[B767drvr]

Those fast-food workers striking for a $15 minimum wage might soon find themselves REPLACED altogether!

What's the nation going to do with all the unskilled labor out there? Is this society's problem, or an individual's problem?


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A company called Momentum Machines has built a robot that could radically change the fast-food industry and have some line cooks looking for new jobs.

The company's robot can "slice toppings like tomatoes and pickles immediately before it places the slice onto your burger, giving you the freshest burger possible." The robot is "more consistent, more sanitary, and can produce ~360 hamburgers per hour." That's one burger every 10 seconds.

The next generation of the device will offer "custom meat grinds for every single customer. Want a patty with 1/3 pork and 2/3 bison ground to order? No problem."

Momentum Machines cofounder Alexandros Vardakostas told Xconomy his "device isn’t meant to make employees more efficient. It’s meant to completely obviate them." Indeed, marketing copy on the company's site reads that their automaton "does everything employees can do, except better."



Read more: Momentum Machines Burger Robot - Business Insider

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[dewilson58]

There are already automated order takers in use that are replacing the people at the front counter.

Be careful what you wish for.

[tippyclubb]

It's a society problem. People want something for nothing and think society owes them, without having to work hard for it. Either way these fast food workers will loose this battle. If they are not replaced with robots who's going to pay $12 for a mediocre burger? I know I won't. If the business cannot make a profit they will shut the doors.

[Medtrans]

No more dollar menu..

[Hankg42]

Times change. Technology drives a lot of change. I suppose they will still need minimum wage labor to clean the machines that flip the burgers. Machines can't do everything (I hope!). As job requirements change, the workforce will have to change as well.

[golf2140]

For those pushing the $15.00 per hour, try this. Go into your fast food joint. Place your order having a twenty dollar bill in hand. When they total you bill, give the person the twenty plus the exact change. Talk about a blank stare. Also $32,000.00 a year to work a french fry cooker !!!!!!

[MzDoMel]

keep replacing theses workers with robots and machines. Be proud that you stood up against giving some one a job and a pay check they can live on.Just do not complain to anyone that you are paying such high taxes to support all of the people out of work and on government hand outs. I rather pay a little more for what I want and see a worker work for the money, then have it given to them to stay home.

[Medtrans]

Granted $8.30 an hour is too little but $15.00 is nearly double. I know people who are admins, nurses aides, data entry clerks, etc. that don't make $15.00 an hour.

[Chi-Town]

Originally Posted by golf2140

For those pushing the $15.00 per hour, try this. Go into your fast food joint. Place your order having a twenty dollar bill in hand. When they total you bill, give the person the twenty plus the exact change. Talk about a blank stare. Also $32,000.00 a year to work a french fry cooker !!!!!!

Heck, I'm staring at this post.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by Medtrans

No more dollar menu..

Right. It will drop to $0.50 when the robots replace the current workforce.

[eweissenbach]

Well, I know the local MacDonalds franchisee. He lives in a million dollar home and drives a Mercedes, while his employees are mostly living in poverty and/or on welfare. He deserves to make a nice return on his investment and risk, but it seems to me that there is a little left to go to the people who make him his money. BTW, he seldom is seen in the store.

[xNYer]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

Well, I know the local MacDonalds franchisee. He lives in a million dollar home and drives a Mercedes, while his employees are mostly living in poverty and/or on welfare. He deserves to make a nice return on his investment and risk, but it seems to me that there is a little left to go to the people who make him his money. BTW, he seldom is seen in the store.

I find it hard to read this thread. i certainly don't want to demean fast food workers when I know nothing about them as individuals. it is sad to see these things written here.

[sunnyatlast]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

Well, I know the local MacDonalds franchisee. He lives in a million dollar home and drives a Mercedes, while his employees are mostly living in poverty and/or on welfare. He deserves to make a nice return on his investment and risk, but it seems to me that there is a little left to go to the people who make him his money. BTW, he seldom is seen in the store.

Well I know a local McDonalds franchisee who started working for them when burgers were probably 15 cents. Same situation with the local Wendy's and KFC franchisees, and in all three franchisee situations, their kids have started on the bottom, flipping burgers and cleaning the place, to move up the ladder to being store managers. Other dependable and ambitious workers can work their way up to management the same way.

If they want to make much more money than $15/hour, they can take their McD's experience and go to work for a more expensive, order-from-the-menu restaurant where they can earn tips of $20-$30 plus, per hour. If they WANT to.

A couple of years ago I met a Walmart store manager and thanked him for the efficient service I had that day at the cashier line (which was not the case at other area Walmarts). He told me "I love my job. I started out working for Walmart in high school, and here I am…store manager. They gave me a great opportunity to move up!"

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by tippyclubb

It's a society problem. People want something for nothing and think society owes them, without having to work hard for it. Either way these fast food workers will loose this battle. If they are not replaced with robots who's going to pay $12 for a mediocre burger? I know I won't. If the business cannot make a profit they will shut the doors.

If people are demanding higher wages, doesn't that mean they are working? If people are working, how does that mean they want something for nothing?

[rjm1cc]

Originally Posted by golf2140

For those pushing the $15.00 per hour, try this. Go into your fast food joint. Place your order having a twenty dollar bill in hand. When they total you bill, give the person the twenty plus the exact change. Talk about a blank stare. Also $32,000.00 a year to work a french fry cooker !!!!!!

Better add in payroll taxes and health insurance. Assuming vacation and sick pay add the cost of a replacement worker to the cost of the meal too.