Masses of US workers apply for low-wage jobs at McDonalds

[Hannah Bell]

An effort is being made in the media to portray the McDonalds hiring day as a positive indicator of the state the US economy. Local news outlets throughout the US have been promoting the event, directing job-seekers to McDonalds’ online application web site and local restaurants, where they can apply.

In an interview with a local ABC news reporter in Chicago, John Challenger of the outplacement consultancy firm, Challenger, Gray and Christmas, was asked if he viewed Wednesday’s event as an indication that the job market is recovering. “It certainly is,” he said...

The effort to portray the creation of 50,000 low-wage jobs—McDonalds’ starting salary hovers around $8 an hour—as a positive sign is an insult to the millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet. McDonalds is notorious for keeping an abundance of workers at less than full-time status, in order to preclude the possibility of overtime pay or having to offer substantial benefits. Even if a McDonalds new-hire were to work 40 hours a week, his or her gross income would be less than $15,000 a year—roughly the figure that the US Census Bureau defines as the “poverty threshold” for a household of two people.

The number of applicants who responded to the hiring day event reflects the desperate conditions facing US workers. Broken down on average, each McDonalds store in the country had four new positions as a result of the expansion. Nonetheless, at many locations hundreds applied.

[glen123098]

1. We are too greedy.

Demanding 7-9 bucks an hour for a job and hope we get at least 20 hours a week. We've gotten too greedy as a nation. How dare we? We should be competing with South East Asia and be willing to work 12 hours a day for the rights to use company supplied housing slums.

[Cascadian]

2. What can you say about this?

This is where the job market is headed. Jobs where they can nickle and dime you! Never thought a college education would be so handy for asking "Would you like fries with that?"

:eyes:




John

(The Cascadian is back!)

[Luminous Animal]

3. And no evidence that those jobs even exist.

[lonestarnot]

4. Yes that was a ploy used by many corps. not too long ago. Remember that?

Advertised positions that didn't exist. Don't recall the purpose. :shrug:

[Luminous Animal]

6. I do remember the outline but not the specifics. I am sure, though, that headlines

of 50,000 AMERICANS HIRED IN ONE DAY (!!!!), is a marketing ploy.

I have a 23 year old friend, intelligent, diligent, with a good resume who can't get a job in the U.S. Unbelievably, he got a job working in a warehouse in Greece.

Greece. In the midst of a full blown economic meltdown is hiring U.S. youth.

[lonestarnot]

23. Wow. Now that is amazing. Good for him!

[bindelh]

15. Don't recall the purpose.

The 'purpose' ??

To make it look like they are hiring....

Polish up the corporate image. Much like Target does by giving tax deductible millions to charity and hiring at minimum wage and not full time so they do not have to pay unemployment taxes to the states where their stores are located or other benefits such as retirement and medical coverage.

Of course most people could be hit with a 2x4 and still not 'get it'.

Mean whilst the masses continue to clamor for the 'latest' bling thing at Wal Marche and Targ'et.

[lonestarnot]

24. hmmmf. Something deeper than that stupid fucking illusion. Where is your link.

[quiller4]

5. I don't disagree with the point you are making but McDonalds

starting pay in my area for their wait staff is $9.75/hr. with a raise to $11/hr. after three months. Our state's minimum wage is $8.67. Managers of smaller stores make $35,000/yr. while branch managers make $50,000+. McDonalds also has one of the restaurant industry's best education assistance programs.

I would not want to make a career in fast food but I understand why McDonalds is an attractive place to work for many young people because they start at at least $1/hr. more than more other fast food establishments and they observe rapid promotion from among the ranks.

On the local news tonight it was announced that the local McDonalds had 150 applicants seeking to fill the 85 openings they had in the area. Not all that long ago they would have had 5 or 6 applicants for each position.

[Luminous Animal]

8. There is no such thing as a wait staff at McDonalds. By the way, where is your area?

[Hannah Bell]

10. Tacoma, home of Ft. Lewis.

And here's a job advertisement from near-by kent, wa:

Part-Time Lunch Opportunities!
Hours: 11:00 AM - 3:00PM

Pay: $8.67 on

We believe in flexibility! McDonald's offers part-time restaurant job opportunities during lunch hours. Do you want to work in a fast-paced environment for the leader in the industry?

Enjoy the Perks
Working at McDonald's will provide a wealth of experience and skills including time management, customer service, team building, problem solving, self-confidence, responsibility and more.


and from near-by federal way:

Crew Person
McDonald's - Federal Way, WA - +3 locations Hours: any Pay: Starting @ $8.67 per hour. We are seeking energentic, enthusiastic, friendly people to join our team. We offer a free meal during shift, 50... $8.67 an hour
From McDonald's - 30+ days ago - save job -


and from tacoma itself:

Crew, Part-time

McDonald's - Tacoma, WA - +2 locations Hours: Flexible Pay: $8.67 and up Looking for customer service oriented individuals with great smiles to work in a team environment. Hours are flexible (5am... $8.67 an hour


http://www.indeed.com/q-McDonalds-l-Puyallup,-WA-98373-jobs.html

[Luminous Animal]

11. Washington State's minimum wage is $8.67 an hour. McDonald's can't offer less.

[Hannah Bell]

12. i understand that. i live in wa. i'm not seeing the $9.75 salary quoted by the poster.

that is the point of the job listings.

[Luminous Animal]

13. Agreed. I should have confirmed that I understood your point. Cheers!

[bindelh]

16. These used to be jobs for Highschool kids or 1st time jobs..

not jobs intended for a living wage.

Flexible hours = industry speak for no benefits.

Same is going on at Starbucks.. hiring more workers at minimum wage and reducing hours to 20 a week.

Welcome to Serfdom..

Soon you will be hearing the bell ringer on your street shouting "BRING OUT YOUR DEAD".

[Hannah Bell]

9. most mcdonalds workers are *part-time*. so can the paens to the glory of mcd's.

$35K for a 60-hour week is not good wages.

[Paradoxical]

7. I refuse to applaud this.

There's something sickening about watching thousands of desperate workers settle for a shit job with a shit wage.

[FLAprogressive]

14. +1.

[joshcryer]

20. +1! Indeed.

Fast food is one of the hardest fucking jobs there is.

[Initech]

27. To quote the Dude: "This aggression will not stand, man."

It's sickening that these fucking CEOs are making billions while the rest of us suffer, and are reduced to fighting over jobs at a fucking McDonalds, I cant take it anymore. :argh:

[Hugabear]

29. Let them eat cake

Hey, it's a job, just be glad you have one... :sarcasm:

[JANdad]

17. But, but, but John Edwards

Had an affair! That is all that really matters!

[cutlassmama]

18. 2 people were run over while applying at a McDonald's today

[no_hypocrisy]

19. Reminds me of the desperation of the masses during the Depression

in "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" with the dance marathons as the only way to get money. Both these situations exist because there aren't a dependable amount of decent-paying employment positions.

[nc4bo]

22. Doesn't it now. I often wonder how many others are noticing...

More people are waking up. Still not nearly enough.

[Starry Messenger]

21. k&r

[newspeak]

25. I remember when NAFTA-GATT passed

Now it was Poppy Bush's baby, but Clinton passed it. I remember when Clinton got on TV and told us that we were now going to be the service industry of the world, I laughed and turned to hubby and said we'd all be working at McDonald's.

[handmade34]

26. why aren't we

forming cooperatives and worker owned companies/businesses... instead of patronizing and working at the likes of McDonalds???

collectively we are so ignorant

[Hugabear]

28. This is why we need a national right to unionize

Imagine if fast-food, retail, and other low-wage workers were allowed to unionize. Perhaps we'd see higher wages, benefits, etc?

[Keith Bee]

30. Dickensian England, Here We Come!

Five percent filthy rich, 95% eating rats for sustinence.

[Zanzoobar]

31. This is good news

I'm happy there are still some entry level jobs available. McD's is doing just alright.

[leftstreet]

32. YAY! Go Team America!

[bobthedrummer]

33. ^

:puke: