonalds. There lies the problem.
Funny how so many are looking forward to the scary clown movie -It by stephen king that comes in the cinema in september, yet its fiction, when (in reality) Ronald McDonald clown has killed more people than any other clown.

I think the whole problem lies with those who work, is not getting treated properly by the bosses of mcDonald, cause they get a lot of money. it's litteraly a billion dollar buisness.

Perhaps you're right though, that if they do get 15 dollars, it will cost more from everyone, and loosing jobs, as in, the rich people would rather have more poverty than give of their own.
God is watching though

 

[DCrawshawJr]

You're right: It is possible for McDonalds to spread their billions in profit to their employees. But WILL they do it? History suggests that on their own, they won't. It will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[Jakob]

Yes. Matthew 19:24 always comes to me speaking of the rich.
"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
The rich at McDonald wont share their wealth, instead getting greed that makes them blind, so they can live with a conscious of manyy people loosing jobs and continuing to struggle to survive.
I pray.

 

[zeroturbulence]

Why not make it $20!

 

[Billyd]

When My grandchildren worked for the McDonalds in our area, one condition of employment was not working at another fast food chain while working at McDonalds. It was a great starting job, and for a few hard workers, it can be a fair management career, but no one will get rich unless he owns a few franchises.

 

[DCrawshawJr]

BillyD has a point. Check out Owning a McDonald’s Franchise: Purchase Cost vs. Annual Profit — My Money Blog. The owner is making only $154K / year. Even if he were to give all of that money away to his employees, it still wouldn't be enough to give everyone $15 / hr for 40 hours a week.

And as for the corporation itself that has a net income of over $4 billion, even if they were to spread that around to every employee (over 1.8 million of them, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald's, from franchises and corporate), it still wouldn't be enough.

The problem is, is that the business model of McDonalds itself can't give everyone a "living wage" that you can raise a family off of. It just doesn't work. The only way these poor employees are helped beyond their job is not the job itself, but from outside sources. The only way the "wealth" is shared is if the executives themselves directly share their wealth out of their own pockets. And not only the executives, ALL OF US, because the executives can't help everyone by themselves. The best way to solve poverty is direct individual action, not the government, neither the corporation.