In Reply to: Government subsidizes 'useless' workers posted by Charles on May 02, 1996 at 19:41:06:
You say:
: I'm sure you are already aware of this, but I'll mention it in case you aren't.
: McDonalds has run several TV ad campaigns making a big deal about how they hire senior
: citizens and even mentally retarded folks to work at their restaurants. They point out that
: this is a kind gesture on their part to an often overlooked segment of society. It's a very
: feel-good type of ad. What they DON'T mention, strangely enough, is that the government
: subsidizes these otherwise "useless" workers, so McDonald's ends up getting CHEAP and
: in some cases FREE labor! Who actually pays the salaries? The taxpayer of course.: I think it is very important that mentally handicapped people be given opportunities to
: work if they want to....but McDonald's attitude is a bit sickening.: I wish you well on your mission, and luck to the people in the libel-farce.
Reply:Thanks for your best wishes to me and Helen.
You're right about the State subsidising big business - in the UK, employers pay
such bad wages (and McDonald's is almost the lowest) that the
State has to pay out 'Family Credit' benefits on top, and Housing
Benefits to pay rent. And we're talking about maybe half the UK
workforce. With the money McDonald's saves, it can force working
class people to look at their idiotic advertising in order to be
forced to 'want' to buy their unremarkable products.Best wishes, Dave Morris (One of the McLibel 2)