https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215619462I love these threads. Only because of the industry I've been in most of my adult life.
multigraincracker (23,649 posts)
'We all quit': Burger King sign goes viral as staff walks out
A photo of a sign outside a Lincoln, Neb., Burger King has gone viral.
The sign, which reads “we all quit” and “sorry for the inconvenience,” was put up by disgruntled staff members trying to send a message to upper management.
The workers interviewed for the story stated that they had been working in a kitchen with no air conditioning for weeks, where temperatures sometimes got above 90 degrees.
ttps://www.marketwatch.com/story/we-all-quit-burger-king-sign-goes-viral-as-staff-walk-out-11626193439?cx_testId=22&cx_testVariant=cx_1&cx_artPos=1&mod=home-page-cx#cxrecs_s
I quit a job and walked out one time. Felt really good.
Ok, some of y'all know I work in an industry where we weld and we build tanks. Tanks for the oil and gas industry, and it get's hot. Really, really, hot. Our lowest paid workers make $15/hour. Highest close to $40/hour, almost always 10 hours of overtime per week, and 5-6 days of $100 per diem. Good money.
LifeLongDemocratic (76 posts)
8. Slave Labor
This is the difference between slavery and the American worker. The American worker can leave anytime they want.
Wow. Guess the slaves didn't have it so bad according to this DUmmie.
Simple question time ... from a DUmmie!
Sympthsical (1,412 posts)
11. Can I ask a question, out of genuine curiosity?
What is an acceptable amount of heat in a grill kitchen?
I worked at McD's as a teen for two years. Heat from the grill was a thing. I started as a cook/assembler, moved on to cashier and drive thru (where I had the best of times ****ing with people - in a friendly way).
But I remember it was never fun, particularly in the summer. You're anywhere near the grill, it sucked. We had ice water. But we'd also go "find" things in the walk-in freezer often. Sometimes it would take us ages to find that box of patties stacked neatly in clear sight. Where could it be?!
Again, I'm making no judgement.
But if you're in a hot kitchen, with grills and things, what amount of heat is considered average/acceptable?
This article says 90 degrees is too much. I mean, it definitely seemed at least that back when I was doing things. Is this considered too much, too far?
Again, genuinely asking.
They can NEVER answer these types of questions! How much is too much wealth? What is a living wage? If we give everyone a house, how big should it be? LOL
leftstreet (32,744 posts)
14. Probably not acceptable with the technology of air conditioning
If restaurants can cool their serving areas, they can cool their kitchens.
Yes, the electric bill would be higher
Sympthsical (1,412 posts)
16. But grills throw off crazy heat
That's why I'm asking. Even with AC. I mean, the customer eating areas were very cool. But the kitchen? It was always hell.
Is it expected to be a certain temp?
I know people are cheering this, but what was expected? Because, again, the article says 90 degrees. Is that not ok around a grill? I've worked around a grill. That seemed . . . about what you'd expect around a grill.
Is it supposed to be better?
leftstreet (32,744 posts)
21. fast movement and exertion in 90 degrees
feels much, much hotter
Yes, grills get hot. So do stoves and ovens, but a 90 degree home kitchen probably wouldn't be acceptable to most people. They'd turn on their ac.
Sympthsical (1,412 posts)
30. Well, right, in the home
It's summer here. In the 90s regularly. When I cook dinner, I'm around the hot stove, oven, using hot water, etc. I definitely throw on a few fans after. (It's a dry heat here, so this is tenable). If it gets in triple digits, the AC is going on 78. We try to be frugal.
I'm just really trying to understand this story. "The kitchen is 90 degrees." Ok. I worked at McD's for two years. Being around the grill sucked. But did it especially suck in some way? Or did being around a hot grill just suck? Because being around a hot grill in the summer just sucks in general, AC or no. That's kind of the job.
I'm trying to understand this story and why people are cheering it. Was something especially bad here?
Kingofalldems (33,924 posts)
28. You cannot be serious.
Sympthsical (1,412 posts)
31. I worked in this environment for two years
So, yes, I'm being serious.
Did you work around a hot grill for two summers? Or are you just internet commenting?
Kingofalldems (33,924 posts)
32. Actually 3 and then KP in the army.
Fans were provided.
As a Democrat I stand with the workers. Not sure why you don't seem to support them.
But, how hot is too hot? If you can't answer that just say so. Don't be afraid.
Sympthsical (1,412 posts)
33. That's what I'm asking
This article is incredibly short on details. Did they ask for big fans to be brought in and management denied them?
The article doesn't say. It just says, "90 degrees or higher." Which, isn't unusual for a hot grill job.
If they asked for fans, and management said, "No, eff you," I'd get this article.
Alos, @@ about not being with workers. Union now. Union forever. So, @@ to you.
Major Nikon (35,499 posts)
19. I worked in quite a few kitchens when I was in high school
I quit one job because the heat in the kitchen was unbearable. Some are worse than others and some are still worse depending on how close you are to ovens and grills.
The other piece of this is I'm assuming the employees are working for either minimum wage or close to it, which by comparison is effectively much less than people made at these jobs 30-40 years ago. It's not as if these people are well compensated for what they are having to endure.
So? I'll hire them as unskilled tradesmen and pay them $15/hour. I lost several of those when the federal government decided to give them an extra $15/hour to sit on their ass. Don't believe me? I can prove it. Not just $15/hour lost, but all the way up to $19/hour, but y'all don't believe that.
Sympthsical (1,412 posts)
20. I'm not questioning that
Fast food workers are underpaid, period.
But people seem outraged about the temperatures.
And my initial reaction to that is, what temperature did you think it was back there? Feels a little classist. "Grills are hot?!" I mean, yeah. It sucked. It's why I went to college. I didn't want to do that all my life. And I feel awful for those who still do and want them paid a lot better.
But this, "It's 90 degrees in a hot kitchen?!" That outrage seems like people who never had to work in those lower jobs.
I'm not sure I'm articulating well what I'm digging at.
hunter (33,271 posts)
12. I've quit several jobs in a similar fashion.
Mostly when I was young, single, and willing to live rough.
For example, once upon a time, I worked for a student housing slum lord who'd only rent his best apartment buildings to women on the theory they caused less damage than males. Which was probably true. He could also rent women-only apartments at a small premium.
One Friday afternoon the water heater in one of those women only buildings burst and he sent me out to shut it off and to knock on doors to tell tenants their hot water wouldn't be back on until Monday late afternoon.
I immediately asked him like "Why Monday?" thinking he would buy a new water heater within an hour and I would install it.
No, he apparently had some connections who could get him a new water heater for free, with free installation, but not on weekends.
Fortunately I landed better work a few weeks later.
True story, truncated. I had a renter several years ago whose water heater was going out for 2 weeks but he 'kept forgetting to tell me' until his water heater went out ... on a holiday weekend at 4 in the afternoon. I told him I would have someone out on Tuesday after the holiday to put a new one in and we argued for an extended period of time with me telling him if it was MY house I wouldn't pay weekend, holiday rates for my OWN house. He could take cold showers or go without. It wasn't my fault he didn't tell me until it went out. Finally I agreed to have the water heater installed as long as he was willing to pay the overage from regular hours and pricing to overtime, weekend, pricing. He declined and actually lived to tell the tale!
mac2766 (632 posts)
29. More! We need to see so much more of this!
People need to stick up to the wealthy bullies.
I made $3.35 when I was 16. That would have been 1980-81. Adjusting for inflation (see link below), that would be $11.05 in todays dollars. One other thing to consider... I was treated pretty reasonably by my bosses.
https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1980?amount=3.35
The only reason you think these people are being treated poorly is because that's what they are telling you and it's backed by the media. I can just about guarantee they aren't treated any worse than you or I were 'back in the day', but they are all special now, because you told them they were. Oh well.
Lots of fun!
KC