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There is a risk (for fast food workers) that as wages rise, there is more of an incentive for employers to explore ways of replacing workers. For example, most people are capable of placing orders on a touchscreen device and seem comfortable with this process (as evidenced by self-checkout lanes at grocery stores). A fast food company who used to pay $8/hr for cashiers but is now paying $15 and maybe will pay $20 soon might find it more economical to replace 4 cashiers with touchscreen ordering stations.


That's why they want a union. Raise the minimum wage and reduce or eliminate the risk of the job being eliminated.


All the more reason for this hypothetical company to want to replace them now, before they unionize.




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