argos strike?

JohnC.

I am a member of a retail union and I do appreciate what they do. However, I think in this case they really are pushing it.

Those calling people scabs need a reality check. What they are getting is not bad enough to strike over. And it is even worse to strike over not being given a better deal than the national agreements the rest of us work under. Why do Argos workers deserve a better deal than others in the agreement? It could seem greedy to others and then for the greedy ones to label others as scabs...not doing yourselves any favours.

January

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Is Argos the only place that sells Christmas trees? :eek:

Of course not, but it's the only place that sold the one me and my boyfriend liked. Plus, why should I worry about passing a picket when I get paid crap wages for what I do and don't go out on strike??

Argos are the best paid workers in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. That should tell you something.

alanceltic

There was a time in this country when trade unions played a very important role and to a lesser degree still does in certain sectors (the irish ferries saga comes to mind). You cant have your cake and eat it, there is a vehicle in place for trade disputes and it is usually spot on with its decisions. The public will have genuine sympaty for a strike if they think there is merit behind the causes for the strike, calling people names and intimidating people who express an opinion different to yours just shows how immature you really are and only furthers the case that you are indeed the one who has issues...

In this great country you have a right to strike but you do not have a right to expect everyone to agree with your principles. My own personal opinion is that I would respect your right to strike but would have passed the picket if I was out shopping....

themadchef

I agree that for students or young people without mortgage or family commitments Argos are probably the best payers for unskilled workers.

However, i feel there should be some sort of pay related "perks" for service preformance and length of service. At the very least long term employed should get a yearly review of their salary regardless of how skilled their job is percieved to be. Employers i feel should reward loyal, timely, helpful, efficient staff who are exceptional at thier job. This would also give Argos a good opportunity to let the not so good staff know where they stand.

As for passing picket, not something i would be happy about doing myself.

favouritemistak

[DM]-TheDOC- wrote: »

I'm only talking about my store :P

And our store has till/stockroom co-ordinators, they are a level below team leaders.

I do support my colleauges around the country, I just found our picket line to be embarassing and frustrating. In my family there is a strong history of union representation going back to my grandfathers, and although im not in this union, i was kinda dissapointed that some of our staff looked at it as a day off.

and most of the "ful time" staff who this whole thing is for, didnt show up, poor imo.

I think the problem i have with my store is that im not in a "click". I couldnt be any further opposite then a brown nose :P im not going to go into massive detail etc, but my store has alot of two faced people and alot of **** stirring, alot of people do things for their own gains.

Example, our union reps and talkback reps like a cartel, one woman,her son, his best friend, and the womans number one lick arse colleague. They have a complete control on what filters through management.

Anyway.

Apologies to Argos staff for me crossing the lines today but couldnt do anything else. I hope the full time staff out there get a better deal then the one they are getting now.
And fair play to those who did a proper strike, not like my store workers who were an embarassesment to themselves.

Ah sure, theres no need to apologise to argos staff.You are entitled to pass it as much as anyone else is entitled to put it up! And you really didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry to hear your store sucks so much, I think most stores have similiar issues to some degree. Our own coordinators aren't paid anything extra either so I never really consider that a bump up. Just more responsibility for the same pay. Thats a clever buisness tactic me thinks-saves even more money!
To be honest, I think anyone who isn't in the union and passed the picket is perfectly right and totally fair. And I'd say the same for shoppers who passed the pickets..what was so disappointing for me was people who passed without knowing what was going on at all. And then on the way out asked so, whats the strike for anyway and showed their support then!
Ah sure, we'll see how it all goes. Hopefully it won't come to having to leave the company for a more competetive rate.

HungryJoey

What a joke! As said over and over in this thread. €9.03 is agood starting non-skilled job pay. I work in retail myself and earn around the same / hour. I my self work part-time and accept what I am being paid. I am in college and I think its ridiculous at the end of the day, if you are looking for more money - Get a decent job! Its not rocket science. I can't believe these guys are expecting to earn more money walking into essentially a 0% SKILLED job. Live with it, the rest of the country is. Regardless of argos' income they are well within their rights to pay you what they are paying you now remembering it is well above the legal minimum wage in Ireland.

With regards to fulltime staff, who have worked for argos for many years - they are who I feel sorry for. But again at the end of the day, its still retail. Who said because you worked there for 7 years, you are going to be earning as much as someone is walking out of college with a 4 year degree in business or computers? Degree's, qualifications, Skills aren't there for no reason. I am not by any means saying it is not possible to earn reasonable amounts of money without a degree, I am just saying I cannot believe these people picketing outside their stores when they are working for above the minimum wage, many of them are part time students, havn't a clue about the legal financial system, working in a non-skilled job! The latter being my most important point.

- Meh, get another job if its worth that much hassle. You know the argos "big boys" are probably just laughing at this behind their tabloids.

Hj

why should Full Time staff be paid more than part time staff for doing the same work?

Obviously they get paid more in total because they work more hours, but it makes no sense that someone should get paid a larger basic wage simply because they're available more.

Emmet
(Minimum Wage Worker)

HungryJoey

Deleted User wrote: »

why should Full Time staff be paid more than part time staff for doing the same work?

Obviously they get paid more in total because they work more hours, but it makes no sense that someone should get paid a larger basic wage simply because they're available more.

Emmet
(Minimum Wage Worker)

They shouldn't? Nor should they ever, and who ever says they should is just damn silly.

Hj

HungryJoey

favouritemistak wrote: »

Ah sure, we'll see how it all goes. Hopefully it won't come to having to leave the company for a more competetive rate.

Why don't you just do that in the first place? Argos havn't done anything wrong.

Hj

Orion

Couple of things to say here. Firstly - can I suggest that the "scab" remarks be left out? Be constructive or STFU.

Now to seriousness. I'm in 2 minds about the strike. My gut feeling is never to pass a picket. However, I do feel that Mandate is looking for something over and above the National agreement and is being somewhat irrational here. On the other hand Argos using strikebreakers from the UK is disgraceful. Let them get on with their business with the (non-union) staff who turn up. And I fully sympathise with the seasonal staff who need the money for Christmas. But if I had to get something in Argos today I possible would have passed the picket but there was absolutely no way I would do so with strikebreakers flown in.

And just for some perspective I'm an office worker with no union representation so I have no axe to grind here.

LuckyStar

I used to work in a supermarket while I was in college and was paid €9/hr. People there 6 or 7 years were paid about €12/hr. I have since got my degree and got a graduate job with much better money. At the end of the day if you don't like it then leave. If you don't have the education or skills to get a skilled job then get them. I went to college for 4 years and worked very hard, I deserve to get paid more money in my graduate job now than what I got in my checkout job. Plenty of people in my old job used to complain about the money but maybe if they hadn't left school at 16 they would have a better education and would have a better chance of getting a well paid job.

Jip

adrieanne__x wrote: »

Argos are the best paid workers in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. That should tell you something.

I wonder if it tells me why there was no picket outside the Blanchardstown store, and I didn't see one outside the Westend one either but I was doing a runner from the rain so might have missed it.

I find the reasons for the strike absolutely laughable. Argos have signed up to the national wage agreement but yet the union aren't happy with this !?!? I was listening to one of the reps on the Last Word last week and to me it sounds like the real reason is that unions nose is put out of joint because management won't meet them once a year anymore, she sounded very bitter about it anyway.

penexpers

gazzer wrote: »

I had planned to go into Argos today to get a few electrical things but there is no way I would pass a picket. Plenty of other shops sell the things I was looking for. I support them fully Paying your full time staff 9 euro an hour when you made millions of pounds profit last year is disgraceful.

If you were to stop shopping in every place that made outrageous profits while paying staff not great wages, then you wouldn't be left with very many places to shop.

HungryJoey

LuckyStar wrote: »

I used to work in a supermarket while I was in college and was paid €9/hr. People there 6 or 7 years were paid about €12/hr. I have since got my degree and got a graduate job with much better money. At the end of the day if you don't like it then leave. If you don't have the education or skills to get a skilled job then get them. I went to college for 4 years and worked very hard, I deserve to get paid more money in my graduate job now than what I got in my checkout job. Plenty of people in my old job used to complain about the money but maybe if they hadn't left school at 16 they would have a better education and would have a better chance of getting a well paid job.

I think you summed it up pretty well.



No they were not at blanchardstown. I know a few people who work in argos in blanchardstown, no picketing there!

Nightwish

As I mentioned before, it does sicken the staff when they see the profits doubling in size, while the company cuts back hours, staff etc. Conditions and management were my main issues with Argos, and at the end of the day I enjoyed working there. I was respected by everyone there, except my manager.

parsi

LuckyStar wrote: »

If you don't have the education or skills to get a skilled job then get them.

Not everyone can go and get better skills. It may surprise you but there are folk who cannot afford college or more importantly do not have the academic abilities to go off on a subsidised college course for four years. You should bear in mind that your facilities in college were paid for by all taxpayers and not just the college grads of previous years.

It's go to see the good old attitude alive and well - "I'm alright Jack and sure if the job is so bad why not get another one."

I'm far from convinced about the validity of this strike but the attitude shown here does shock me (though I suppose it is representative of the boards demographic).

miju

there are many opportunities to further your education without having to pay college fees or even go to college. i should know i availed of them to better my situation

LuckyStar

parsi wrote: »

Not everyone can go and get better skills. It may surprise you but there are folk who cannot afford college or more importantly do not have the academic abilities to go off on a subsidised college course for four years.

It's called a Leaving Cert, and about 50% of the people in the supermarket I worked in did not have one. There's not being able to afford education and there's taking the piss.

Sonnenblumen

Although people have the right to strike, and whether you pass the picket or not is a personal choice. I would see no reason why someone would pass a picket at a Retail Store. Worse still it is disppointing (but not surprising) to see the venomous comments directed at the workers.


If your not willing to offer even token moral support to the search for a fairer wage, at least be respectful in expression. I passed near an Argos store and I was surprised how many shoppers where inside.

€9.00/hour is not a living wage for an adult. Shame on you Argos.

Nightwish

All people I worked with in Argos had Leaving certs. Some were college dropouts, another was waiting to get into the Gardai, a few others had made it their career choice and had advanced into supervisory roles, but a few others havent a hope of getting other jobs. Through life circumstances/academic ability they cannot study to "better themselves". Many are paying mortgages on the argos wage.

miju

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

€9.00/hour is not a living wage for an adult. Shame on you Argos.

it is well above the minimum wage as statedin law by our government. perhaps you should be directing that comment towards them rather than Argos?

parsi

LuckyStar wrote: »

It's called a Leaving Cert, and about 50% of the people in the supermarket I worked in did not have one. There's not being able to afford education and there's taking the piss.

Come down from your Ivory Tower. Not having a Leaving Cert is not "taking the piss". Can you not undertsand that there are people out there who struggle academically and who can never advance beyond low-skilled work ?

HungryJoey

parsi wrote: »

Come down from your Ivory Tower. Not having a Leaving Cert is not "taking the piss". Can you not undertsand that there are people out there who struggle academically and who can never advance beyond low-skilled work ?

That is quite understandable, although I think we all know that the majority of people working in there were quite eligible to study and get a LC. And I know that because I know several people alone who did not like school, dropped out, or even who did their Leaving cert and work in argos, who by the way were in no way stopped from doing the LC.

Yeah, you can argue that the LC is not possible for some people to do, but come on - we know they are in the minority.

Hj

ixoy

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

If your not willing to offer even token moral support to the search for a fairer wage, at least be respectful in expression.

But what is a fair wage for an unskilled job? Surely wages need to be based on skill and value to the company rather than length of service? An employer shouldn't have to take into account your mortgage/rent when employing you and adjust your rates - that's your problem. They pay you for the calculated cost of retaining you and the risk of how difficult it would be to replace you. I can't see that an Argos worker coulnd't be pretty easily replaced, hence a lower wage.

And college isn't the only route to a good job. There are plenty of tradesmen who've been earning far more than college graduates in the last decade. They're providing a skilled service and were in short supply this not replacable and thus a higher wage.

TheDoc

What is further annoying as this debate goes on. The full time staff who went on strike, are doing low skilled labour. I'm only in the store not even two years and have big responsabilities.

Our staff who go on strike are those who jut come in do their days work and go home, they never go that extra mile for customers and regardless what is going on once their shift ends they are off, regardless of how busy we are.

I am responsible for many things, argos workers will know what im saying.

Filling the paperwork at end of week, co-ordinating counts and checking errors, arranging catalogue deliveries, personally delviering out of stock items to customers house at my expense, carrying items to customers cars, building items for customers, supervising rebin seasons, co-ordinating ro stoc krecalls. Personally in charge of dealing with defective stock. I am always asked to deal with awkward customers or giving customers bad news.

This is all above my job requirement, i should only pick stock end of, but i do all this. I've great respect for my store as i went unemployed for 8 months and argos took me on with minimal retail experience, and im sure now any retailer would take me with open arms.

But i perform alot of the work managers should do, and i dont mind. /every Sunday i ask my stock manager what major tasks he wants completed for the week and i get them done.

I earn the same money as the people who sit on a till, and dont give a ****.

pisses me off, then i understand im on a wage no other retailer can match for my age, working hours and situation.

f they want more money they should actually do some work...

and i thoroughly resent being called a scab, i spent 1 1/2 hours that day dealing with an elderly wmoan who didnt know what to buy her grandchildren and i sorted her out, i built a foreign ladies trike who couldnt read instructions, i arranged for so many items to be delivered in or held somewhere else for parents, i carried about 6 x-rocker gmaing chairs to cars for women, i carried over 110kg of flatpack to a carpark for a disabled lady...and everyone i personally dealt with that day went away happy.

I'm a scab???

Its a strike i do not support in the slightest really.....i wouldnt mind but most of the union members we have on strike where female members of staff, who only work because " they want to get out of the house" their spouses are majorly high earners

*no offense ment*I think im the only person in my store who sees things through both eyes, argos eyes and staff eyes. Yes argos made over 8 billion last year. But that isnt just profit.

That money has to be used, buying new products for our catalogue, installing the new automated kiosks in stores to benefit customers. And everyone overlooks argos are opening stores in india, o thats free is it?

Returned products that are damaged accumulate to over 5 million euro a year.
Insured claims products accumulate to 3 million.

Forecast budgets allocate stores the hours they are allowed to spend, in the past 6 weeks my manager has gone over that budget by a min of 150 hours.

Our management team are great and very accomodating, people have to remember they came from stock room/ till level too, area managers and head office make the decisions. But our managers consistenly defy them to make us happy and provide a better service to the swords store.


|And for argos shoppers |

dont all crowd around the collection counter, pulled a 6 hour shift yesterday on collection for the first time in a long time, and its very intimidating all those piercing stares :P

eth0_

Nightwish wrote: »

As I mentioned before, it does sicken the staff when they see the profits doubling in size, while the company cuts back hours, staff etc.

This has nothing whatsoever to do with what your wage is. The company I work for, its stock price is around $700, i don't expect to get paid $700 a day because the company is making shedloads of cash.

I see Argos are striking again on Dec 18th. Oh well, i'm sure they'll fly over non petty, non greedy staff from the UK again.

Musha

LuckyStar wrote: »

It's called a Leaving Cert, and about 50% of the people in the supermarket I worked in did not have one. There's not being able to afford education and there's taking the piss.

If everybody went to college and got gradute well paid jobs, Who would work in Argos / Supermarkets would we only be allowed to shop during summer/christmas breaks when the students where on holiday, Who would look after the Colleges Cleaning staff canteen Staff etc

Different strokes for different folks ...

Good honest people should not be disrespected for wanting a better life and pay for the work that they do not matter what level of education or what nationally they are.

I know college gradutes who collected bins because the pay was better!!

eth0_

I don't have a problem with people who are in Argos as a long term thing getting a rise every year, but to expect nearly 10 euro per hour as a starting wage is ridiculous.

Musha

Musha wrote: »

If everybody went to college and got gradute well paid jobs, Who would work in Argos / Supermarkets would we only be allowed to shop during summer/christmas breaks when the students where on holiday, Who would look after the Colleges Cleaning staff canteen Staff etc

Different strokes for different folks ...

Good honest people should not be disrespected for wanting a better life and pay for the work that they do not matter what level of education or what nationally they are.

I know college gradutes who collected bins because the pay was better!!

A minimum wage job that pays more than minimum wage.

Argos employees don't know how good they really have it

favouritemistak

eth0_ wrote: »

I don't have a problem with people who are in Argos as a long term thing getting a rise every year, but to expect nearly 10 euro per hour as a starting wage is ridiculous.

Its not 10euro an hour..they've already paid out around around 4.5percent of the ten already asked for.

LuckyStar

parsi wrote: »

Come down from your Ivory Tower. Not having a Leaving Cert is not "taking the piss". Can you not undertsand that there are people out there who struggle academically and who can never advance beyond low-skilled work ?

In this day and age, yes it is. Anyone and everyone I have ever met who didn't do the Leaving Cert gave their reason as "I couldn't be arsed". But you think they should be paid the same as someone like myself who slaved away at it for 2 years and then broke my bollocks for 4 years in college? Come off it.

Nightwish

eth0_ wrote: »

This has nothing whatsoever to do with what your wage is. The company I work for, its stock price is around $700, i don't expect to get paid $700 a day because the company is making shedloads of cash.

Thats not my point at all. Every year when the company announces their profits it is always always accompanied by belt tightening, and people getting their hours cut so that their take home pay is minimal. Its the same as the government giving themselves a huge pay rise, while telling the PAYE worker to fork out extra in stealth taxes.

TheDoc

theres nothing you can do in hte private industry...if its such a financial hit for them they need to move on

my girlfriend, who i met through argos, has her leaving cert...working in argos on ****ty pay but couldnt even get full hours.

Had the nerve and steel to go hunting for a proper job. Now works in dhl on 30+ hours a week paying a quaity wage packet.

She is now earning nearly triple what she did in argos, and all she did was an interview.

giddyup

Remy Thousands Trapdoor wrote: »

I would not cross the picket. Paying 9euro an hour is grand for somebody who started working there recently or only a short time ago. But for adults who work there full time and for many years, 9euro an hour just isnt enough money to raise a family and pay the bills etc.

I agree it's not enough money but time for some devils advocacy. So two people doing the exact same low-skilled work should be paid different wages because one of them is an energetic, helpful, enthusiastic student (I know I know) and the other is some dead-beat 60-a-day oul one who does the bare minimum and she's worked there for years making no progress and she has 6 kids and a mortgage and a few sub-prime loans.

I'm sorry but that's nonsense. It's supply and demand - If I pay x euros will I get enough sufficently sentient humans to shift enough product so I'm in profit. With some caveats that's the basic equation for employers in this game. I know that's a bit stark but dress it up a bit and remove the brutal honesty and you have yourself a retail employer.

I'm all for rewarding full-timers a little more in the interests of loyalty, retention of knowledge etc. but it's only ever going to be just a little more - ultimately it will revert to the economics of the situation.

I'll put my inner-capitalist back in his safe place now.

MOH

Nightwish wrote: »

Thats not my point at all. Every year when the company announces their profits it is always always accompanied by belt tightening, and people getting their hours cut so that their take home pay is minimal. Its the same as the government giving themselves a huge pay rise, while telling the PAYE worker to fork out extra in stealth taxes.

That's what companies do. I've worked in places that were making money hand over fist but paying staff crap and telling them there was no budget for increases. So I left.

chuckles30

I haven't read this whole thread, so apologies if this was said before. But from what I can gather, argos staff are arguing that they are getting paid less that people doing the same jobs in other retailers. So if that's the case, why don't they all leave and go get the higher paid jobs with the other retailers??? They knew what the wages were when they took the job.

eth0_

chuckles30 wrote: »

I haven't read this whole thread, so apologies if this was said before. But from what I can gather, argos staff are arguing that they are getting paid less that people doing the same jobs in other retailers. So if that's the case, why don't they all leave and go get the higher paid jobs with the other retailers??? They knew what the wages were when they took the job.

Which isn't true. Someone stated earlier in this thread that Argos workers are the highest paid in the Jervis centre - so they earn more than people in Boots, Dixons, Debenhams.

It's a ridiculous demand they are making.

Cactus Col

chuckles30 wrote: »

I haven't read this whole thread, so apologies if this was said before. But from what I can gather, argos staff are arguing that they are getting paid less that people doing the same jobs in other retailers. So if that's the case, why don't they all leave and go get the higher paid jobs with the other retailers??? They knew what the wages were when they took the job.

Because that wouldn't solve any problems, the new workers brought into Argos would still be paid unfairly. The company would have also have greater power, with a "don't like it, lump it" policy. If argos were to be seen getting away with this, then other employers would follow suit, and so unfair wages would become the norm rather than the exception.

It doesn't matter why people work in Argos, what does matter is that the people who do are treated fairly and with respect.

ixoy

Cactus Col wrote: »

Because that wouldn't solve any problems, the new workers brought into Argos would still be paid unfairly.

But it appears that they're not paid unfairly. Their wages are in line, if not greater, than many other similiar jobs. So that's not the problem for those new workers.

TheDoc

there is no arguement here, there really isnt, remembering im an employee of argos..

Argos are one of the highest paid wages in the pavillions centre in swords, minus perhaps the phone shops, but thats cause of commision.

I went round every store in the "pav" to find work and was offered 8.95 at best, 1 euro below current argos wage.

They are going on strike again next week, not sure if its a tuesday or saturday, but its happening again before christmas

Thoughts going around are that if this is kept up till after christmas, all striking staff will be let go, since their contracts end on dec 24th.

and they cant make a single complaint.

Nightwish

How did the xmas temps get roped into the strike? Where I worked, none of them were in the union.

favouritemistak

[DM]-TheDOC- wrote: »

there is no arguement here, there really isnt, remembering im an employee of argos..


Any chance you are actually Paul Reville? (the irish area manager for argos who I think is based in swords)

Now there is bullish and then there is bull****. I'm gonna have to call ya on the latter there my friend!

Absolute 100%pure bull****.

All the striking staff will be let go huh?!!! So all your striking staff are christmas temps whose contracts end on the 25th? Bull****.

Christmas temp staff won't be let go because they were on strike. They will be let go because their contracts end on the 25th of december.

The majority of christmas staff in the majority of stores are not on strike because they did not join the union. They did not join the union because they have a temporary job for a temporay fixed term. Their contracts end then because argos works with a skeleton crew for most of the year and hires accordingly at peak season.

Of course there are cases where stores may need to keep on a *few* christmas temps. This usually only happens if some permanent members of staff have left or if the store needs some pickers for a couple of weeks in january. It doesn't happen alot. Most stores won't keep any of them on, some will keep maybe 2 on.

Implying that the christmas staff will be let go because they were on strike is ridiculous and implausible! They have a right to strike and if the swords manager is gonna let staff go because they took personal issue with the fact that they were on strike, then shame on them. And it explains alot about why you claim your store has so many lazy, ineffectual staff.

Of course, Im sure the prospect of striking staff being let go just warms your little heart, considering you claimed in previous posts that all the staff who were on strike in your store were lazy, inefficent, illmannered and rude. Hardly a loss like!

The only way argos are the highest paid staff in the 'pav' is if there are no other stores. Are you comparing rates of pay from 2 years ago to current rates maybe!!

We are on strike on the tuesday 18th. It was on the news and union reps and general argos staff have been discussing it alot. Just how out of touch with your "coworkers" are ya man!

mikemac

[DM]-TheDOC- wrote: »

Thoughts going around are that if this is kept up till after christmas, all striking staff will be let go, since their contracts end on dec 24th.

and they cant make a single complaint.

I know a lot of seasonal staff are hired around Christmas so regardless of striking or not, a lot of people will be let go at the end of this month.

I doubt the full-time staff are on contract but I could be wrong.
Surely it's the full-time staff who are doing most of the striking and I doubt they can be let go on Dec 24th.
Part-time staff have little to gain from this dispute. By striking they may get a wage increase (unlikely imo) but since they won't be there in January they how does it benefit them? And they lose a day's wages by joining the picket

Edit: Favouritemistak already posted this already.
Sorry, thedoc but I reckon you're wrong here

Guy:Incognito

Favouriemistake was right about that but its a minor issue (slip of the tongue?) that he's useing to blow out of propertion and try to cover up the fact that Argos employees are very well paid for the type of job and compared to what others in the same industry get.

HungryJoey

eth0_ wrote: »

Which isn't true. Someone stated earlier in this thread that Argos workers are the highest paid in the Jervis centre - so they earn more than people in Boots, Dixons, Debenhams.

It's a ridiculous demand they are making.

That would be correct. Dixons starting wage is around 8.65 (Same with PCW, Curry's .. ) And its said to go up 20'c a year. Thats what i am paid, thats what I am entitled to be paid, thats what i agreed to be paid joining the company, that is the minimum wage. Tough. There is a reason also why I am studying in college

As I've said before earlier in this thread, argos are off their rockers :rolleyes:

Hj

Corruptedmorals

Wrong, Boots starting wage is €9.11. I'm pretty sure Debenhams is €9. Marks is the best I've ever heard of- €9.40.

Sonnenblumen

ixoy wrote: »

But what is a fair wage for an unskilled job? Surely wages need to be based on skill and value to the company rather than length of service? An employer shouldn't have to take into account your mortgage/rent when employing you and adjust your rates - that's your problem. They pay you for the calculated cost of retaining you and the risk of how difficult it would be to replace you. I can't see that an Argos worker coulnd't be pretty easily replaced, hence a lower wage.

And college isn't the only route to a good job. There are plenty of tradesmen who've been earning far more than college graduates in the last decade. They're providing a skilled service and were in short supply this not replacable and thus a higher wage.

What a strange but archaic way of looking at things. You don't strike me as being an employer but still you've an antiquated but thankfully redundant way of assessing employee value. The route to wealth is somewhat stereotypical, yeah there's plenty of anecdotal evidence but no relevance to the topic.

Sonnenblumen

miju wrote: »

it is well above the minimum wage as statedin law by our government. perhaps you should be directing that comment towards them rather than Argos?

I think you missed my point - perhaps you might ponder on your 'well above the minimum' wage and imagine what's more comfortable (a) subsistence living or (b) 'working poor' ?

You can your own say too - that's one of the differentiators of democracy and if you don't like it, walk away or perhaps try and change it, especially if it means helping someone else less fortunate (perhaps)!

miju

i'm well familiar with the phrase working poor having worked for €7.45 an hour for two years and the sheer struggle of it.

but again i did something about it by bettering my employment options and getting a much higher paid job. argos employees can do the same