Sanchez 1

Melinda Sanchez

Mr. Martin

English A3

12 February 2018

PA Final

Workers are being treated unfairly and deserve rights to fight for equality without the

threat of being fired. Fast food workers should have the right to unionize to increase the worker’s

wages and safety. Unions give workers the chance to have better careers. To start off, fast food

workers get paid an unfair amount. In the article Fast-Food Unionization it states, “The average

hourly median wage for fast-food workers is currently $8.94. In addition, the SEIU (Service

Employees International Union) reports that a majority of workers say they are the victims of

“wage theft,” which includes not being paid for overtime, being denied mandated breaks, and

having hours subtracted from their paychecks” (Beaver). This is not a high wage and is certainly

not enough for workers to pay for day to day expenses. Many employees not only have to

provide for themselves, but for others as well. Fast food workers are also not being guaranteed

work hours. They can be sent home when business is slow and called in whenever it is busy and

more workers are needed. When workers are sent home it lowers their paychecks and sends

many into debt. Many fast food workers are working late nights and working overtime, but are

continuously not being paid for it, as stated in the quote above. Fast food employees work for

hours, most not having breaks and are still getting underpaid. In many fast food industries, if

workers were to complain about their unfair wages they would often be unheard, having no
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effects of change. The SEIU (Service Employees International Union) says that in unions,

workers are allowed to do collective bargaining about wages to negotiate for higher prices. Even

if the workers demands are not approved, workers are getting the right to speak out and fight for

better income. This goes to show that unions will help employees higher their wages. Many think

it is easy to work in the fast food industry and that is why they have low income but employees

encounter other things than just flipping burgers. While working employees are exposed to many

dangers. Many employees are complaining about safety issues because they are getting injured

while working. According to the article, Fast Food Frenzy, “The complaints allege that the

workers did not have appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE); were not trained; were

exposed to slippery, greasy or wet walking surfaces; and were not offered appropriate first aid

for injuries, among other complaints” (Smith). Employees are put into environments with little

training, if any at all. In fast food industries, many employees are surrounded by mechanical

machines that on numerous occasions have malfunctions resulting in injuries. These workers are

often exposed to hot grease or slippery areas that can also lead to life-threatening injuries

because employees do not have the right equipment. Even after these injuries, workers are not

getting proper aid. With unions, workers will be able to complain about these safety issues. In

the book Fast Food Nation it says “In days when labor unions were strong, workers would

complain about excessive line speeds and injury rates without fear of getting fired” (Schlosser,

Eric pg 174). Unions give workers the freedom to use their voice without feeling threatened.

Unions help workers let the flaws of the fast food industries become known so they can be fixed.

If more people complained about the working conditions, they would be heard and have a chance

of getting better trained and equipped so that there will be less injuries and accidents. “We

should do everything we can to keep creating good middle-class jobs that help folks rebuild
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security for their families,” Barack Obama told a union crowd in Detroit, after his own reelection

victory. “What we shouldn’t be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better

wages and working conditions.” (Early). Even people such as the president are saying that

workers should have the right to unionize. Fighting for better jobs helps families with bills and

gives workers guaranteed safety while at work. Workers should unionize for better treatment in

the fast food industry. With unions, they can do this without having the fear of being fired and

being not heard.

Works Cited
Beaver, William. "Fast-Food Unionization." Society, vol. 53, no. 5, Oct. 2016, p. 469.
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EBSCOhost, doi:10.1007/s12115-016-0051-3.

Date accessed 19 November 17

Early, Steve. "Saving Our Unions." Monthly Review: An Independent Socialist Magazine, vol.

65, no. 9, Feb. 2014, p. 15. EBSCOhost,

93743756&site=ehost-live

Date accessed 19 November 17

"Fast Food Frenzy." EHS Today, vol. 8, no. 4, Apr. 2015, p. 6. EBSCOhost,

102103009&site=ehost-live.

Date accessed 19 November 17

Schlosser, Eric. “Fast Food Nation.” Date accessed 20 November 17