Oakland Kids Get A Raise From The New Minimum Wage

NPR ^ | March 25, 2015 | by SAVANNAH ROBINSON

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Eighteen-year-old Alicia Donaldson works at a busy McDonald's in East Oakland. Her job is more complicated than anyone might think.

"When you do the grill and the chicken by yourself, it's not easy," she admits. "You have to put down the meat on the grill, and then put chicken in the grease. People get burned a lot."

That's a lot of pain for only $9 an hour. Today it's still hard work, but now Alicia is making $12.25 instead.

"When I worked 56 hours my check was about $480," she remembers.

This month the highest minimum wage in the nation went into effect in Oakland, Calif. Today if she works those same hours, Donaldson estimates she'd make about $170 more every two weeks. Laughing with a dreamy look in her eyes, Alicia says that for her the extra money could mean a few new toys.

"I'd buy an iPhone 6," she laughs. "I couldn't buy that before, but I'd definitely buy that now."

Opponents to the increase are concerned that it will slow job creation and that businesses will reduce hours. The Oakland City Auditor's report on the financial impact of the new law notes that the increase could force the city to reduce its workforce training programs, which would leave more youth unemployed.

For Alicia Donaldson at McDonald's, she's already seeing shorter shifts.

"I do think it's because of the pay that they're cutting hours," she says.

That means she may have to save a little longer to get that iPhone 6.

[a fool in paradise]

Unemployment writes bigger checks for those who made $12 an hour than they do for those who made $8.

[kingu]

But on the positive side, because you're making more per hour, even though you're working less hours, it means you can get a second job to afford that iPhone 6...

Oh, right, there's fewer jobs too.

Well, on the positive side, your PelosiCare insurance premium subsidies won't be going down, so you, umm, might be able to keep more of that money?

Bah, there's no positive side, is there? The costs for the business are going up, staff is being reduced, number of hours a week are being reduced, and those few who had been given more salary as a reward for harder work are finding others are raised to their level without putting in the dedication they did, nullifying all that hard work.

Betcha those people have seen their hours increase though.

[A message]

“You have to put down the meat on the grill, and then put chicken in the grease. People get burned a lot.”

She should make an additional $25 an hour for hazardous duty.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

In Seattle the restaurants are closing.

[I am Richard Brandon]

Impressive deductive reasoning!

[Mastador1]

either gross or net I can't see the numbers working if she's working 56 hrs a week or 56 hours over 2 weeks. am I math challenged ?

Nobody but a salaried manager works 56 hrs a week, the overtime would destroy your labor percentage and you would very quickly be unemployed.

[I am Richard Brandon]

"I do think it's because of the pay that they're cutting hours," she says.

This was the impressive deductive reasoning!

[central_va]

Hope folks enjoy their $15 small fries and $20 small hamburgers in Oakland.

Over dramatic much?

[manc]

LOL meat on the grill, chicken in the fat.

Boy that does sound like really hard work Alicia.

[manc]

EXACTLY

[Organic Panic]

I didn’t know making a grilled chicken was so complicated. I feel guilty now. My shop rate is $85 per hour on regular machine works and $150 for certified aircraft parts. I will gladly swap making chicken patties full time for the same rates while this, soon to be unemployed, girl does my simple minded job.

[central_va]

Many of us worked similar jobs in our youth, for a lot less money. It was a stepping stone to learn scheduling, budgeting, and personal responsibility.

Adjusted for inflation minimum wage is lower now than the seventies. Many Freepers do not grasp the concept of adjusting for inflation.

[demshateGod]

Close your shop. Move to a free state.

[demshateGod]

Hope they enjoy a food desert.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

At the new rate she´ll soon be replaced by a college grad.

[FlingWingFlyer]

What a load.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Some folks don’t grasp basic economics.

[Mrs. Don-o]

All these grill jobs are going to be robotized in 5 years. You watch.

[Grams A]

Many of us worked similar jobs in our youth, for a lot less money.”

Back in the very late 1950’s I had my first job at $.56 an hour selling clothing at an upscale store in Kansas City. Worked 6-9 p.m. Monday and Thursday evening and 9-5:30 on Saturday. We weren’t allowed to ever sit down and appreciated the one hour bus ride, although it did cost $.35 each way. Didn’t have much left over after that cost, lunch on Saturday and taxes but learned a whole lot about people and how they spend their money.

People back then used layaway and would come in faithfully every week and pay $1 or so until their purchases were paid in full. No credit cards. I saved my money until I could buy a special pair of socks like all the “rich kids” at school wore. I remember they were $1.50 a pair, way too much my mom used to say. My how times have changed.

[T-Bird45]

The burger robot and the fry robot will take over long before your prediction comes true. These wages are rapidly approaching that time where the one-time capital investment will outweigh the on-going employee expense.