Three months ago, Mariza Castro leftprefix = st1 /Honduras.
Three
months
ago
,
Mariza
Castro
leftprefix
=
st1
/Honduras
.
Today, she is in theUnited Statesand she has a job.
Today
,
she
is
in
theUnited
Statesand
she
has
a
job
.
Castro works behind the counter at McDoald's.
Castro
works
behind
the
counter
at
McDoald
's
.
Speed is an important part of her work life.
Speed
is
an
important
part
of
her
work
life
.
Fast - food counter workers are expected to serve customers in less than a minute.
Fast
-
food
counter
workers
are
expected
to
serve
customers
in
less
than
a
minute
.
At McDonald's they say, "Work fast or you don't last."
At
McDonald
's
they
say
,
``
Work
fast
or
you
do
n't
last
.
''
Are McDonald's workers lucky to have their jobs?
Are
McDonald
's
workers
lucky
to
have
their
jobs
?
Or are they being exploited?
Or
are
they
being
exploited
?
The answer depends on who you talk to.
The
answer
depends
on
who
you
talk
to
.
McDoald's does many good things.
McDoald
's
does
many
good
things
.
For example, no other company hires more young people than McDonald's.
For
example
,
no
other
company
hires
more
young
people
than
McDonald
's
.
More than half of its workers are under 20 years old.
More
than
half
of
its
workers
are
under
20
years
old
.
McDonald's also has a good record of hiring minority workers.
McDonald
's
also
has
a
good
record
of
hiring
minority
workers
.
Thirteen percent of its workers are black.
Thirteen
percent
of
its
workers
are
black
.
This is better than any otherUScompany.
This
is
better
than
any
otherUScompany
.
But the burger house has its critics as well.
But
the
burger
house
has
its
critics
as
well
.
The pay bothered Edward Rodriguez.
The
pay
bothered
Edward
Rodriguez
.
He worked for nearly a year at a Los Angeles McDonald's.
He
worked
for
nearly
a
year
at
a
Los
Angeles
McDonald
's
.
During that time he got only one 10 - cent raise.
During
that
time
he
got
only
one
10
-
cent
raise
.
"I used to joke that working for McDonald's is the closest thing to slave labour in theUStoday," he days.
``
I
used
to
joke
that
working
for
McDonald
's
is
the
closest
thing
to
slave
labour
in
theUStoday
,
''
he
days
.
Today, most McDonald's pay about $5.00 an hour.
Today
,
most
McDonald
's
pay
about
$
5.00
an
hour
.
They hire new workers constantly.
They
hire
new
workers
constantly
.
The restaurant has no other choice because 70 percent of its workers quit or are fired every year.
The
restaurant
has
no
other
choice
because
70
percent
of
its
workers
quit
or
are
fired
every
year
.
But McDonald's also gets its share of praise.
But
McDonald
's
also
gets
its
share
of
praise
.
Its best workers move up quickly.
Its
best
workers
move
up
quickly
.
Just talk to 17 - year - old Ameer Abdur - Razaaq of Harlem, New York City.
Just
talk
to
17
-
year
-
old
Ameer
Abdur
-
Razaaq
of
Harlem
,
New
York
City
.
"They call me 'Young Crew Chief' around my block," he says.
``
They
call
me
'Young
Crew
Chief
'
around
my
block
,
''
he
says
.
"When else can I go at my age and be in charge of this many people?"
``
When
else
can
I
go
at
my
age
and
be
in
charge
of
this
many
people
?
''
He sees the job as the first step in his career.
He
sees
the
job
as
the
first
step
in
his
career
.
However, most McDoald's crew members never make it to manager because the job pressure is so intense, and the rewards so few.
However
,
most
McDoald
's
crew
members
never
make
it
to
manager
because
the
job
pressure
is
so
intense
,
and
the
rewards
so
few
.
As one worker put it, "They expect a lot and they don't pay you much."
As
one
worker
put
it
,
``
They
expect
a
lot
and
they
do
n't
pay
you
much
.
''
Three months ago, Mariza Castro leftprefix = st1 /Honduras. Today, she is in theUnited Statesand she has a job. Castro works behind the counter at McDoald's. Speed is an important part of her work life. Fast - food counter workers are expected to serve customers in less than a minute. At McDonald's they say, "Work fast or you don't last."  Are McDonald's workers lucky to have their jobs? Or are they being exploited? The answer depends on who you talk to.  McDoald's does many good things. For example, no other company hires more young people than McDonald's. More than half of its workers are under 20 years old. McDonald's also has a good record of hiring minority workers. Thirteen percent of its workers are black. This is better than any otherUScompany.  But the burger house has its critics as well. The pay bothered Edward Rodriguez. He worked for nearly a year at a Los Angeles McDonald's. During that time he got only one 10 - cent raise. "I used to joke that working for McDonald's is the closest thing to slave labour in theUStoday," he days. Today, most McDonald's pay about $5.00 an hour. They hire new workers constantly. The restaurant has no other choice because 70 percent of its workers quit or are fired every year.  But McDonald's also gets its share of praise. Its best workers move up quickly. Just talk to 17 - year - old Ameer Abdur - Razaaq of Harlem, New York City. "They call me 'Young Crew Chief' around my block," he says. "When else can I go at my age and be in charge of this many people?" He sees the job as the first step in his career.  However, most McDoald's crew members never make it to manager because the job pressure is so intense, and the rewards so few. As one worker put it, "They expect a lot and they don't pay you much."