Are you back? Good.
Now I’m wondering what you thought. Did you agree, as the author says, “(t)axpayers are subsidizing the shortfall at the hospital’s three kiosks featuring Tim Hortons — one of the most successful restaurant chains in Canada — largely because the coffee-pourers are well-paid CAW workers.” Or do you think that over all, tax payers have been subsidizing the private sector for years?
If you didn’t read it I’ll quickly summarize. There are Tim Horton’s Kiosks in the hospital, they are staffed by union employees who are people over 25$ an hour, the kiosks loose money, it is suggested that because of the high wages tax payers have to cover the hospital’s short fall. Another article suggested that this was proof that the public sector has no business in the private sector. I have another theory. A theory that suggests that private enterprise can not exist with the government’s support. (Your tax dollars)
Here’s a fact, Tim Horton’s and other retail wages are around minimum wage and well below living wage. If the people working at Timmy’s are not paid a living wage then basic needs like housing, food and utilities are often out of reach. For example one person making minimum wage in Alberta can not afford rent and food. These people making minimum wage need to access government services. The lucking ones get subsidized housing or subsidized rent. The rest scrape by using food banks and other supports.
Yes the Timmy’s employees in the hospital make good money, likely above living wage for their area, but why the hell shouldn’t they? We do we devalue retail and service jobs to the point that rather that people a little more for shitty coffee will shift the cost of doing business on to the tax payer.
There shouldn’t be anything wrong with people working in the service industry making enough to live, raise a family, buy food, pay school fees, not have to use a daycare subsidy etc. So rather than try to lower wages, charge a little more for the coffee and take comfort in know that those employees won’t be relying on the social safety net.