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Food fight: Rising income disparity and the struggle for higher wages
The Globe and Mail ^ | May 15, 2014 | JACQUELINE NELSON

Posted on 05/15/2014 7:42:33 PM PDT by rickmichaels

Steven Wilkerson spends long hours working alone at three restaurants in a Hess gas station in Tampa – a Dunkin’ Donuts, a Quiznos and a Godfathers Pizza – all for just $8.50 (U.S.) per hour. Three years ago he made just $7.50.

The 28-year-old former U.S. Marine tried to find a role in communications, and later security, after his tour of duty in Iraq. He went to more than 30 interviews, but was told repeatedly that he didn’t have enough experience for jobs he wanted.

“You know, everybody tells you when you’re in the military you’ll get any job you want when you get back to the civilian world. That wasn’t the case with me,” said Mr. Wilkerson, speaking over the chanting, whistle and sirens of the 50 people gathered around him. “I went through hell just to get the one raise that I got.”

On Thursday, he protested in front of a local McDonald’s with a group called Florida Fight for 15 – employees that have joined together to campaign for a $15-per-hour minimum wage and the ability to unionize. Thousands of fast-food employees from restaurants such as McDonald’s Corp., Wendy’s Co. and Burger King Worldwide Inc. in more than 150 cities in the U.S., and almost 100 others across the world, in places as far as Japan, Africa and the Caribbean, also participated.

(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: amish; blackkk; burgerking; dunkindonuts; florida; floridafightfor15; godfatherspizza; hessgasstation; knockoutgame; mcdonalds; quiznos; reparations; tampa; wendys

1 posted on 05/15/2014 7:42:33 PM PDT by rickmichaels
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To: rickmichaels

Slap me upside the head, but doesn’t he have a path to college, better education, and a better life through the military or did he squander that for 3 years in fast food?


2 posted on 05/15/2014 7:47:56 PM PDT by EBH (And the head wound was healed, and Gog became man.)
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To: rickmichaels

Ahhh working at “restaurants” in gas stations is not a career


3 posted on 05/15/2014 7:48:36 PM PDT by Ray76 (True change requires true change - A Second Party)
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To: rickmichaels

I hate to be rude to our Canadian friends but I have no more interest in Canada’s views on our wages,work conditions,etc than Canadians have in our views on theirs.


4 posted on 05/15/2014 7:49:16 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Rat Party Policy:Lie,Deny,Refuse To Comply)
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To: rickmichaels
If you think you'll be getting 15/hr for taking orders for Godfather's Pizza, someone with a college degree would get $50/hour.

Do you think McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King or Arbys will keep you employed or keep their food prices low?

I bet this loser has tattoos all over and wants a $15/hr job without an education. Go back to school!!!

5 posted on 05/15/2014 7:55:30 PM PDT by ExCTCitizen (I'm ExCTCitizen and I approve this reply. If it does offend Libs, I'm NOT sorry...)
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To: rickmichaels

The other day I went to Burger King, preparing a burger and fries taking an order isn’t worth $15/hour especially when the attitude of the employee needs improvement!!!


6 posted on 05/15/2014 7:58:05 PM PDT by RginTN
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To: Gay State Conservative

Truth ain’t being rude, and you spoke the truth.

One I happen to agree with.


7 posted on 05/15/2014 8:06:42 PM PDT by Shadowstrike (Be polite, Be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.)
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To: Gay State Conservative

So the author of this article speaks for Canada? Oh...ok then.


8 posted on 05/15/2014 8:16:26 PM PDT by rickmichaels
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

> “You know, everybody tells you when you’re in the military you’ll get any job you want when you get back to the civilian world. That wasn’t the case with me,” said Mr. Wilkerson, speaking over the chanting, whistle and sirens of the 50 people gathered around him.

Welcome to the Obama Recession.


9 posted on 05/15/2014 8:47:19 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Gay State Conservative

Unions are the devil, here and there.

The Globe is a socialist rag, not worthy of reading.


10 posted on 05/15/2014 8:48:20 PM PDT by Bulwyf
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To: rickmichaels

No, he just speaks for leftists all over, maybe even not all of them. He can take his opinions and stuff em.


11 posted on 05/15/2014 8:49:00 PM PDT by Bulwyf
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To: RginTN

They could all start by trying to get an order right more than 1 in 5 times.


12 posted on 05/15/2014 8:54:49 PM PDT by conservative cat
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To: rickmichaels

everybody tells you when you’re in the military you’ll get any job you want when you get back to the civilian world.

“Everybody” just cashed a check his ass can’t cash.

Buck up, son. You’re Momma ain’t here anymore!


13 posted on 05/15/2014 9:00:14 PM PDT by logitech (It is time.)
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To: rickmichaels

IF I had a fast food restaurant and had these fools protesting market rates for entry level work here’s what I’d do. First. I would get pamphlets for the automated food servers and prepares that are popping up and leave them all over.
Then, I would call an all staff meeting and tell them, “3 out of 4 of you will be fired to afford your new salary. Discuss amongst yourself who will be fired. There will be no anonymous votes. Secondly, the 1 out of 4 of you left will be kept on to maintain and load the new automated machines I will be purchasing to replace the ones of you laid off.”


14 posted on 05/15/2014 9:03:37 PM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: Gay State Conservative

I’ve heard this Canadian newspaper referred to as “The Grope and Flail”.

.


15 posted on 05/15/2014 9:08:15 PM PDT by Mears
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To: rickmichaels

Sorry sonny. You’re a cashier or “fries guy” in a burger joint? You’re not worth 15 bucks an hour.


16 posted on 05/15/2014 10:38:30 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Obama's smidgens are coming home to roost.)
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