11: Fight for $15

Goldstein’s examines how technology has pushed corporations into cheapening the worker, to improve the marginal production of labor, and increase their surplus value. This relates to the ‘Fight for $15’ campaign because workers of fast food giants believe they are being cheated and taken advantage of. In this post I will be reflecting on views of this issue.

Mike Rowe, star of the television series Dirty Jobs tells it how it is when saying, “Stop looking for the “right” career, and start looking for a job. Any job. Forget about what you like. Focus on what’s available. Get yourself hired. Show up early. Stay late. Volunteer for the scut work. Become indispensable.” I believe that people have a false entitlement when it comes to job markets today. Fast-food workers believe that because companies like McDonalds are multi-national corporations that they should pay them more. Yet they are a business, they are out to make profits just like any other, just on a much larger scale. The reason that fast food giants are able to pay their workers low wages is because they automatized their operations so well that nearly anyone can do it. This means that the supply of workers that they can choose from is nearly unlimited. Viewpoints on this issue undoubtedly result from issues in race, gender, and class.

For the middle and upper class, I can see why they would be opposed to raising wages of fast food workers. As presented by Colbert in the video below, where he says, “You understand that the extra 75 cents an hour is pushed onto the consumer…” increased wages of the bottom line will affect the purchasing power and costs of goods for all classes in America. Another point that I would like to point out from the video is that the guest speaker, Naquasia LeGrand, is only currently working 15 hours a week. She explains that this is due to managers not allowing her to work more then that. To this I say find another job completely if you are not happy with what you are given. This may sound harsh, but as a full time college student who works also over 20 hours a week I believe she needs to change her career path. The Internet has allowed easy access to finding new jobs, networking, and online schooling that could easily land her a job in a different industry. If you look at Australia, their minimum wage is currently around $15 dollars per hour, and at first glance it looks like they are much more generation then America whose is around $8 in most states. However, if you look at Australia’s cost of living, it is much higher than in the U.S. this just an example of how changing the bottom line has repercussions.

The Colbert Report Video

I do understand and feel for workers who are unable to make a living wage. I just believe that if you are not happy with your circumstances, especially in the work place, that you can always find ways to change it. Technology will continue to take over low-skilled professions; it’s just the unfortunate truth that comes with advancements in society and a capitalistic marketplace.

Sources:
[1] http://www.lifebuzz.com/mike-rowe/
[2] http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/4g3c4f/naquasia-legrand