Oh Ok, I'm at Randalls/Safeway now as a cashier and most of what I read here is just about the same at Randalls except for the union stuff. I don't think there is any union at Randalls in Texas. Maybe Safeway has it in other states I'm not sure.
There's a reason the union reps don't come to my store anymore. They see me, they turn around very quickly. I once explained to them the history of American labor. There has been immense protection of workers enacted since the days of "The Jungle." When they looked at me as if I was speaking a Martian language, I told them to go read "The Jungle" and come back to me with a written book report on it and how they are going to change the way their union works, i.e. disband it. They also didn't like my answer about the correct minimum wage. The best minimum wage is $0.00. They looked at me as if I had grown two horns and a long red tail. At this point, I told both of them to get their no good a**es out of my store and if I see them again, I'm calling the cops. I haven't seen them in some time.
A worker has to earn their keep is what I get from it. I am wondering how the poster can tell the union rep to gtfo.
Let's say my coworkers are doing 1/2 the job they are paid for. Takes them 8 hours to do a 4 hour job. Don't laugh. I have seen someone take 2 1/2 hours to do a 30 minute task. Then, they should only get paid $4 an hour.
I used to think a $0 minimum was evil. I think a more realistic option would be the minimum wage of $4/hr. Say you have an outstanding person on night stock who continually tries to get faster and actually rotates and faces the aisle. But on the other hand you have someone who shows up to gossip and MAYBE finish a cart or two before the sun is up. Since you have to pay the second stocker minimum wage, which in my state is $7.25, it is harder to give the first stocker making $7.25 as well a raise. If you were able to take $2 from the second stocker and give it to the first stocker, then they would be paid $9.25 and $5.25 and it wouldn't cost the company extra. Obviously it would seem 'evil' to "take" that money from him, so we would start everyone off at $4 an hour and let them climb up from there. The higher the minimum wage gets, the lower the pay cap seems to become in my local.
But in that scenario, you are assuming the company would actually issue raises based on skill, or ability.
Yes in theory, the more work you do, the more you should be paid.
But do you honestly think a corporation would do that?
I never said companies were perfect, but personally I'd rather have an opportunity at a 50 cent raise ever half year than a guaranteed 10 cent raise every half year. And if I was wrongfully passed up for the 50 cent raise, I would just quit. If I got the 50 cent raise, however, I would feel glad knowing that it was a reflection of my performance, not because of the earth rotating 182.5 times. Some skills do take time to develop, but most tasks at Kroger take no more than a couple weeks to pick up on.
But in that scenario, you are assuming the company would actually issue raises based on skill, or ability.
Yes in theory, the more work you do, the more you should be paid.
But do you honestly think a corporation would do that?
Nope.
That is why I am ok with paying union dues. If Kroger could get away with it, they would have everyone working for minimum wage. Our last two contracts reflect that. Otherwise, I don't care too much for the union.
Quit...and go where? You work in the retail industry and you'd be back at your $4 wage, until you could "prove" to them that you are worthy of higher wages, and then if they don't give raises either, keep quitting?
I agree, raises should be given on ability, but i think that should be in addition to the mandated ones by the union. In a perfect world, that'd happen, but this world isn't going to be perfect, and corporations aren't going to do anything for you and me out of the goodness of their heart.
