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We are the 99 percent

I’m making $21 an hour at McDonald’s. Why aren’t you?

Posted 9 years ago on May 16, 2014, 9:13 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Tags: fast food forward, organizing, global protest

No, that isn’t a typo. It’s really my salary.

You see, I work for McDonald’s in Denmark, where an agreement between our union and the company guarantees that workers older than 18 are paid at least $21 an hour. Employees younger than 18 make at least $15 — meaning teenagers working at McDonald’s in Denmark make more than two times what many adults in America earn working at the Golden Arches.

To anyone who says that fast-food jobs can’t be good jobs, I would answer that mine isn’t bad. In fact, parts of it are just fine. Under our union’s agreement with McDonald’s, for example, I receive paid sick leave that workers are still fighting for in many parts of the world. We also get overtime pay, guaranteed hours and at least two days off a week, unlike workers in most countries. At least 10 percent of the staff in any given restaurant must work at least 30 hours a week.

Many of the U.S. workers I meet make less than $9 an hour. And unlike in Denmark, where most fast-food workers are young people looking to make extra money while in school, the vast majority of U.S. fast-food workers are adults trying to support their families. Roughly 70 percent are in their 20s or older, according to a recent study, and more than a quarter are raising kids.

Jessica Davis, for example, who works at a McDonald’s in Chicago and has two daughters— one 4 years old and the other 4 months old. After working four years at McDonald’s, she makes $8.98 an hour and has no stable work schedule.

How can fast-food companies expect employees to work hard but not pay them enough to live on? All fast-food workers should be able to support themselves while helping large companies like McDonald’s make huge profits.

Employees also deserve a voice in their workplace — as we have in Denmark — and McDonald’s should respect the right of employees in all countries to organize and speak for themselves.

McDonald’s didn’t give us our union. We had to fight for it. It was a five-year struggle that involved many demonstrations like the ones that will stretched across the globe on Thursday.

Written by McDonald's worker Louise Marie Rantzau. Originally published on Reuters.

245 Comments

245 Comments


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[-] 9 points by Ache4Change (3340) 9 years ago

'Fast food CEOs oppose worker raises despite making 1200 times more than the average employee' -

http://www.nationofchange.org/fast-food-ceos-oppose-worker-raises-despite-making-1200-times-more-average-employee-1400168657

Never Give Up! Occupy The Work Place! Stop Buying Burgers For A Week In Solidarity!

[Removed]

[+] -4 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

What happens to the others in the workforce in the community when the new low is 15? Do their wages double too?

What happens to teh cost of the goods they make? Do they double as well?

[-] 4 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 9 years ago

Why don't we do it the other way around? A 99% income tax applied at $1,000,000 thus "capping" what any one person could pull from the economy so more money would be available to circulate and grow the economy and a progressive property tax so the vast wealth would not get bottled up in a few hands not circulating and thus be available to grow the economy.

[-] 5 points by MattHolck0 (3867) 9 years ago

my parents voted against proposition 13 in California that cut property tax by 2/3

houses were quickly rising in value

[-] 4 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 9 years ago

taxing homes is the worst kind of property tax...

[-] 2 points by MattHolck0 (3867) 9 years ago

set 1 acre aside

[-] 2 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 9 years ago

I do like that, might need some tweaking for cities and such but I think I get the theory and it's a good one. I'm even ok with what working people would consider a large inheritance like a million dollars or even five, those sorts of numbers do not really threaten democracy it's the billions at play today that do, it is also that sort of moneyed interest that drives nations to drop bombs IMHO.

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

In fact coffee is the lowest profit item at a coffee shop, food, soda, extras are the biggest profit.

Regardless of your distraction, that fact is we MUST raise wages, come hell or high water.

Damn the torpedoes full steam ahead!!!

All small business WILL benefit, or we WILL provide tax credits to make up the difference.

Easy Peezy dude.

Support the fight!!!

It is the best thing for labor AND management!!!

Consumers are the job creators not businesses. No business creates jobs unless demand is forseen/growing. Demand WILL grow when wages increase!!

Demand up, profits for the poor owners increase, THEN they hire more workers.

Support owners! Demand $15now!

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

This debate Im having with you now is exactly why I suggested to another group to

A) Go out and talk to some small business owners about your plan B) If possible, get some scenarios on paper that they agree on C) Create a coalition of small business owners to support you

As it stands now, 15Now scares the living shit out of small business owners. You may be able to change that if you can speak intelligently to them.

Ya know, the ones who actually have to crunch the numbers to keep things going.

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Unfounded fear I should say. (as the studies I posted show)

Wage incr=more spending/demand=more profit for your struggling owners=more hiring=more spending/demand=more profit for the toiling owners... etc & so on.

The circle of life (dollar bill life)

Finished reading?

Ready for more?

Rah! Rah!

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Small progress on min wage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/30/nyregion/de-blasio-to-sign-executive-order-significantly-expanding-living-wage-law.html?_r=0

Peaceful, people power pushing for progress!!

"It was this national momentum, Mr. de Blasio said, that altered the administration’s plan to expand the living wage law by the end of February. The administration said it had at first expected only to broaden the scope of the law to cover more workers, not raise the wage itself."

This will be a game changer for 20 thousand decent hard working families.

We must build on this step if we are to make a dent in the economic inequity that is aggravated by low wages.

[-] 1 points by MattHolck0 (3867) 9 years ago

nevermind those without jobs

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Increased wages for all (when we get there) WILL increase consumer activity, that demand is necessary for additional job creation.

"It's the only way to besure"

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Im talking about margins, not gross profit. Its how you figure out which one is actually most profitable on a per unit basis, considering everything. Generally speaking your product with the highest margins is the one you wish you could sell the most, but usually cant because you have to offer other stuff too to be complete.

This is not a distraction at all, this is the knowledge you need to speak on the topic intelligently. If you are not concerned with the details, hopefully someone else is.

No point in considering tax credits until you know the very basics, thats an entirely different animal, one that Im assuming you have no numbers to support either.

Go get em cheerleader, you go bro!!

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

And you keep fighting for the poor owners and against the decent hard working families struggling to LIVE!!!

You're allowed.

I welcome it. You can't make a valid argument against increasing wages so you seek to distract with a tedious, pedantic discussion about the cost of coffee.

Heres some more "knowledge" for you to absorb so you can speak intelligently on the subject. Rather than the meaningless distraction of coffee profit.

http://www.demos.org/publication/retails-choice-how-raising-wages-and-improving-schedules-women-retail-industry-would-ben

Your welcome

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

"Fighting for the poor owners".. did you really just fuckin say that?

Go ahead, fuck em all over. Knock yourself out.

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Mom & pops WILL benefit from $15now.

http://nhlabornews.com/2012/07/proof-that-raising-the-minimum-wage-would-not-put-mom-and-pop-stores-out-of-business/

I already sent this to you.

Please, do the math.

Peace

[-] 1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

All that article does is talk about how corporations employ the majority, and how they are making nice profits.

It does nothing to address the fears of the ones I am speaking of.

FYI some of us are actually out and around town and talk about this stuff. You keep citing reports based on McDonalds if you want.

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Point being so few of the struggling owners will suffer that we must move forward to help the millions who are underpaid,

$15 NOW!!!

Best thing for the mom & pop shops is to increase consumer activity with min wage increase.

[-] 0 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

So let me guess this straight... Because 2/3 of low wage workers work for big corporations, and 1/3 work for small local businesses... We are willing to toss the locals under the bus?

Sorry, thats a fuckin horrible explanation of this entire situation. Go back to the drawing board, that sucked.

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

The 25% of low wage workers in Mom & Pop, are mostly (60%) at shops that support the increase & already pay above min wage. No prob their.

Of the remaining 40% (of the 25%) who object, 80% although fearful, WILL manage fine because of increased economic activity.

The final 20%, from the 40% of the 25%, will have difficulty, they will be eligible for the micro business wage credit for 2 yrs. After that they WILL be able to manage fine.

Still 2% (of the 20%,from the 40%, of the 25% (keepin up math boy?)) will fail.

But that 2% translates into just 193 businesses and all apparently made up of divorce stricken, great recession sufferin', bad business people who probably would fail regardless.

So you see, Don't worry. We can help millions of decent hard working families if we increase the minimum wage.

Join us! NOW!! $15NOW!!!

[-] 0 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Listen, this issue with small businesses owners is the 800 lb elephant in the room, its the one thing that is not being discussed with 15now, and it really needs to be dug into a bit if the desired results are actually going to come.

Like Ive said, if we are all eating at a Walmart diner, has life really gotten better?

[-] 0 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Paying above minimum wage is a bit different than paying $15 an hour.

Where did this 60% of small businesses support $15/hr come from?

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

From the info I sent you?

[-] -2 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Yes, Im not seeing it in any of the articles.

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

All wages will be pushed up when the min wage increases. Obviously.

Costs of goods do NOT double when min wage increases because wages are a small part of cost of svcs.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/29/mcdonalds-salaries_n_3672006.html

So don't worry about the cost of your big mac.

[-] 0 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

I don't eat big macs. Do you have any idea what the ratio of worker and worker related expenses are in the services economy we live in?

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

$1500 is ridiculously low for rent. Your math leaves out huge profit and discounts the reality of increased demand/profit.

It's just a distraction.

Check this out if you wanna know something about how much wage increases will cost the largest single employer of min wage workers

http://www.demos.org/publication/higher-wage-possible-walmart-2014-update

Whattaya think?

more spending money=growing deman=increased profit for the poor owners=more hiring.

Cool?

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

No kidding its ridiculously low for the rent. It is in order to help your side of the argument as much as possible, same reason I went with just the coffee as the lone product and ignoring the other low margin items.

Stop stabbing yourself in the foot dude.

You can't worry about increased demand until you figure out what your breakeven point is, of which you are clearly not interested in doing. Wonderful.

Another hacktivist that promotes a bunch of shit they dont understand, acting like an expert, criticizing anyone who would like to know what the actual numbers are with accusations of distractions, with absolutely no scenarios or numbers to give to the local business people who will be affected the most due to limited scale abilities.

Let me know when you want to have a real discussion on this. In the meantimes, keep working the pompoms.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

I just sent you 2 good studies.

Heres another

http://www.peri.umass.edu/fileadmin/pdf/research_brief/PERI_fast_food_wages.pdf

Any "knowledge" in there you like?

Rah! Rah!

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Its for $10 an hour, which is 50% lower than what you are proposing, so its not really relevant in terms of data.

Unless you now want $10 and not $15?

And the other one is talking about Walmart. No shit Walmart can afford it, most mulitnationals can.

Mom and pops dude, the locals. What are the numbers for the locals.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

LA to vote on $15 min wage.

http://www.latimes.com/local/cityhall/la-me-0923-hotel-workers-wage-20140923-story.html

Increasing min wage grows economic activity, improves profits & creates jobs.

It's the best way we can help the struggling owners.

Please join this high priority effort.

We need you.

(regarding your continued distraction:

http://nhlabornews.com/2012/07/proof-that-raising-the-minimum-wage-would-not-put-mom-and-pop-stores-out-of-business/

happy learning!)

Peace

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

What I know is that millions of workers are working for sub living standard wages.

I know as well that we are struggling with a meaningless "recovery" because of low demand.

Wages must be raised for the 99%. Dismiss, disregard all the nonsense arguments against improving the lives of millions of decent hard working families.

Corporations/owners in the service economy will have to buckle down, & give more profits (that workers created!!) to decent hard working people.

The ratios will have to change, 'cause workers are WORTH it!!

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

So you don't understand the economics of what you are proposing? Honestly, I don't really either. I think I understand the data a bit more than you do, perhaps, but at the end of the day the only reason I ask this stuff is because if people are going to propose economic model change, they have to understand the benefits, the costs, the downsides and hopefully have answers to predictable questions and concerns.

FYI labor is usually your largest expense as a business. Not always, but more times than not.

Also, make sure you consider at the end of the day, multinationals have the money from other operations to weather the storm of a dramatic shift like this.

Mom and pop will go under much quicker. This is an incredibly serious side effect of 15now that needs to be addressed if it is going to be taken seriously. I have stated this on a few conference calls regarding 15now, and its not to be a downer, but to get further down into the numbers.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Doesn't matter who understands the economics better. We ain't competing.

Economists on all sides of the issue can be sited.

I support increasing wages.

Understand that?

I understand the economics just fine. just reverse the self destructive, supply side, trickle down, anti labor policies and people will get increased wages, economy will take off, & businesses will reap a fortune.

So profit will go to workers/consumers who spend & generate economic activity instead of the current model where corps get the profit & invest in non job creating risky ventures that crash the world economy.

Understand that?

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

I understand you are simply reciting talking points and not addressing that 800lb elephant at the end of the room that I was talking about involving 15 now.

If everyone is making $15 an hour, and we all work for Walmart, have we really succeeded?

What is your answer to the mom who runs a small diner that tells you if wages are increased to that level, she is going to go out of business?

[-] 5 points by BradB (2693) from Washington, DC 9 years ago

What is your answer to the mom who runs a small diner that tells you if wages are increased to that level, she is going to go out of business?

I say put that on the greedy upper classes ...and the do nothing congress.... for if no-one can afford to go to the dinner then they will be out of business regardless of what they pay their employees....

[-] 0 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Thats not exactly an answer that is going to make someone feel like anyone has thought this through.

"Either back this or you are going out of business".... ?

Not going to cut it dude.

[-] 3 points by BradB (2693) from Washington, DC 9 years ago

Not going to cut it dude.

yeah sure .... blame the poor for what the rich and powerful do....

that don't cut it either

[-] 1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Where are you getting this nonsense, you're just as bad as the other one.

No one is saying to blame the poor, thats your reactionary thinking.

What Im saying, and have said in the past, is that the people you scare the shit out of with 15now is not the multinationals, they can weather the storm.

Its the small local businesses that you need to worry about. Whats the plan for them? They are far from the rich and powerful, in case you didnt realize it. Yet they will catch the brunt of the hurt from something like this.

So whats the plan for them? Or is tossing them all under the bus to get a raise at McDonalds the ultimate goal? I dont think it is, but neither of you have anything to say about it.

[-] 3 points by BradB (2693) from Washington, DC 9 years ago

per ... https://occupywallst.org/article/im-making-21-hour-mcdonalds-why-arent-you/#comment-1048373

If those core issues are not addressed, much less discussed, then in no time flat 15now morphs into 25now, into 50now, and on and on the people go, chasing the politicians instead of chasing their dreams.

exactly !!! we need to address the core !!! and the core is the fact that the middle class has been robbed of the capital necessary to perform work... and it was not robbed by the poor people!! .... it was robbed by the wealthy (who were bailed out!! by the middle class) .... as well as the corrupt gov... who will not lift a finger to try to replace any of the lost jobs ...

[-] 3 points by BradB (2693) from Washington, DC 9 years ago

per... https://occupywallst.org/article/im-making-21-hour-mcdonalds-why-arent-you/#comment-1048379

tying the new minimum "living" wage to inflation - so that it never needs to be revisited again. ...

yeah... or to cost of living ....

he should really hit the streets and try to live on min wage for 30 days

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

Offer Him a rodent exercise wheel - as he likes to run and run and run and go nowhere at all. To be less condescending ( in seeming to others ) - offer him a thought to consider while he runs ( it is only seeming to be less condescending as we both know he won't consider ) = tying the new minimum "living" wage to inflation - so that it never needs to be revisited again.

[-] 2 points by BradB (2693) from Washington, DC 9 years ago

and for the record.... most if not all municipalities allow exemptions for the small shops who can't afford the min wages... the $10 min wage laws are directed to the walmarts... etc

[-] 1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

This is interesting, so basically the small shops would be allowed to keep their wages low, while Walmart now has the better paying jobs?

Talk about tilting the tables even further.

I havent heard of any of these exemptions that allow small businesses to pay people less than minimum wage. Where are they?

[-] 2 points by BradB (2693) from Washington, DC 9 years ago

look at the figures.... $15 hr min wage still will have less buying power than min wage in the 70's did....

the overall problem is not the bottom class's wages... it's the fact that the top 5% of the country have sucked all the life and money out of the middle class economy.... .... such that very few can make it.... and when you bring the middle class to a halt ...there will be no economy

[-] 0 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

The thing is the ones making $150k, the money they have, has the same purchasing power as the ones making 15k a year.

So what is going on with the purchasing power of our money? And why do we not have control and/or access to the decisions?

If those core issues are not addressed, much less discussed, then in no time flat 15now morphs into 25now, into 50now, and on and on the people go, chasing the politicians instead of chasing their dreams.

[Deleted]

[-] 1 points by BradB (2693) from Washington, DC 9 years ago

hey dickhead... I want to be your leader .... we thought your feelings got hurt and you ran home to mommy

[-] -2 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

while it is true that the ruling class has put us in this mess, that would be a cruel thing to say to mom and pop as they close the dinner. or as in my friends case a fast food chicken joint

[-] 7 points by BradB (2693) from Washington, DC 9 years ago

flip.... what you are not getting ...

is that ... if we do not do something... anything ...to help the lower middle class economy... the small shops are doomed for sure... the middle class is their customer base... the upper class rarely visits a small shop ...

helping the middle class get into the game ... increases opportunity for all .... even the small shops ...

imo... raising min wage is not the best answer.... making capital and opportunity available for middle class business is... however... raising min wage ... is one answer that we have been able to get going....

where are the jobs ? ... where are the obviously needed infrastructure jobs... where are the new energy jobs.... no-where ... the tea-party congress blocks them !!!

so... they get "raising min wage" ... and we ARE going to win this war... jump on board!!

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

where are the jobs ? ... where are the obviously infrastructure jobs... where are the new energy jobs.... no-where ... the tea-party congress blocks them !!!

And on "that" note - we have - http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=%20news%20crumbling%20gas%20pipe-lines&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=news%20crumbling%20gas%20pipe-lines&sc=0-10&sp=-1&sk=&first=1#view=detail&mid=32EDD3928F8C0E596EC232EDD3928F8C0E596EC2 = pushing the old and not the new.

[-] 0 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

i just jumped into a debate and agreed with the turbo man. i am for raising the minimum wage and all wages for the bottom 90% or some such. what is true though is that this will probably put my good friend out of busines. he has run a fast food joint for 30 years or more. got behind the eight ball because of a divorce and then got hit hard by the economic downturn in 08. increasing his payroll by 3 to 400 each week will probably kill him - maybe literally. there will be lots of people like him put out of business by a sharp increase in minimum wage and those who advocate for that should be thinking of how to minimize the damage to those on the bottom. does that make sense to you?

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

In answer to this insulting, irrelevant tirade:

"internet comments??? you constantly surprise me with more and more stupidity. as the comment rightly points out there is nothing there about mom and pop businesses. i am not surprised that you get your info from sources that pull this kind of bullshit.it is also interesting to see that you cannot read well. it has been clear for a while that your thinking is confused - i had thought it was by design but now i realize it cannot be. to put up this article that is so clearly off base you must be just plain stupid."

LMFAO!!!! Nothing about the substance of the min wage crises, not even all the evidence that the mom & pop affects are too small to be anything but a distraction from the good fight to get more money for millions of decent hard working people.

Heres some more backup for you:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/19/low-wage-workers-_n_1687271.html

http://nelp.3cdn.net/24befb45b36b626a7a_v2m6iirxb.pdf

Get on board boss. Leave the anger, hatespeach, & crossfire zingers at the door. Others like to flame, Not me. This ain't entertainment.

We truly need YOU!!!

[-] 0 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

just looked at your "more back up" - what a load of shit. do you realize others read this - do you realize that other people can think?? the question is what will happen to small business and has nothing to do with the fact that the majority of minimum wage workers work for larger corporations - NOTHING - get it?? and it does not matter whether you post one article or ten showing the same fucking study - it is not relevant. do you get it - say yes - please. it is a simple point of logic and you never seem to be able to grasp simple logic. so that makes me think you are either really stupid or a quisling (google it). now here is the crux of the same study all the articles you link to are talking about - nothing to do wiht what will happen to small struggling business

[-] 0 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

i do not need more back up - it is obvious to anyone with a brain what will happen to business hanging on by their fingernails when the minimum wage goes from 7 to 15 or more. serious people should be able to admit that and try to think of ways to mitigate the damage - NOT DENY IT! no you do not like to flame - you like to debate with intellectual DISHONESTY. i find it boring and offensive - that is for sites like rnc and dnc not ows!

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

I haven't denied a small number of mom & pops would have difficulty. I simply maintain it's too small a number to halt the critical effort to help millions of decent hard working families.

To apply 'denying' to me is a strawman argument. Sorry, never denied it. I offered facts (rfun eh?) indicating options to deal with it.

Just more of the concern troll distraction tactics you employ (with your fellow PPP force)

Peace.

Progress!!!

http://www.latimes.com/local/cityhall/la-me-hotel-minimum-wage-20140925-story.html#page=1

Whoops there it is!

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Mom & pops WILL benefit from increase economic activity/profit that $15now would generate.

http://nhlabornews.com/2012/07/proof-that-raising-the-minimum-wage-would-not-put-mom-and-pop-stores-out-of-business/

Join us. We need you.

Peace

[-] -3 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

did you read that article - it says nothing about mom and pop except in the title. here is one of the comments to the article that you did not read! - "These figures don't really prove anything to an intellectually honest person, with regards to the headline, since the article itself doesn't talk about Mom and Pop shops" - it is doubtful that economic activity would increase fast enough to help small businesses on the edge but you do not seem to care. peace on you too

[-] 6 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Read it & enjoyed it. but I support labors view, so... Anyway, I didn't expect you to agree, and not surprised you would site internet comments.

That's reliable.

This one says most mom & pops already pay more than min wage, support increasing it, & believe the added economic activity would increase sales/profit. (who said that?)

http://www.alternet.org/economy/conservative-myths-about-minimum-wage-debunked

See if you identify with the other "myths' listed.

Seems only a small % of mom & pops would have a problem with this.

I support allowances in law for a micro business targeted tax cr.

But the worker still gets the $15 NOW!!!!

[+] -5 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

internet comments??? you constantly surprise me with more and more stupidity. as the comment rightly points out there is nothing there about mom and pop businesses. i am not surprised that you get your info from sources that pull this kind of bullshit.it is also interesting to see that you cannot read well. it has been clear for a while that your thinking is confused - i had thought it was by design but now i realize it cannot be. to put up this article that is so clearly off base you must be just plain stupid.

[+] -5 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Corps can share the wealth

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/09/wells-fargo-email_n_5960072.html

I like his approach.

Peace

[-] 1 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

i also like the basic idea but to me it should not be a "request" - it should be done through taxation and redistribution. yes we should take it away from the very very rich not ask them politely to give it away

[+] -5 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Repubs forced to support min wage.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/07/minimum-wage-increases-red-states_n_5945272.html

"Four states have proposals on their ballots to raise the minimum wage beyond the federal, hourly rate of $7.25—Alaska, Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. Notice a trend? All four are red states, and voter-approved wage gains in those predominantly Republican states could bolster the push for higher living wages—a key policy area for President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats."

Everyone who supports wage increase, marched, boycotted, petitioned, tweeted, etc deserve credit pushing this critical economic equity issue.

Repubs would never consider it without the protests & without this election.

Thank you

[-] 4 points by MattHolck0 (3867) 9 years ago

service jobs can only serve people that get money from other sources

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Who said "we all work at Walmart"? More of your dishonest strawman strategy.

All small businesses will have to be addressed specifically (tax cr for partial payroll costs of low income workers (NOT executives) is workable).

But we will not be deterred by a false need to resolve every scenario before we move.

Fastfood, big retail, is our current target, they cover millions of decent hard working people.

Success will mean relief for those millions, and an economic stimulas which will require additional hiring!!

No talking points, Sound economics, critical goal in our effort to attack economic inequality, and a catalyst to improve wages for all salaried workers, from the bottom up.

I personally prefer $20 per hr, especially in high cost of living states.

So join us. Don't get bogged down with the distraction of every unrelated scenario.

We need you to turn your opinion away from management and towards labor.

Peace

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

So that is your answer to the mom and pop shop that has concerns that their business will be insolvent?

If mom and pop have a coffee shop, and they sell $3 cups of coffee, making $1 on each one, how many more cups will they have to sell in order to cover the increase of 5 employees working 30/hrs a week making $10.00/hr.

Do some math for once in your life, jump into the deep end.

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Already did the math.

So?

(I pay $1.50 for coffee in NYC)

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Ok I'll hold your hand and do some math for you. FYI Im talking about real coffee, not the stuff served in a slurpie cup at the 7/11.

Give me a second. We will assume that $1 of the $2 COGS is labor built in.

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Why would you assume that?

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Generally speaking for a small operation its a good guess. $1500 labor, $1500 rent and just guessing a $1500 monthly loan on the equipment. Three people scheduled at 30hrs a week will get you one person there at all times assuming its open 90hrs a week, toss in two more that rotate during peak hours.

It might be a little high on the overall man hours, but the goal it to create a nice working environment, not a chaotic one man ass kicking contest lol.

[-] -2 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

So their payroll goes from $1500 to 2250, an increase of $750.00.

Also, they have to pay ss tax on those wages, so another 6.2% of that is another $46.5 for a rough total of roughly $800.00

So how many cups of coffee do they now have to sell in order to cover the cost of the increases? Overhead expenses stay the same for the most part, although with the drastic needed production increases, probably need some more machinery to keep up, and assuming they were running efficiently, they are going to need more labor to come up with the new increase in demand (assuming it comes, right?).

We'll take a guess that with the $800.00 needed, the employees there can handle it, and the machinery is capable of the newfound increases in demand from the legislation.

At $1 of profit, and $1 overhead, and $1 labor, how many cups a week and then per day are needed to simply keep up with the labor increases?

Then, lets assume that the current staff and equipment can handle this economic boom you speak of. How many cups solve the problem per day then?

Note: This is an exercise to figure out break even points. This does not even get to the point of surplus, which is what allows people to "get ahead".

Gotta figure out your breakeven point before you can start planning the rest.

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Even coffee carts (no employees!) sell bagels/donuts etc. Shouldn't your Math include profit from all products?

This is a coffee shop that sells Bkfst, lunch, dinner right?

Coffee is generally a low profit item. Do you use it to exagerate the difficulty for the poor owners.

But again don't get distracted by these nickle n dime details. I won't

Any small business will manage because their profit will increase when increased wage consumers start spending.

Throw that into your little distraction.

Math boy!

LMFAO!!!

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

So you are incapable of following this through in order to explain to the small business owner what they can most likely expect?

Just gonna tell em "Dont worry, your business is going to explode!!"

You're a fool.

If you want a kitchen in the example, go ahead. More equipment, twice as much labor.

FYI profit margins on food are not as good as on coffee, so you aren't helping your case here at all.

But, food does help with the draw, obviously. But it adds costs that actually are not as profitable as just the coffee.

For the sakes of figuring out some rudimentary scenarios I was attempting to keep it simple for you, and actually in the highest profit scenario that would work towards an increased wages viewpoint to the benefit of such.

I'm here to help you get a better understanding of what it is you are proposing. If you simply dont want to know the numbers, or the common scenarios you will run into if it actually starts to gain ground, then thats on you. Its irresponsible but hey, to each their own.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

$1500 for rent?????

LMFAO, that's funny.

Anyway, how about the profit on all the other products?

And what about the increased consumer activity from the newly wage increased workers?

Useless distraction. Get outta the weeds man.

Economic inequality brought on by supply side, union busting, trickle down extreme conservatism has eaten away at our wages.

$15now!!!

http://www.planetsmag.com/story.php?id=1665

Please support our fight for decent hard working families!!!

[-] -3 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

You know a lot of commercial space that comes with a kitchen for cheaper than $1500.00? Dont forget you need to put your business insurance, electric, water, triple N and whatnot in that overhead figure too. So ya, $1500 seems like a hell of a deal.

Like I said, your margins on the other stuff is not as good, so taking your highest margin product to figure out the break even point is actually something that would benefit your argument, if you still dont understand what Im saying Im not sure what you do but dont quit your day job.

[-] -1 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

you have pointed to a real problem here. i have a friend who owns a fast food joint and is struggling to stay in business. this is a problem for society and we have to find a way out of it. the idea that this is a false argument is silly. this must be addressed quickly or many will suffer but is am sure there are many good ways to fix it.

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Yeah! Increase ALL wages, and the resulting increased consumer activity will generate the profit that the poor owners require to pay a living wage to the millions of decent hard working families who are struggling to LIVE!!!!

Done!!!

Are you with us?

[-] 0 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Well, one thing for sure, this clown that has no desire to crunch any numbers is not going to help it.

At the end of the day, I really dont think there is a scenario that can help mom and pop if this is passed. You can do something that says they dont have to go up to $15, but then they are paying the low wages, so there goes all the decent help.

Multinationals have the inherent benefit of subsidizing slow times and areas with profits from other areas. If that goes through in Seattle, McDonalds will just subsidize it with profits from around the globe, while mom and pop are going to have to deal with the increase in goods and labor all on their own, in a VERY small margin industry to begin with.

Imo there is one solution to this- STOP PATRONIZING MULTINATIONALS

If we know these companies fuck everyone over, but simply don't care, there is not a piece of legislation that can solve it.

PS- If we are all making $15 but now all working at McDonalds and the cost of everything is now up as well, has our quality of life really gotten better? If we dont start understanding the actions that our purchasing creates, Im expecting more of the same regardless of what the wages are.

[-] 2 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

The child you are debating is not worth the time. It is a problem for sure but the are solutions. Things will cost more and we should buy less crap. That said any solution will involve pain and those who pretend there are easy fixes are just plain stupid. Sweden has a better system from this point with all making a living wage but we will not become them overnight

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

"the child"? Your namecalling only betrays the vacancy of your position.

Again, Mom & Pops WILL benefit from $15now.

http://nhlabornews.com/2012/07/proof-that-raising-the-minimum-wage-would-not-put-mom-and-pop-stores-out-of-business/

Please avoid the distractions & supportthis highpriority effort.

Peace

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

Thought this might be helpful - toss it at him along with a rodent exercise wheel.

How Seattle Agreed to a $15 Minimum Wage Without a Fight ... How Seattle Agreed to a $15 Minimum Wage Without a Fight www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-08/how...

May 08, 2014 · How Seattle Agreed to a $15 Minimum Wage ... a deal to raise the city’s minimum wage for all workers ... care in calculating minimum …

[-] 5 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

That's ex-cellent. Phase it in, slower for smallest business, indexed to inflation!!!!!, & all the same in 9 years.

And still, I'm sure some small business may have trouble. I would consider some kind of wage tx cr for a short time, & if the business can't manage when that is phased out, they may have to close.

It happens, and should be followed be a new small business that can manage.

In any event those mom & pops that would struggle are a tiny %.

good find

[+] -5 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

the question was not whether some small business owners support raising the minimum wage (i do by the way) - the question was how it might hurt those businesses on the edge. you proved our case - " but most said the move would still cost them." now those business struggling to survive will not make it but you do not seem to care. pointing to the old creative destruction idea - "Or they go out of business, a new one opens, jobs replaced." so you have made me waste time on an obvious point. don't you have anything better to do?

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2919) 19 minutes ago

Nice, The Math boys never sounded half as intelligent.

The rpt touches on that type of stuff too.

↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink

They like to whine and complain and wring their hands and generally try to sound all concerned and all. But they do not make viable suggestions for change - nor do they support any.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

concern troll tactics!! They want to distract/disrupt any substance on the issues that matter to the 99%.

Every engagement shows them for the duplicitous trolls they are.

I welcome their amateuristic efforts.

"bring it on"

LMFAO!!!!

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

[ edit ] ooooo the silent boo birds ( edit = Bird? - with many socks? ) are on the loose - look at em vote down comments on fixing the economy and society - so that they don't have a chance on getting onto the best comment board - to stick around for awhile for newcomers to look in and easily spot.

See - this is what they do - besides trying to get everyone onto a rodent exercise wheel - with them - to run and run and run and get nowhere at all.

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

[-] 3 points by DKAtoday (28531) from Coon Rapids, MN 26 minutes ago

[ edit ] ooooo the silent boo birds ( edit = Bird? - with many socks? ) are on the loose - look at em vote down comments on fixing the economy and society - so that they don't have a chance on getting onto the best comment board - to stick around for awhile for newcomers to look in and easily spot.

See - this is what they do - besides trying to get everyone onto a rodent exercise wheel - with them - to run and run and run and get nowhere at all.

↥twinkle ↧stinkle edit delete

Enough with the up-vote down-vote sock war already.

I sent in an inquiry to admin to look into it.

I would really like to see the forum sign-up page stay open.

So.

KNOCK IT OFF ALREADY

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2919) 0 minutes ago

Right. The Math boys leave out the cost of executive pay when their fighting against $15now.

This huff po/labor doc show executive pay.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/19/low-wage-workers-_n_1687271.html

http://nelp.3cdn.net/24befb45b36b626a7a_v2m6iirxb.pdf

↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink

Further = dividend payout if any ( really wouldn't be a small business issue ) would be calculated - AFTER - the needs of the business were 1st met for the coming cycle = pay adjustments made upward for those minimum wage workers prior to calculating what could be paid out on any dividend.

[-] 5 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Nice, The Math boys never sounded half as intelligent.

The rpt touches on that type of stuff too.

[-] -1 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

because he NEVER answers a question in a straight forward manner - not to me anyway. and thanks for the info but i do not need to do any more thinking on the subject. i am for raising the minimum wage and like the rest of us here i will have no input as to how it is implemented. our great thinkers in albany and trenton and washington will do it for us. the point was a simple one and i happen to know someone very well who will suffer when it happens. he is also for raising the minimum. like too many conversations here that one was mostly a waste of time - i cannot understand why - ego - disruptors - bullshit. is is the internet that creates that? i play hockey and in the locker room after the game you cannot get away with that type of bullshit. your question was a good one - i appreciate simple direct questions - thanks

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2917) 0 minutes ago

That's ex-cellent. Phase it in, slower for smallest business, indexed to inflation!!!!!, & all the same in 9 years.

And still, I'm sure some small business may have trouble. I would consider some kind of wage tx cr for a short time, & if the business can't manage when that is phased out, they may have to close.

It happens, and should be followed be a new small business that can manage.

In any event those mom & pops that would struggle are a tiny %.

good find

↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink

As small business revenue rises ( profits ) so does the pay of the minimum wage worker - until that minimum wage worker is earning at the very least a minimum "living" wage.

This = As small business revenue rises ( profits ) - I think would be best monitored as to include what the owner and any executive staff takes out of the business themselves as attributed to business expense = their own income. So that the executive pay does not go all ape-shit in relation to the rest of the business's employees.

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Right. The Math boys leave out the cost of executive pay when their fighting against $15now.

This huff po/labor doc show executive pay.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/19/low-wage-workers-_n_1687271.html

http://nelp.3cdn.net/24befb45b36b626a7a_v2m6iirxb.pdf

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

Further - bonuses paid out should be required to be paid out to all of the employees on an equal breakdown = total number of employees ( including owner and executive staff ) divided into total amount allotted for bonus pay-out = for an equal share top to bottom - bottom to top = for business overall success.

[+] -4 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

the article you link to shows you are either stupid or sloppy - which is it. read the article and please leave me alone. vacancy my ass - your a twit and while you support many positions that are good you are of very little help to a movement that needs intelligence and lots of it.

[-] 6 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Aaaaaaah ha ha.

This one shows small business owners supporting an increase.

http://politics.suntimes.com/article/chicago/small-business-owners-tell-emanuel-they-back-minimum-wage-hike/mon-07282014-713pm

So these 3 articles illustrate how a small % of min wage workers are @ mom & pops, & most of those mom & pops support increases, recognizing the benefits of increased consumer spending money.

The tiny % remaining will be eligible for our micro business wage tax cr (that can come from our welfare savings).

Or they go out of business, a new one opens, jobs replaced.

Please support our fight!!!!

We need you!

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

[-] 0 points by flip (6813) 18 minutes ago

the question was not whether some small business owners support raising the minimum wage (i do by the way) - the question was how it might hurt those businesses on the edge. you proved our case - " but most said the move would still cost them." now those business struggling to survive will not make it but you do not seem to care. pointing to the old creative destruction idea - "Or they go out of business, a new one opens, jobs replaced." so you have made me waste time on an obvious point. don't you have anything better to do?

↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink

Food for thought while you run on your rodent exercise wheel - https://occupywallst.org/article/im-making-21-hour-mcdonalds-why-arent-you/#comment-1048532

[-] 1 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

good thing i can type and run at the same time. i am sure there are lots of way to mitigate the damage to smaller businesses. interesting that you have to send me what 99 wrote and he cannot. weird don't you think? it would have been a very short and simple discussion then - what's up with that?

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

[ edit ] My Bad ( earlier comment reply to you )

It seemed that you were having a hard time with concept and application ( imagine that ) - so - I didn't send you what 99 wrote - I sent to you a copy of the comment 99 made with my return comment on it.

edit -> so not weird - perhaps thoughtful though - as I needn't have bothered trying to give you food for thought - by sending you a copy of my brief exchange with 99 = https://occupywallst.org/article/im-making-21-hour-mcdonalds-why-arent-you/#comment-1048532. Since it looks like you are still worrying over that old bone = https://occupywallst.org/article/im-making-21-hour-mcdonalds-why-arent-you/#comment-1048675 - it appears you need to do more thimking on it.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

Why don't you ask 99

[-] 1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

I don't go around with a character like to convince them otherwise but really to get those types of thoughts out there and plant some seeds in others minds.

Not seeds of "is this right or wrong" but seeds of "if this was affecting me or someone I know, what are going to be the actual immediate effects" type of stuff.

In other backpage news we are attacking yet another country, not that anyone cares at this point. I guess Bush beat us into such a level of complacency that the next guy can literally do anything he wants. The machine marches on.

[-] 3 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

i agree about not discussing ideas but i don't think it is only politics. seems to me that is the direction our society is moving for a while now. i can only imagine that those people are really not confident in their theories - otherwise why would they be afraid to discuss them. i would think a confident person would welcome the debate. it is especially sad that it happens here at ows of all places. i spent many days in zuccotti park and it was great for that reason. discussion everywhere and the weasels were not allowed to do the shit they do here.

[-] 2 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

i understand your thinking and do the same sometimes - until it becomes too annoying. for sure if a republican were the president there would be protests all over the place. very sad to watch this shit - again! when i was young and protesting the vietnam war i thought we had learned our lesson. i did not realize that the ruling class has been in power for a long time for a reason. they know how to get what they want. i was at the climate march sunday and was approached by a guy handing out stickers - asking warren buffet to invest in renewable energy. my comment was that i did not think we should ask him - we should tax his wealth and decide how the money should be used democratically. he did not like that idea at all and could not discuss the subject. we as a people are not very bright

[-] 1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Only in politics do so many consider themselves intelligent in the field and yet cannot and will not have a nice conversation about said field.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Raise wages, but save small restaraunts, how do we do that?

http://dailysignal.com/2014/10/01/new-jersey-minimum-wage-proposals/

"one way to cover costs, is to raise prices"

What other ways can owners cover increased wage costs?

[-] 0 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

That was a comment by a diner, not a small business owner, and fails to understand the economics involved.

Go ahead, raise it all the way up. I'm sure economic boom will be so plentiful we will just wonder why we dont do the same thing every year, right?

FYI- large corporations can leverage their profits through large scales, so they dont really have to raise their profits, especially if mom and pop have to make noticable jumps.

The dumb american consumers will simply go to the corporations place even more, to save some more money.

Raise wages all you want. Without a conscious awakening, its not going to do anything because the underlying behavior is still the same.

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Wages should include cost of living adjustments to keep up with inflation, so yeah every year we should get a raise.

Of course, absolutely.

The "underlying behavior"? Please specify.

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Take action! Raise Homecare wrkrs wage

http://act.caringacross.org/sign/hcwraction/?source=NDWA

"Missouri home care workers earn an average of $8.58 an hour – just over $17,000 a year for fulltime work. That’s not nearly enough money to live on, let alone support a family.

Governor Jay Nixon can ask the state’s Quality Home Care Council to increase home care wages to $11 an hour without costing Missourians a single cent.

The movement for fair pay for home care workers is gaining momentum. Several states have already taken steps to raise wages. Missouri's action will encourage other states to do the same. So sign today and help build the movement for quality care around the country"

Peace

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

$13 hr in Chi town not enough.

http://inthesetimes.com/ittlist/entry/16943/a_13_minimum_wage_isnt_enough

Upd, bump. Solidarity

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

investors support ceo pay

http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2014/05/22/hundreds-workers-protest-at-mcdonald-shareholder-meeting/

They must be taught that Mcd's profits and stock price will suffer if they don't support a better revenue distr among ALL workers.

[-] 8 points by Ache4Change (3340) 9 years ago

"We did it — workers did this," said Kshama Sawant. She has been a leader of Occupy Seattle, and then became the tenacious, articulate leader of a large grassroots coalition of low-wage workers called "15 Now." Last year, Sawant was elected to the City Council by putting the case for the $15 wage floor directly to the voters.

In addition, Mayor Ed Murray campaigned last year for raising the minimum to $15 — indexed to inflation. Having won, he pulled together a 24-member working group of both labor and business interests this year, and they spent the last four months working together to hammer out details of the local ordinance. On June 2, all nine city council members voted unanimously to adopt it.

Achieving this was not exactly a breeze, for the forces of corporate avarice always pull out all the stops to defeat any move to improve the lot of ordinary working families. When it comes to raising the minimum wage to at least a bare level of human decency, pulling out all the stops invariably includes corporate PR deceptions, such as pretending that helping workers would put an intolerable squeeze on little mom-and-pop stores.

But wait — who are those large guys looming in the shadows, back behind mom and pop, carefully guarding the cash register?

Why, they're multibillion-dollar, brand-name chains.

These corporate behemoths — not mom and pop — are the chief exploiters of millions of low-wage American workers. They're rank profiteers, constantly lobbying in Congress, states and cities to hold down wages, benefits and hope — even as they wallow in record profits and shell out exorbitant, multimillion-dollar paychecks to their top executives.

From - http://www.nationofchange.org/bold-shift-americas-minimum-wage-debate-1402584902

Also see - http://www.nationofchange.org/10-corporate-tax-dodgers-you-should-know-about-1402586573

Never Give Up Seeking Justice! Occupy Fairness & Solidarity!

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

"Door open to unions" with new ruling v MickyD's.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/business/nlrb-holds-mcdonalds-not-just-franchisees-liable-for-worker-treatment.html?_r=0

"The general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board ruled on Tuesday that McDonald’s could be held jointly liable for labor and wage violations by its franchise operators — a decision that, if upheld, would disrupt longtime practices in the fast-food industry and ease the way for unionizing nationwide"

One step at a time. Increase the pressure! Demand more!!

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Protests work! Now vote for candidates who support min wage increases!

OWS & other likeminded progressive groups get credit for all small steps forward.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Ikea+increases+hourly+most+years/9975071/story.html

We MUST increase the pressure! Demand more! This ain't enough. Where's the COLA?

Peace, FYI

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Excellent links.

Here is unelected 3rd party progressives pushing gov for min wage.

http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2014/06/01/gov-cuomo-wins-working-families-party-nomination/

We are responsible for all these efforts.

Raising our voices is the fuel for all change that benefits the 99%

Solidarity

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Credit goes to OWS, & and all protestors demanding increased wages for all these progressive steps.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/06/19/3450807/massachusetts-minimum-wage-11/

Which proves protests do matter!.

So Demand more $11 ain't enough! $15 ain't enough!!

Protest, VOTE! Repeat!

[-] 6 points by Ache4Change (3340) 9 years ago

'Raising our voices is the fuel for all change that benefits the 99%' - YES! Thanks for all the good links above and below, and in compliment, see -

http://www.nationofchange.org/hospital-funds-minimum-wage-increase-workers-executive-bonuses-1404309354 &

http://www.nationofchange.org/america-s-ceos-class-all-themselves-1404227147

See the first link within the context of the second. Never Give Up! OWS! Solidarity.

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Low pay is not ok!" Spread the word

https://www.facebook.com/LowPayIsNotOk/photos/a.591503887546999.1073741828.580610428636345/799172343446818/?type=1&theater

"BREAKING: McDonald's has tried to ignore our calls for better pay, inventing a make-believe world where responsibility for wages and working conditions falls squarely on their franchises, but where the tremendous profits are mostly theirs. No more. The government has recognized what we've always known -- that McDonald's is the boss."

[-] 7 points by Ache4Change (3340) 9 years ago

'The economy is continually teetering toward the edge of deflation, which is the feds responsibility to take care of. They need to push up the money supply and encourage demand in some creative way.'

http://www.nationofchange.org/even-council-foreign-relations-saying-it-time-rain-money-main-street-1409641381

An increased Minimum Wage is part of the demand stimulation that we need but it's not about just buying more stuff anymore, it's about just surviving. These days people go into debt just surviving. The lenders of money don't want people to have a living wage because they want people to keep borrowing and paying interest.

From your last link - 'Ikea’s US division is raising the minimum wage for thousands of its retail workers, pegging it to the cost of living in each location, instead of its competition. The 17 percent average raise announced on Thursday is the Swedish ready-to-assemble furniture chain’s biggest in 10 years in the US.'

Ikea being a Swedish company, gets what its responsibilities are and that happy employees makes for a better, more sustainable business. Sadly too many American companies can't see beyond the next financial quarter's bottom line.

Never Give Up The Workers' Struggle! Occupy The 99% Issues!

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Good point. More companies must be pressured, with letters, protests, social media, boycotts, strikes, marchs,,... etc.

Not givin up, GEARIN UP!!!

[-] 3 points by Ache4Change (3340) 9 years ago

'After suffering two strokes, a doctor tells her story of how she and her family became “poor” and the lesson she learned: Being in poverty isn’t about how hard you work, it’s about how much money you make.' from - http://www.nationofchange.org/2014/11/10/couldnt-possibly-poor-doctor-fell-poverty/ and there but for the grace of God, go we. Never Give Up The Struggle! Occupy The 99% Issues! Solidarity.

[-] 3 points by Ache4Change (3340) 9 years ago

I'm not sure what you were linking to but try this - http://www.nationofchange.org/2014/11/10/couldnt-possibly-poor-doctor-fell-poverty/ and reflect on it. Never Give Up The 99% Struggle! Occupy Solidarity!

[-] 1 points by ShadzSixtySix (1936) 9 years ago

So ... ''The lenders of money don't want people to have a living wage because they want people to keep borrowing and paying interest.'' !!! Bingo & that's the whole kit and kaboodle right there !! Solidarity A4C !

semper fidelis ...

[-] 3 points by Ache4Change (3340) 9 years ago

Yes, the lenders of money don't want people to have a living (or even minimum!) wage because they just want people to keep borrowing and paying interest! I'd say that that was pretty obvious really. Thanks for the useful links and see - http://www.nationofchange.org/2014/11/10/couldnt-possibly-poor-doctor-fell-poverty/ to see how precarious The 99%'s lives are. Never Give Up! Occupy 'Faith' in The 99% - 'Always'!

[-] 4 points by ShadzSixtySix (1936) 9 years ago

Right but that "the lenders of money don't want people to have a living (or even minimum!) wage because they just want people to keep borrowing and paying interest!'' ... is still a core, cold, hard truth that bears repeating and often - no matter how ''obvious'' it may now seem to us, as - ''In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." (George Orwell)

Your link was to a shocking story and so many of us 99% know that ''there but for the grace of God, go we.'' Meanwhile, no fkn point looking to this or any other POTUS for any relief or ''change'' or ''hope'' ...

The facts are now abundantly clear for all but the most blinkered or partisan and only a 'bottom up, grass roots, 99% Movement' .. is going to upset the Neoliberal/Neocon apple-cart, as None Of The 0.01%'s Selected Placemen (or women) will help ! Never Give Up !! Occupy Wall Street !!! Solidarity.

dum spiro, spero ...

[-] 5 points by Ache4Change (3340) 9 years ago

If ''In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." (George Orwell), then I'll have another go by stating the obvious - the lenders of money don't want people to have a living (or even minimum!) wage because they just want people to keep borrowing and paying interest!

Thanks for the good links, further to which, I think that you'll find this of interest - http://www.nationofchange.org/2014/12/10/supreme-court-cozies-big-business/

Never Give Up Exposing, Opposing and Proposing Justice - economic or otherwise! Occupy The 99% Agenda! Solidarity.

[-] 3 points by ShadzSixtySix (1936) 9 years ago

Yes."the lenders of money don't want people to have a living (or even minimum!) wage because they just want people to keep borrowing and paying interest!'' & that warrants a constant and clear amplification. Furthermore your 'NoC' link shows how there has been a Judicial Coup in The SCrOTU$ !!!

99% Solidarity & the best wishes of the season to you and yours.

pax et lux ; nunc et semper ...

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Forget squabbles/distractions, contribute substance, Please?

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/metro-government/2014/09/23/report-minimum-wage-increase-help/16121421/

remember how much better it feels to contribute substance?

[-] 2 points by ShadzSixtySix (1936) 9 years ago

Fck off you patronising, multi-monikered, DNC stooge & go read some cold, hard truth now :

Desperately trying to be ''all things to all men'' leaves you being 'nothing to nobody' - maybe.

temet nosce ...

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Who cares about the Presidents 'legacy'????

We're pressuring him, all pols, & their corp overlords for increased wages (and debt absolution!! Get that just fine Wicky).

More RELEVANT info:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/24/minimum-wage-increase-numbers_n_5868848.html

Did you say DNC, officer?

PPP on the job!!

[-] 2 points by ShadzSixtySix (1936) 9 years ago

Alas ''The lenders of money don't want people to have a living wage because they want people to keep borrowing and paying interest.'' .. was and is a really fkn brilliant insight from A4C that I tried to highlight and where you chose to respond to me above .. but you didn't get the point sadly !!! Go back to multi-voting now maybe !! Be assured of your infamy tho' !

multum in parvo ...

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Repeating an accepted element of the issue and suggesting I "didn't get the point" is ridiculous false attack. (strawman)

I get it. It's why we fight.

In other min wage related news:

http://www.npr.org/2014/09/24/351246893/subtle-sea-change-on-minimum-wage-as-gop-candidates-back-state-hikes

Big news when "some GOP pols support min wage".

I wonder if the 'lenders of money' know that some of their stooges have strayed?

Retire ALL pols against min wage increase!!!

NOW!! $15NOW!!

[-] 3 points by ShadzSixtySix (1936) 9 years ago
[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Retire Pols against min wage increase!

http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/cpc-in-the-news/congressional-progressive-caucus-denounces-erick-ericksons-degrading-remarks-about-minimum-wage-workers/

We need pols who will get arrested with us for raising the minimum wage!

http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/cpc-in-the-news/hundreds-of-fast-food-workers-arrested-while-striking-for-higher-wages/

Who will fight for every bit of progress

"At the same time, Congressional Progressive Caucus members have successfully added similar contracting bans to five different House appropriations measures. Democrats are likely to look to keep those provisions in any government funding legislation that comes up this month."

http://www.bna.com/congress-returns-little-n17179894543/

http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/273993611.html

Retire those who oppose increase

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/15/gop-minimum-wage-increase_n_2884912.html

It is clear who is the problem.

Reflecting yet?

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Poll: Imaginary Jartocracy, or Min Wage?

Which should we discuss?

[Deleted]

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

His honor the all father purity judge? One of your PPP force. He was just a McCarthyite searching & destroying all who disagreed with him.

For you right? That's what he said anyway.

Do you support our fight for $15??

Set aside the distractions of meaningless issues, focus on substance

[Deleted]

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

minimum wage action, info, updates are substance to me.

Your made up 'jartocracy' and fantasies regarding what the forum can be are just a distraction from our important work.

The effort to improve the lives of millions of decent hard working families is REAL!!!

Our movement, the fight for $15 must continue growing & we MUST agitate all powers that be to join that movement.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/275621111.html

Or we can be distracted by the ridiculous fantasies you've spewed for 3 years to no affect, while the minimum wage movement continues to progress and improve the lives of the 99%.

LMFAO!!!!!

What moron has been fooled by your tired blatant concern troll tactics?

[Deleted]

[-] 4 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

I KNOW they were banned because of their intolerance and harrassment of posters whose political thought they disagree with.

But the importance of your fantasy pales in comparison to the importance of decent hard working americans struggling in underpaid jobs.

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Obscene!! Living wage w/cola NOW!!

http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/2014/05/15/140515-Fast-Food-Protests-Global.aspx

update, bump, whatever

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Action on min wage war!

http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6748/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18504

Not givin' up, Gearin up!!!

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago
[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Tipped workers need a raise!

http://bullhorn.nationofchange.org/raise_tipped_workers_wages

"While other federal minimum wages have increased throughout the years, the minimum wage for tipped employees remains the same. Since 1991, the federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13 per hour, according to the Department of Labor. While servers struggle to make ends meet earning poverty-level wages, discrimination and inequality continue to plague the restaurant industry".

It's long overdue!

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago
[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

When CEO's submit we must assume we have lowballed our demands.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/04/mcdonalds-ceo-minimum-wage-hike_n_5445539.html

Take it & fight for more!!

Protest, Vote,. Repeat!

[-] 6 points by quantumystic (1710) from Memphis, TN 9 years ago

you should be able to make a living if you work. that means you shouldn't need state aid. you should be able to make it on your own. with the current minimum wage so low that is impossible to do alone without help.

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Wolff's criticism illustrate the right approach our Political leaders should take.

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/25378-poor-polls-and-obamas-missed-opportunity

Agitate ALL pols for a living wage w/cola!

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 9 years ago

someone still has to give you money

[-] 2 points by quantumystic (1710) from Memphis, TN 9 years ago

they are working for it.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Influence min wage debate!

https://www.facebook.com/events/477932932308692/

Join the chat

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 9 years ago

they still control the money

[-] 1 points by quantumystic (1710) from Memphis, TN 9 years ago

who?

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago
[-] 0 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Anti 99%, min wage, Here is the problem

http://www.kspr.com/news/nationworld/Woodhouse-The-truth-about-the-Koch-agenda/21051646_26292470

Plus

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/three-new-ways-the-koch-brothers-are-screwing-america-20140604

Identify the leaders who support Koch agenda and vote them out!!

Pressure all pols to vote against anti 99% Koch agenda!!

Support ALL leaders who defy the corp oligarch Koch bros!!

http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/reid-koch-brothers-arent-interested-in-unemployment-extension-minimum-wage/

Peace

[Deleted]

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Michigan folds!

But it's too little too late sign the petition.

http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/05/how_they_voted_michigan_lawmak.html#incart_most-comments

After Party gutting of original bill!!

http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/05/minimum_wage_increase_michigan.html

More protests, cause this ain't enough!

[-] 4 points by shoozTroll (17632) 9 years ago

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/05/27/michigan-gop-pushing-bill-stop-you-suing-insurance-companies-lie/

If it passes, expect ALEC to take it to States all over the Nation.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Keep the pressure on!! We aren't fooled by half steps.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dale-hansen/deceptive-minimum-wage-rh_b_5405157.html

Take what we can get & resume the fight for higher wages!

just keepin it real.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Everyone needs to look sharp!!

Good info.

[Removed]

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Pressure all pols/corps to increase wages.

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2014/05/23/abercrombie-signs-bill-raising-hawaiis-minimum.html

More momentum, but this is NOT enough.

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Trust Poppins. She knows as well as our representatives.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/24/kristen-bell-mary-poppins-minimum-wage_n_5618408.html

$10.10 ain't enough!

[-] 3 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 9 years ago

Denmark the happiest place on earth.....

http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/international/2014/09/18/spc-vital-signs-happiness-denmark-a.cnn.html

or maybe Panama is moving up around the corner with strong family bonds, its tough to beat family, but Denmark is still a strong contender while the great seats of inequality America and Great Britain are no where to be found.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/sep/17/worlds-happiest-country-panama-overtake-denmark

[-] 2 points by shoozTroll (17632) 9 years ago

Stand up for yourself and your rights and what do you get?

Arrested.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/05/21/news/companies/mcdonalds-protest/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[Deleted]

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

shadz posted this I think:

http://www.wrongforeveryone.com/more-facts-on-right-to-work/

right to work laws are bad because they hurt decent hard working families & help corp oligarchs. By "crippling Unions", which represents workers best opportunity to negotiate for better working conditions with corp mgmt.

Right?

[-] 1 points by wickerman (62) 9 years ago

That's what I said. I don't have links to it or anything, it's just my opinion.

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

No worries, really. You don't have to prove any thing. Just askin cause I wanna see, not to discredit you.

Did you bring up Bundy on thid minimum wage thread because they're both shaded by elements of racism.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-voter-id-steve-chapman-oped-0515-20140515,0,3729590.column

Still not sure why you brought up Bundy.

[-] 1 points by wickerman (62) 9 years ago

Just o point out how the internet can be manipulated. No other reason.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Correcting this would help millions of the 99%.

http://freakonomics.com/2011/10/06/explaining-the-black-white-wage-gap/

bump

[-] 0 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

''The Most Dishonest Words in American Politics : 'Right to Work''', by Steven Wishnia :

I can not claim credit for that good link you post to and though you are mistaken that I posted it, I certainly agree with what you say and do endorse it and also append the following in compliment :

labore et honore ...

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

doublespeak, Orwellian, diabolical.

you have the right idea here.

[-] 0 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

''Supporters of a $15-an-hour minimum wage in Chicago said today that the time is right to introduce their plan to the City Council, despite moves from Mayor Rahm Emanuel and at the state level to go more slowly and possibly adopt smaller increases.''

Rahm Emmanuel, huh ?!!! Dem Pol ?!! Former Oblah-blah White House CoS ?! Class Traitor & Stooge ?

fiat justitia ...

[-] -3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

So then for you the value of this story is how to bash the President and Dems specifically?

Wow.

Well like most of these increases they are too little, too late, so take it, & continue pressuring ALL pols for more increases.

Put aside the immature, empty, one sided partisanship. Focus on the substance of the issues.

Peace

[-] 0 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

Knowledge of the Chicago workers' struggle was the ''value'' in the link provided by you, as was the three links I extracted from that article. Rahm Emanuel's behaviour re. that struggle deserved to be noted and so I did.

You do get a li'l bit sensitive about any criticism of El Presidente' & The Dems don't you ? So, ''wow'' ! Why dat, huh - are they above any criticism and have you ever done so on this forum ?!! Honestly ask yourself - are they now more focussed on The 99% or do they just focus on The 10% ; 1% & 0.01% ?!!!

I'm not ''partisan'' ... I have a huge problem with ALL conservatives and to imagine that most Democratic Party Pols are not that - is the delusion that enables the 0.01% Co-opters to retain their vice like grip on 'the democratic process'. So, ''immature, empty (&) one sided'' - would be NOT recognizing that, I would suggest.

pax via justitia ...

[-] 0 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Your article clearly is against "the New Populism" Sen Warren & Sanders.

I support the issues Sen Warren is fighting for, I also support what your article suggested populists would support.

I support pressuring ALL pols for change that benefits the 99%

Bashing only the pols fighting for my agenda is ridiculous and exactly what the corp oligarchs want.

But whatever, you are free to flame war, I know it's fun. But in the end what does it buy you to constantly bash one side?

Besides the entertainment value you may derive you spend your time tearing down and not building up.

I can't do that. Too negative, bad form, negative karma, dark side, too yangy.

Y'know.

PEACE!!!!!

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

You may ''support'' Elizabeth Warren or even Bernie Sanders but it's 'People over Politicians' and 'Planet over Profits' !!! You don't seem to be able to handle critiques never mind any criticism of Dems Pols but I am not - 'flaming or bashing for entertainment' .... as this shit is far, Far, FAR more important than that !! Consider that any and all lasting ''building up'' of a Mass 99% Movement ... can only be done from below by The 99% - NOT from above by ANY Politicians & this is what both parties realise and fear the most !

pax .. et lux ?

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

The "building up" of a mass 99% movement IS being done from below.

What are you ranting about?

Seatle just passed the largest min wage in the country. Our movement is a big reason we got the pols to pass it.

Now we must tell them it ain't enough. can't stop the protests!

[-] -1 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

We are actually on the same page on this and many matters - even IF you can not accept it, lol !!! We agree on more things than we disagree on, imo !! So - stop making up shit about what I'm saying, lol !

ad iudicium ...

[-] 0 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

your accusing me of lying about you?

Is this more personal attack distractions.?

How exactly am I "making up shit about what" you are saying?

[-] 1 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

Hmmm, ''distraction'' is as 'distraction' does !!! Your hysteria is not pleasant to behold !! Now .. calmTF down & look at your last but one reply to me to see why I said what I did ! More importantly, consider :

e tenebris, lux ...

[-] 0 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Petitioning for direct vote on min wage increase!

http://www.khastv.com/story/raising-the-minimum-wage-20140609

In Nebraska!!!

Wow. Imagine that. Occupies influence in action!!

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

From your slightly random link, I nevertheless excerpt :

''A bill that would have raised Nebraska's minimum wage failed during the last legislative session, but, one group isn't giving up the fight.

''Last week Seattle, Washington made history when they voted to raise their minimum wage to 15 dollars. That's the highest in the nation.

''One local group is fighting for a pay raise here at home. The group Better Wages Nebraska is attempting to collect 83 thousand signatures by July 3rd. They want the minimum wage increase to be decided by the voters on the November ballot.''

For much more on The Minimum Wage, see :

fiat justitia ruat caelum ...

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Great links! Again. Thanks.

Is your "random link" criticism serious.?

The last one came from a local news source, I find much info at the local level. No good?

[-] 1 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

Hmm, ''random'' is more a reference to the appearing out of nowhere at any time, rather than strictly the 'relevance or content' lol and also do see ... http://truth-out.org/art/item/24283-minimum-wage (cartoon).

minma maxima sunt ...

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

I can resend the same link repeatedly too!

http://inthesetimes.com/working

It was a great story before,& still is.

thx

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

Yep ! Feel free to do that !! Don't forget to chop n' change too tho' !!!

multum in parvo ...

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

minimum wage war update! (new article)

http://gothamist.com/2014/06/16/a_1313_minimum_wage_means_12_millio.php

Peace.!

[-] 5 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

"A minimum wage of $13.13 is likely to benefit New York City’s working poor substantially," the report reads. The Comptroller's office arrived at $13.13 because it would be the largest allowable under a minimum wage bill currently working through Albany. The bill would raise the state minimum wage to $10.10/hour by the end of 2015, and allow municipalities to raise it further by 30%.'' from your link, from which I also extracted ...

fiat justitia ...

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Corporatist oligarchs stole Amer. dream.

And todays min wage news:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-minimum-wage-johnson-outside-opinion-0622-biz-20140622,0,6655581.story

Restoring the Amer dream one worker at a time

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

Apparently 'The Chicago Tribune' requires its on-line readers to jump through umpteen hoops and to go through tedious mularkey in order to read its content - ergo I couldn't open your link but nevertheless, I append from a more collegiate source, the following :

fiat justitia ...

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Paywalls suck.

Will read your links later (if I haven't already)

ta

Solidarity

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

Cool and .. ''The Fight For 15'' - from 'AcronymTV' :

fiat lux ...

[-] 0 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Even $15 ain't enough! An illustration.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/03/the-decreasing-value-of-the-minimum-wage-in-every-state-visualized/

Your false accusations, & dishonest personal attacks are irrelevant (as I've told you repeatedly) when considering this fundamental issue of wealth inequity.

Please stay on topic, and don't stray from substance.

PEACE

[-] -1 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

I'll speak as I choose and IF you don't like it - don't engage me - simple !!! I am NOT going to open your MSM link because it'll just be more obvious and weasel words from more Corporate Corrupted Co-opted 'so called' journalists who don't really give two shits for The 99% !! However, I'll show you some ''topic'' !

ad iudicium ...

[-] 0 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

I was at that protest last year (Responding here from you short video comment)

Here's a current upd on 15now's fight:

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2540659/15-Now-cancels-plan-for-minimum-wage-ballot-measure

Nothing is easy.

Persevere, protest, vote. Repeat

[-] 0 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Do you think Councilperson Sawant (who has acknowledged her socialist/occupy influence, and was ELECTED) has pushed this most critical issue forward.?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/04/seattle-minimum-wage_n_5440662.html

We must protest, VOTE, and protest again.

We need both actions. We can't afford to dismiss any non violent tactic.

This one council seat can be the beginning, just as the current min wage movement (on topic) started with one protest at a burger king in times square 18 mos ago.

(love E Grant, & elec ave, just not so revolutionary & therefore less relevant)

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

Re. Kshama Sawant - you'll find a lot more from her here :

I'm heavily committed on that thread btw, so you'll find even more opportunities to stinkle my comments there too if you like and more relevantly, for some more 'Rev. Tunes', perhaps also see and stinkle here :

minima maxima sunt ...

[-] -1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

At least you support increasing wages.

Even if you can't put aside the childish flaming personal attacks.

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

I support a lot more than ''increasing wages'' but that is fundamental to The 99%, the world over !!! I think that you internalise my ''attacks'' on 'Dem Pols and The Dem Party Machine On The Hill' - far to much !! Should I infer anything from that, lolol ?! Anyway, try looking ..

''The American today is expected to bow to authority unquestioningly, even as he is told he has the freedom to do otherwise. He is told to trust those in power at the very moment they betray him. He is encouraged to participate in the affairs of public life while simultaneously being denied access to the necessary means and knowledge. He is living in a world that preaches openness and honesty while simultaneously insisting on the necessity of secrecy in matters of state.

''He is living in a nation that preaches peace and democracy while sustaining an ever-increasing war budget, a nation that in the name of democracy supports the decimation of weaker countries for purposes of private gain. He is told that it is dangerous “out there,” where the enemy lurks, but safe “in here,” when in fact the enemy lies within.

''He is living in a world based on power, fear, deception, exploitation, and hypocrisy. Like a traumatized and abused child his natural response to such a situation is the response he learned as a child—to believe in the good intentions of those who abuse him while retreating to a position of acquiescence, numbness, and indifference toward the outcome of events that dramatically impinge upon his well being and his very existence.

''Many of us suffer from meta­noia. While a paranoid person will think he is in danger when he isn’t, a metanoid person will think he is safe when he isn’t. A metanoid is liable to call someone who sees hidden dangers “a paranoid conspiracy nut.” Metanoia insulates us from the disturbing reality around us and thus renders us powerless to do anything about it.

''Once we begin exercising our imaginations and sharing our ideas with others, we have begun the process of change. We find we are not as alone as we thought we were. We aren’t trapped. We aren’t powerless. There are viable alternatives. It is as simple as getting together and talking to each other about what is wrong and how to fix it. The process will carry us forward.''

~

I don't recommend this deeply insightful article (which I have savagely abridged here, lol) to any sensitive soul who wants a good night's sleep but it could reward a close read for any inquiring minds out there ~*

veritas vos liberabit ?

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Yeah sure, nothing I don't know.

The "American" described is certainly the biggest stumbling block to taking our govt back from the corp oligarchs, & implementing progressive change that benefits the 99%.

But it certainly ain't me. And it doesn't change the fact that WE MUST protest, VOTE and protest again.

THAT is the only thing that WILL change our situation. Us, the people, not any of the parties or politicians that the distractoids obsess over.

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

"The men the American people admire most extravagantly are the greatest liars: the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth." - - H. L. Mencken - (1880-1956) American Journalist, Editor, Essayist.

per aspera ad astra ...

[-] -1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

"What's the word?"

[-] 0 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

Right, ''Johannesburg'', lol !!! RiP G.S-H & re. Jo'burg, another wee, foot tappy ditty also comes to mind :

dexter ?

[-] 0 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Got a long way to go until labor is properly, respected, valued, and compensated.

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20140521/OPINION03/305210085/Shrinking-middle-class-needs-wake-up

But we are wakin 'em up, and slowly but surely as we get them into the streets (& voting booth) we will succeed

(Eddie Grant??? not as revolutionary as G.S. Heron I must say)

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

''How did we go from a society that once cared about our workers, believed strongly in a middle class, built our communities around public education and respected one another’s religious beliefs, to what we have today? We are fed a steady stream of concocted doomsday scenarios, that tell us; if corporations don’t take control of our government, increase their profits, we face certain economic collapse.'' ... from your link (which was so busy with adverts n' shit that it took ages to load on my old putr, lol) and so by way of a reply, please consider :

''A job is only yours if you can keep it. And with the competition these days you're lucky if you don't get torn apart. You think WS is bad - wait until you meet your new co-workers. Back-stabbing desperate, greedy baboon societies dressed in casual pressed pants. The higher ups watch the Lord of Flies scenes with all the glee of puppet masters watching their little creation dance under their fingertips.

''You'll watch yourself doing things that make you gag and cringe (even while you sleep), you will remember yourself back in that third interview for that Petco cashier job and the manager schmuck at Stucky's restaurant that turned you down and you'll eagerly bow to your new corporate lords as if they were the great providers and you are not even worthy.

''You'll run around like you exist solely to serve the workforce aristocracy and sweat each day as you work harder and harder while some sociopathic bully middle manager abuses and demeans you for their own enjoyment daily... and then about five years later just as you were gaining the semblance of stability - you'll find that pink slip in your hand and get walked out the door with a box and 2 weeks pay to carry you into the future as the new unpaid intern is passing you on the way to their interview for your old newly unpaid position. Good Luck out there!''

As an obiter dicta, although I saw Gil Scott Heron play live a few times (and also even met him once to talk to & RiP), nevertheless - Eddie Grant is cool man - remember ''(Rock Down To) Electric Avenue'' ?!!

multum in parvo ...

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

note any leader willing to support our agenda, then put their feet to the fire.

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/05/15/progressive-house-members-stand-solidarity-striking-fast-food-workers.html

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Agreed

[-] 1 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

Why is McDonalds serving food cooked by unskilled labor?

Why do people go to McDonalds in the first place?

[-] 1 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

The dollar amount is not nearly as important as who owns that actual dollar.

As it stands now, everyone's money is horribly manipulated, messed with, adjusted and inflated according to what industry needs what.

If the people dont own the money, forget about using legislation to increase your purchasing power. People have been chasing this minimum wage wagon for as long as its been around.

Now wages are stagnant for some time, yet the costs of everything keep going up, commodities seeing increases but wages arent? How on earth would something like this even happen?

With that being said, if you raise the min by 50%, what makes you think they cant just inflate the dollars used to prices back to what it was in proportion before hand?

At the end of the day I support people active. This is in no way meant to come off as 15now is wrong. 15now is right at their core demand- the shit is fucked up and needs to be fixed.

Just remember that the money we speak of fluctuates in a system owned by the very people who are the ones paying these wages. If the people dont own the money, dont own the ability to manage the money, its going to be not too long after 15now gets passed nationally that the new struggle for 20now begins due to the fluctuations and the lack of control over the actual value of the money that we have.

[Removed]

[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 9 years ago

It would be interesting to run the numbers. What does a typical McDonalds pull in per hour? I'm guessing 250 to 500 dollars? How many employees? 8 to 10?

cost of food for the franchise, franchise fee, taxes, insurance. I bet they could afford 10 to 13 bucks an hour with raises to 15 bucks after six months or a year.

[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 9 years ago

Seems like a lot of money because that amount of money has to be multiplied since each worker has built in costs. I don't know what the multiplier is, it might be 2, 2.5 or 3, so to pay that worker 21 dollars an hour it costs the company between 40 and 60 dollars an hour. Does each worker generate that much gross per hour? Maybe, probably not every hour of the day otherwise each store would have to gross 300 to 500 bucks an hour

[-] 0 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

More wage progress

http://www.kplu.org/post/port-seattle-proposes-lifting-airport-workers-minimum-wage-13-2017

Keep up the pressure, this is still not enough.

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 9 years ago

fast food places never call me back for an interview

[-] 1 points by rocket88doowop (30) from Brooklyn, NY 9 years ago

How do we make sure that raising salaries does not increase prices, thus making people no better able to afford necessities?

[-] 3 points by Nevada1 (5843) 9 years ago

Perfect.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

Kansas U agrees

http://kansan.com/opinion/2014/04/29/reasor-maximum-wage-laws-could-close-income-gap/

The economic inequity debate is joined.

Have at it.

[-] 2 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

Wow! Too basic, too simple, too smart. You hit the nail on the head. Too bad too few are listening.

[-] 2 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

More & more everyday.

[-] 3 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

Progressive taxation is a form of maximum wage limiting. Right now in the U.S.A. we've actually created "regressive: taxation, i.e. the more money one makes the less taxes one pays.

[-] 3 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

It's criminal of course.

[-] 1 points by 99nproud (2697) 9 years ago

We don't.

[-] -1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 9 years ago
[-] -1 points by draguartism (19) from Brooklyn, NY 9 years ago

To answer your question - why I don't make 21$/hour at McDonald's is because I do not wish to work there. I don't support the way the raise their animals.