Burger flippers strike?

[Alexx1401]

I took one of my work crews to the Burgerville in Scappoose about a month ago... I was taking home calls and emails as they all ordered their food, then I get up to the counter and order a 1/4-lb "Colossal Burger" and the price was $8.00.... imagine my dismay when they bring me JUST the hamburger and not a (What I assumed was) a burger basket" with fries..... really? $8.00 for a bubblegumming 1/4-lb hamburger?!


Won't EVER go into another Burgerville, ever.

My Wife still likes to eat at places like McD's now and then. While back I was in her neck of the town so stopped in for lunch and she sent me to a local McD. I was shocked when I paid. Couple burgers, one frys, drink for her, pie for me. It was like $20?? I told her you know we could have gone to a sit down and eat place for about this same price? Food was not horrible but not something to make me want to come back. I had not had one of those McRibs in a long time. Wife brought home a couple other day. I took a bite of mine and it went out front for the Crows to eat. I don't know what the hell they did to those but it was not edible.

 

[gmerkt]

I had to give up on Quarter Pounders... the patties just don't taste right.

Agreed.

Philosophically (in my mid-sixties and comfortably retired for a few years now), my closet sociologist can't help but notice men and women my age or older, sporting a burger joint uniform to wipe tables, restock ketchup packets and overstuff spring-loaded napkin bins to 50 psi. I won't assume I made better life choices than they did, just different (I started with a paper route and inched my way up). Maybe they have fat pensions and multiple options but need a reason to leave the house? On parole? No other skills? I don't know.

I too wonder about this. Not just fast food, but retail such as Fred Meyer. My erroneous supposition has been that people get to that late point in their life, they shouldn't have to do such. But life isn't equitable. I'm grateful I don't have to do it. See below. I also wonder about the fact that many people get to be 70 years old and don't have a paid-up place to live, worse, nowhere to live. Weren't they thinking about this all along? Yes, I know the unexpected happens and I'm thankful my life has worked out better than some.

It is kind of odd the notion that a burger joint job is supposed to provide a wage that one can live on and/or support a family. That has never been the case; it is for young people still living at home, those that need a little side income, or whatever.

Yes to this. Fast food work traditionally has been a starting point in the working world, temporary embarrassment, or last ditch work for the desperate. My thinking is it's never been viewed as a place where an employee could rely on it as a permanent, life-sustaining job to retirement. Immigrants living six or eight to a room. But this gets back to what is now commonly called "income inequality." Which will NEVER go away. It's been that way forever and not even commie countries could change it permanently. Boo-hoo, Warren Buffett will always have more money that I will. Eliminating income inequality in the contemporary US is a pipe dream.

I would say that in any restaurant you go in (fast food aside), a good portion of the boh staff has worked a 50 hour week, likely for minimum wage.

Around here, restaurants that I'm familiar with pretty much keep their staff at just under 40 hours a week.

I would never, ever, send food back then eat what comes back.

Amen to this.

I was shocked when I paid. Couple burgers, one frys, drink for her, pie for me. It was like $20?? I told her you know we could have gone to a sit down and eat place for about this same price?

Very often, I stop at a Denny's instead for this reason. Time usually isn't a factor for me as a retiree.

When I'm out and about, sometimes I call in at a McD. I usually go for the value menu burgers. Which vary in price by location from $1.19 to 1.49. I look up at their modern menu boards (which change pictures while you're standing there) and usually can't find the value burgers. So I ask for them and the counter clerk looks it up on the point of sale device (or whatever they now call a "cash register") and it's there. I like the value burgers, reminds me of what we got in the school cafeteria when I was a kid and enjoyed a lot. I don't like paying five or six dollars for the sloppy/juicy up-scale product. I'm much happier with two value burgers for half the price of the up-scale product. I never go for the "combo" b/c I don't drink soda. McD fries are the best; have as much fat in them as a burger patty.

I have used those electronic order boards in McD. Don't like them much but then I found out that your order goes to the head of the line.

And how about all the restaurant take-out delivery services that are now being used? It floors me that people pay to have McD brought to their home. I don't like to eat fast food that isn't fresh-cooked. Anything over about 15 minutes old is starting to get limp and cold. Microwave only melts it more.

 

[OldTengu]

Around here, restaurants that I'm familiar with pretty much keep their staff at just under 40 hours a week.

I'm referring more to the middle to high end restaurant. Although I wouldn't consider it to be in either class, when I was at a VERY popular, locally owned restaurant/hotel that rhymes with Hedgewield, myself and other cooks were routinely working several weeks at a time, twelve hours days and seven days a week.

 

[Alexx1401]

And how about all the restaurant take-out delivery services that are now being used? It floors me that people pay to have McD brought to their home. I don't like to eat fast food that isn't fresh-cooked. Anything over about 15 minutes old is starting to get limp and cold. Microwave only melts it more.

That is a mystery to me too but, hey there was a market and someone was smart to fill it. Co worker was laughing about one of his kin ordering milk shakes delivered by Uber. There is a DQ less than a mile away but to them it was worth it to them to have it delivered. <shrug>

 

[gmerkt]

I'm referring more to the middle to high end restaurant. Although I wouldn't consider it to be in either class, when I was at a VERY popular, locally owned restaurant/hotel that rhymes with Hedgewield, myself and other cooks were routinely working several weeks at a time, twelve hours days and seven days a week.

You'd know more about it than I would. I'm more familiar with front-of-the-house people, those are the ones I talk to. When I ask, they usually tell me they are getting fewer than 40 hours. One guy I know, he works 7 days a week in two different establishments of the same brand (but different owners) to get full hours. What a grind. But maybe the ACA has something to do with this; if the employer can keep them under 130 hours a month they are exempt from paying medical benefits. I realize the situation most of these people are in so I'm a pretty generous tipper unless something has gone badly.

Sorry, not being from the Portland area, I wouldn't get your reference to the hotel/rest. chain but I take your word for it.

That is a mystery to me too but, hey there was a market and someone was smart to fill it. Co worker was laughing about one of his kin ordering milk shakes delivered by Uber. There is a DQ less than a mile away but to them it was worth it to them to have it delivered. <shrug>

This seems to be an off-shoot of the so-called "rideshare" concept. The cyber-dreamers came up with an idea to make money that causes other people to drive around and take on all the risk of the enterprise. Hacking food (Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc.) out to people who are willing to pay for it is an extension of the idea. Oh maybe it's an old fashioned idea, but part of "eating out" is the fact that it takes place away from your home. Personally, I think driving for Uber and similar, the so-called "gig economy" is not my idea of work. Remember my comment above about getting to be 70 years old and not having anything?

 

[zenbreath]

I DONT CROSS PICKET LINES!

I pledge to honor their picket line for five years after their issue is resolved.

 

[bbbass]

That said, as a former burger flipper/grill cook/restaurant manager, overall, the people who make your food and drinks could certainly be treated better by their employers. I would say that in any restaurant you go in (fast food aside), a good portion of the boh staff has worked a 50 hour week, likely for minimum wage. It's especially difficult to swallow in that situation when you see the waitstaff taking home $350 or more in cash per shift on top of their wage, while doing less work as a general rule. Sometimes boh gets a small tip share.

I sympathize, but, as said, if you don't like it, move up to management or learn a skilled trade.

My first job was a bus boy when I was 15. I got mono and was down for 6 months. My second job was as a preparer/cook at an H.Salt Esquire fish and chips place part time from 16-18. First full time job was with AT&T in Los Angeles... I couldn't stand the 5hrs of bumper to bumper each day, so I quit. THEN I took a part time job as asst mgr at a local pizza restaurant. Pay sucked, I was treated OK, but I got out of there as soon as my USCG recruiter could process my papers. Nobody should ever plan on restaurant work as a career. Not even the owners. 'Cept maybe my H.S. buddy that started a bakery in Tahoe and got rich.

That is a mystery to me too but, hey there was a market and someone was smart to fill it. Co worker was laughing about one of his kin ordering milk shakes delivered by Uber. There is a DQ less than a mile away but to them it was worth it to them to have it delivered. <shrug>

My millennial neighbors do this all the time. Convenience? Laziness? LOL

 

[Mikej]

Personally, I think driving for Uber and similar, the so-called "gig economy" is not my idea of work.

WOW then...! You don't spend much time driving around in PDX, do you? Lucky you.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I took one of my work crews to the Burgerville in Scappoose about a month ago... I was taking phone calls and emails in my cell phone as they all ordered their food, then I get up to the counter and order a 1/4-lb "Colossal Burger" and the price was $8.00.... imagine my dismay when they bring me JUST the hamburger and not a (What I assumed was) a burger basket" with fries..... really? $8.00 for a bubblegumming 1/4-lb hamburger?!


Won't EVER go into another Burgerville, ever.

I treat myself rarely to Red Robin once in a while.
The Hawaiian burger is a long time favorite.. $11 with endless steak fries. Awesome burger.
Pretty sure they're able to do it over the decades because the real money maker is their liquor license.

 

[Alexx1401]

I treat myself rarely to Red Robin once in a while.
The Hawaiian burger is a long time favorite.. $11 with endless steak fries. Awesome burger.
Pretty sure they're able to do it over the decades because the real money maker is their liquor license.

Wife and I go to Applebee's for burger special now and then. They have a few to choose from that are around $5 one day a week. I have no doubt do it to get people to order drinks. That will make up for the loss leader burger special.

 

[bbbass]

Philosophically (in my mid-sixties and comfortably retired for a few years now), my closet sociologist can't help but notice men and women my age or older, sporting a burger joint uniform to wipe tables, restock ketchup packets and overstuff spring-loaded napkin bins to 50 psi. I won't assume I made better life choices than they did, just different (I started with a paper route and inched my way up). Maybe they have fat pensions and multiple options but need a reason to leave the house? On parole? No other skills? I don't know.

Many many people have many different reasons for taking small jobs out of retirement. I could use the $$ but I can't work anymore.... pretty well crippled up. Didn't fail to plan for retirement like many that have only SSI, but jumped out of real estate, then made bad stock picks thanx to Motley Fool and got hammered in the first dot.com bust cycle.

Then there are people like my oldest brother... his wife is a full time realtor in Las Vegas. She moved her office into their very nice home during one of the down cycles to save expenses. She won't retire but he retired 10yrs ago. However, she kept hassling him about his not bringing extra money in... about sitting and reading novels. So he eventually went back to work to get away from her. Home Depot part time, then full time. It kinda sucks, he is 72.

Yes, but they still manage to screw up the orders. I order in the drive thru then go in to eat when I need a quick refuel.

They sure do. Lot's of people I see in the drive thru have to go inside to fix their orders anyway. But it's not as bad as KFC Walla Walla, which got just about every order screwed up. High priced, $20 for two, and overcooked greasy stuff. You know you're going to get grease, but my 3 pc meal was a thigh, a drumstick, and a wing + really bad fries.

I treat myself rarely to Red Robin once in a while.
The Hawaiian burger is a long time favorite.. $11 with endless steak fries. Awesome burger.
Pretty sure they're able to do it over the decades because the real money maker is their liquor license.

I've gone to Red Robin for burgers once near the Rose Center, and once in Old Town Bend. Great burgers back then. And what seemed to be a ridicuously spendy burger then, they seem to have held off the price increases.

Wife and I go to Applebee's for burger special now and then. They have a few to choose from that are around $5 one day a week. I have no doubt do it to get people to order drinks. That will make up for the loss leader burger special.

I stopped by Appleberry's Walla Walla after a visit to the VA there. Wanted a nice burger. Wanted fries but also a side salad. Paid about $15 for the two + tip and drink on top of that. I was wishing there was an Olive Garden that I could have had soup/salad for $7.99.

 

[arakboss]

Hey Burgerville, time to bring in Bender and his friends:

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgur...hUKEwjduLfIl7jlAhWSsZ4KHW7kBLMQ_h0wEXoECAwQBg

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[gmerkt]

WOW then...! You don't spend much time driving around in PDX, do you? Lucky you.

No I don't, but Seattle traffic is pretty bad. My comment was directed to gig work as a end to life accomplishment. Meaning, drivers don't make all that much, pay their own SS, no benefits. So it isn't much of a job. Plus, many new drivers crowd into the Uber pool every day so there is the competition thing.

 

[Mikej]

No I don't, but Seattle traffic is pretty bad. My comment was directed to gig work as a end to life accomplishment. Meaning, drivers don't make all that much, pay their own SS, no benefits. So it isn't much of a job. Plus, many new drivers crowd into the Uber pool every day so there is the competition thing.

I know, I know...what you meant. And I have no doubt Seattle drivers are the same self centered morons PDX drivers are. And, I've been behind enough UBER drivers to see they don't seem to have much on the ball driving wise.

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

Burgerville is already overly expensive for what it is.. union pay of $15+ an hour is just going to fall onto the consumer or as others said.. the entire process will he mechanized with only 1-3 employees per store.

 

[gmerkt]

I know, I know...what you meant. And I have no doubt Seattle drivers are the same self centered morons PDX drivers are. And, I've been behind enough UBER drivers to see they don't seem to have much on the ball driving wise.

The increased aggressiveness of drivers is noticeable and disturbing. And usually unnecessary. Because they zoom on down the road only to get caught up in the next and the next log-jam. Of people going closer to the speed limit. One time I did the math. 25 miles driven at 60 mph takes 25 minutes. 25 miles driven at 80 mph takes 18.8 minutes. A difference of a whopping 6.2 minutes. That is if traffic density permits. I use the example of 25 miles because that's about the commute distance from my county into Seattle, a common commute. If 6.2 minutes makes that much difference, people should leave 10 minutes earlier and go 60.

I've taken Uber rides twice. In cruise terminal ports. Both drivers had major distraction problems from consulting their smartphone GPS data. My personal observation is that many Uber drivers appear to be of foreign origin. By my profiling, anyway. And we know that driving habits in many less civilized places are, well, more unruly. But this goes for the general driving population as well since it contains more immigrant drivers as time goes by.

I guess driving for Uber is one way to avoid employment in the fast food industry.

 

[Goosebrown]

I thought this was about some new Berger bullet for a moment.

 

[arakboss]

The increased aggressiveness of drivers is noticeable and disturbing. And usually unnecessary. Because they zoom on down the road only to get caught up in the next and the next log-jam. Of people going closer to the speed limit. One time I did the math. 25 miles driven at 60 mph takes 25 minutes. 25 miles driven at 80 mph takes 18.8 minutes. A difference of a whopping 6.2 minutes. That is if traffic density permits. I use the example of 25 miles because that's about the commute distance from my county into Seattle, a common commute. If 6.2 minutes makes that much difference, people should leave 10 minutes earlier and go 60.

I've taken Uber rides twice. In cruise terminal ports. Both drivers had major distraction problems from consulting their smartphone GPS data. My personal observation is that many Uber drivers appear to be of foreign origin. By my profiling, anyway. And we know that driving habits in many less civilized places are, well, more unruly. But this goes for the general driving population as well since it contains more immigrant drivers as time goes by.

I guess driving for Uber is one way to avoid employment in the fast food industry.

It's interesting that many Taxi drivers also appear to be of foreign descent.

 

[MannyGlocks]

ZA,

"...union pay of $15+ an hour is just going to fall onto the consumer..."

If you 'are' a consumer sure, but when people like me are disgusted by the cost increase of fast food by entitled workers attitudes, I refuse to buy...adios, burgers and fries! I can live without them...and my arteries will thank me too.

And 'adios' to your flipper jobs.

This non-skilled labor cost increase is just another pocket of socialism I can't be forced into...

Ha Ha per Nelson Muntz!

 

[gmerkt]

It's interesting that many Taxi drivers also appear to be of foreign descent

I've noticed the same thing. And I've wondered how this came about, just as I've wondered why so many of the manicure salons are run by Vietnamese.

When I was a youngster, driving a hack was kind of a job of last resort if you were an otherwise upstanding person. Meaning, you were together enough to have a decent driving record and could hold a job but couldn't find anything else. Most people didn't look upon it as desirable work. So maybe there was a time when it was difficult for operators to find drivers and it became something that immigrants could easily get into. From there, they kinda took it over.

BUT: The taxi drivers are truly professional drivers, that's what they do. Very many of the Uber drivers are part-time dilettantes. Also, the taxi industry in most locales is a regulated one with certain standards. Including licensing authority. And the taxi license usually has a fairly high value that makes it something that drivers don't want to put at risk. On-going issues with Uber and other so-called ride-sharing services are lack of standards and regulation.