Flint: Hey there Hambuglar81! I've been in a pretty similar situation at Hardee's years ago. At the time I was pretty desperate. I and the other overworked cook walked. In retrospect that probably wasn't the best decision... but I'm doing ok in another industry. Now... my comments are going to assume you want to try and keep your job. The problem with just quitting and going someplace else is usually that the same problems are everywhere. Hambuglar81: I have been working at my McDonald's for almost three years. In that time I have recieved excellent evaluations and have always recived a raise as I am suppose to (Many of my co-workers do not) I consider myself a good employee. A few months ago my general mager was fired for undisclosed reasons. Even he himself doesn't know, and as far as I have been able to find out it was purely for personal reasons that my supervisor did so ( He has a friend he wanted to promote and dislike my manger because they had not gotten along when the latter was the current supervisors boss) Since the gm has been fired my store has become a communist country. Almost all managers (except those positoned there to spy on the general manager) and trainers either quit or have been fired for some insignifact reason in most cases. Since than an air of oppression has filled my once beloced store.
Flint: Now sure its wrong for some boss to be firing anyone just because they don't like them, or like someone better. But it happens all the time. This is one of those problems with business... it doesn't respond to some invisible hand of the market, rather its based on the decisions of very real people. Its the arbitrary nature of the bosses authority and the complete lack of democracy in the workplace which make you call it a "communist country". As far as Labor Law is conerned, the boss is perfectly right in firing anyone for any reason... there is only one case when they can't do that; when you are organized in a labor union the terms of employment can be spelled out in a contract. For instance, you couldn't be fired unless the boss had a specific grievance and went through a procedure outlined in the contract. There is another way you can't be fired... its against the law in the US to fire a worker trying to organize a union (for that reason). Now in practice... organizers get fired all the time, but if they can prove it was because of the union drive they can get their job back (rarely) or atleast make the boss pay for it. Keep in mind, Bryan and Jamal in Macedonia Ohio got fired in their drive.
Hambuglar81: Rules change weekly as do the placement of all items (including the the portable refridgerators) and there are no signs hung up to let us know; therefore we are expected to be phycics (This makes it hard for me to do my job, if I don't know what the rules are and where things are) Our newsletter which contained new procedures and such as stated previously has been deemed finnancialy impossible (Former General Manager paid to make the copies of the newsletter, our owner wouldn't pay and will not now.
Flint: Perhaps its time for you to start your own newsletter. Its not that expensive. You've probably got about 100 employees? Thats about $7.00 a page for the whole store. You could cut costs further by hoping people share it in the break room. If a newsletter was allowed to be posted before, you've got a legal right to keep doing it. The difference now would be that editorial control could be in say... your hands.
Hambuglar81: Btw our owner is one of the lowest people I know: He is a deadbeat dead, has fired people for being gay or old, comes in drunk often, and was accused by another owner of tring to burn down another McDonald's-this is an understatement not an exageration)
Flint: And here we have the problem with Bosses. They don't neccessarily have their position because they are great people... but because they have the money. Thats it. Not that they neccessarily earned that money or worked hard (though some do)... rather they got the cash so they call the shots. Ofcourse, this drunken bigot doesn't sound like he's working that hard and just seems to be causing people grief. Interesting to note that corporate stores are now protecting sexual orientation... and him firing older workers is illegal as far as the Federal Government is concerned, young workers have no such protection.
Hambuglar81: We are no longer allowed to talk what so ever (is this allowed?) I am frequently given drawers which I have not counted. Kids are forced to work illegal shifts. We are never allowed to go home on time, I ussally leave 30 mins after my shift is over on weekends. Signoffs are often ignored, and we are treated terribly. My new general manager has hinted I may not get a raise because I make to much money ($6.00)
Flint: Listen carefully. Almost all your civil rights end at the front door of work. You don't have the right to free speech. However, if speaking is typically allowed on the job (as it is in most fast food chains) then the bosses can't stop you from say talking about unionizing. Likewise, on your own time (like break) they can't control you. Also, your allowed to discusses wages, pay rates and safety conditions. Even if your not forming a union it is very important for you to talk about conditions with another worker... if two or more workers talk about a problem together they can then engage in "concerted activity" which is protected by U.S. Labor Law. For instance, you have some real concerns about scheduling... you talk about it with some other fellow workers, you can then go to the boss and see if you can work something out. Be sure to mention you've talked to other workers about it! If you just did it alone, the boss can fire you... if you do it together, then your job is somewhat protected (atleast you can make the boss pay for firing you). Just because you don't have much in the way of rights doesn't mean you should just let them kick you around... rights are taken, never given.
Hambuglar81: I wish I could unionize the store... I wish I could do anything! Is there anything I can do? Things have just gotten so terrible here. I am not the only one, me and many of my fellow trainers have complained to each other about how we dread working, and have thought of confronting our new general manager with our grivenices, but I am the opinion that this would result in us suddenly becoming terrible workers(according to our evaluations) and write-ups.
I am considering ending my carreer at McDonalds after the mcscholarships are announced ( I think I have a good chance), but I'm afraid that I may go from bad job to worse. What should I do?
Flint: What I said about "concerted activity" is something for you to think about. Since you've been talking to your fellow trainers, who I am going to assume have the respect of alot of the workers there... you have a good base to start with. You could use this to organize a union. Try and contact a local union in your area for help... the Canadian Auto Workers have been active in Canada with fast food, and the Teamsters have done some in the US; also there is the union I'm in... the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Get some local help. They can teach you how to file unfair labor practice claims, OSHA (occupational safety health administration) complaints, etc... they might also be able to help you get some money, copying, meeting space and some better advice.
Some reading that might help:
How to Fire Your Boss: A Workers Guide to Direct Action
Basics of Organizing
How to Unionize
How to Organize a new IWW local in your Community
The Wobblies: Tactics and Vision of a New Workers Movement
One Big Union
Collective Bargaining FAQ
Also, some locals...
The Silver Platter: IU640 Restraunt Workers, Portland, OR
IU640 Restraunt Workers, Gainesville, FL
Tell us where your at Hambuglr81, and we'll get somebody too you.
If your thinking of quitting because you can't deal with the boss' shit anymore, what have you got to loose? Atleast you stood up for yourself and your fellow workers instead of slinking of in desperation.
None.
