You want fries with that?
Posted on 07/29/2013 11:03:49 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
If Seattle fast workers demanding a big raise in the minimum wage get their way, they'll soon be replaced by robots says KIRO Radio's John Curley, who points to growing automation as a warning to those who want $15 an hour or more to flip burgers.
A group of local fast food workers recently staged a one-day walkout and are calling on the Seattle City Council to increase the minimum wage from $9.19 per hour - the highest in the country - to $15 an hour.
"We're asking for $15 because in order to support one person in a one bedroom apartment you need to make $14.88. We don't make anywhere near that and we're all on food stamps," 23-year-old Amanda Larson told KIRO Radio's Linda Thomas recently as she worked the counter at a Seattle Arby's.
But restaurant owners argue they simply can't afford it. With technology continuing to allow restaurants around the world to replace people with robots and computers, Curley says look no farther than several examples in Japan and Europe as a sign of what's to come if the Seattle workers get their way.
A noted Japanese sushi-chain has robots making food while customers order on a touch screen. A conveyer belt delivers their food and a computer tracks customer purchases and automates their bill payment at the end.
"There are no managers in this restaurant," Curley says. "The managers are all in a centrally located place that are just simply watching video screens. So they've been able to cut out almost all the help."
Several years ago, McDonald's installed thousands of touch-screen kiosks at stores across Europe, replacing cashiers entirely. The company has reportedly also tried out automated burger flippers to further cut back on employees.
It's not far fetched. A Chinese restaurateur has developed a robotic chef now found in a number of noodle bars, further eliminating the need for humans. With the robot chefs costing just $1,500, they're far cheaper than employees and don't demand raises or breaks.
Curley says the workers here demanding higher wages for a job that should be entry-level should think twice before raising too much of a fuss - before they find themselves completely obsolete.
"The saddest thing for this story, if you follow it, is robots will replace human beings in these McDonald's and fast food restaurants and low skill workers will have really no place to go."
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
“”We’re asking for $15 because in order to support one person in a one bedroom apartment you need to make $14.88. We don’t make anywhere near that and we’re all on food stamps,” 23-year-old Amanda Larson”
That’s a sad story, Amanda.....now STFU and get my fries before it gets cold.
Robots have taken a lot of manufacturing jobs. I suppose that eventually, it will be a good thing, as they will perform all the drudgery and free up the workforce for better things.
In the meantime, there are lots of displaced, unskilled workers.
The real problem is not the wages, but the barriers that exist that makes it difficult to learn marketable skills.
Our nearby Aldi’s grocery store (opened about 3 months ago) pays $11.50 to $21.50 an hour with benefits and rent around/cost-of-living here is a mere fraction of that in New York City.
Who placed those barriers there? Were these individuals not afforded the same K-12 free education that you and I were offered?
Unionized, I assume. How much are the items for sale there?
No, not union, I don’t believe. Aldi’s is German-owned and the items are inexpensive:
http://weeklyads.aldi.us/aldi/default.aspx?action=entryflash&adref=aldistorelocator&StoreRef=1750
and someone didn’t ping me to this. Same thing I’ve been saying all day.
There are already french fry and burger vending machines. The french fries are dropped in a fryer when you order it and delivered HOT. There are even pizza vending machines.
No reason robots couldn’t replace these useless breathers.
And Aldi’s has fewer workers than a normal grocery store of course.
Que Sera, Sera.
And also note that I include plumbers in highly skilled -- those guys sometimes can earn more than I do -- and they deserve it!
What do THEY do?
welfare is not the way.
artificially higher wages is a form of welfare too
Do you want to go back to the CCC, NRA, New Deal make-work programs? Many of those people could start a small business, sell, farm a small plot of land with high-revenue plants and animals, learn a simple trade (locksmithing, small engine repair, etc.) enroll in Job Corps or go into the military to learn a skill.
The barriers that make it difficult to learn marketable skills, barriers such as laziness and stupidity.
And the prospect of humans becoming blobs like in Wall-E is scary yet possible.
Let's go through these:
1. Start a small business -- you still need some skills and acumen. This can be taught to some extent, but there are still many incapable of even doing this -- in the old days they'd be shop assistants or sweeping the floors or something. Also, keeping a business is to some extent luck
2. farm a small plot of land -- yes, and this is a good option, but we need to cut out a lot of the regulations and also remember that many are not willing to do hard labor (everyone wants an office job) -- that can be changed, but most won't like it!! But I agree that this is the best idea
3. learn a simple trade -- most engines and locks are nowadays pretty high-tech, but this is also a good option
4. enroll into a job corps or go into the military -- good options but we need good people in the military
Your points made me think -- I've always been a proponent of Heinlein's "work to get citizenship" ideal. Perhaps it could be merged with this? namely each person must put in 2 years for society - it can be in the military or community service (doctors can work in the countryside etc.) and let people EARN their vote. This would also give people an appreciation for the dignity of physical labor and also some skills
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