Boston Globe TD Garden concession workers contemplate strike

[jgatie]

I don't think there's an option to tip a dollar it's minimum 15%. Pouring a beer takes 20 seconds.

We need to go to the European model where servers are compensated fairly and don't need to have their hand out for tips. Everyone not from America thinks it's ridiculous I was in a pub in Dublin a few weeks ago on a layover and the entire pub was talking about how they never want to visit the US again because it's too expensive to begin with and then people have the audacity to expect another 20% for nothing.

The fact that Europeans hate this aspect of America (along with everything else they don't get) just makes me want to tip more. I've travelled extensively both for work and leisure, and if there's one thing I know is très gauche, it's complaining about the local culture and customs. You're a guest in their home, not the other way around.

 

[Bocephus86]

People who don't tip are the worst. Wages are suppressed all over various service industries because tipping is so ingrained in our culture, think of it as part of the overall cost of the transaction.

If their wages were raised to a fair and livable standard, than it's different, but they aren't and all you're doing by not tipping is taking advantage of this setup we've collectively decided to have.

 

[Gordoff]

An EX-friend of mine thought that the above was a "great idea." We've been friends since high school in 1973 but he and his deceased wifes (who was also a classmate) attitude toward people and things such as tipping made me wake up and decide that their selfishness was all too much. He could've written the avove.
I won't go further but after witnessing them doing certain things, made me decide that enough was enough.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

The fact that Europeans hate this aspect of America (along with everything else they don't get) just makes me want to tip more. I've travelled extensively both for work and leisure, and if there's one thing I know is très gauche, it's complaining about the local culture and customs. You're a guest in their home, not the other way around.

Also, if people visiting the US have an issue with the strength of the American dollar (and therefore yielding an unfavorable exchange rate), they should take it up with post World War II politicians who deemed it as the currency of international exchange and not working class people trying to make a living.

Considering it’s a very particular custom to this part of the world, I do sort of get the total bewilderment. But acting as if it’s an “entitlement” on behalf of the service industry is just ignorance. The classic “this isn’t convenient to me so therefore it’s wrong” mindset without having a clue.

 

[jgatie]

Also, if people visiting the US have an issue with the strength of the American dollar (and therefore yielding an unfavorable exchange rate), they should take it up with post World War II politicians and not working class people trying to make a living.

Considering it’s a very particular custom to this part of the world, I do sort of get the total bewilderment. But acting as if it’s an “entitlement” on behalf of the service industry is just ignorance. The classic “this isn’t convenient to me so therefore it’s wrong” mindset without having a clue.

Off-topic, but as an America who has been called "insular" by a "worldly" Brit, I'll tell you how much they know about America. This involved an argument over pricing of a US made product in America vs. Britain. The Brit was screaming from the rooftops that this American company was charging a premium for its product in Britain and posted the list prices converted to pounds to prove it. When I showed him he was actually paying less of a base price because the Brit list price included VAT and import tax, while the US list price was sans taxes due to all local and state taxes being applied during checkout, he shut up and ceased the conversation.

So much for this "insular" American.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Off-topic, but as an America who has been called "insular" by a "worldly" Brit, I'll tell you how much they know about America. This involved an argument over pricing of a US made product in America vs. Britain. The Brit was screaming from the rooftops that this American company was charging a premium for its product in Britain and posted the list prices converted to pounds to prove it. When I showed him he was actually paying less of a base price because the Brit list price included VAT and import tax, while the US list price was sans taxes due to all local and state taxes being applied during checkout, he shut up and ceased the conversation.

So much for this "insular" American.

wait a minute…are you telling me that the cost of import taxes AKA tariffs get passed directly to the consumer?!?!

I somehow wonder if the same misperception of that guy is going to be exploited amongst a certain sect of the US population that thinks China is going to be paying the US for access to the American consumer market. They’re going to have to come up with something.

But I digress.

 

[Gee Wally]

Lets not slip into politics here.

But since I spent 30 years as Director of NA Logistics for a huge Pharma company the federal law is:

“ The Importer of Record shall be responsible for all payments of fees, tariffs and taxes to the US Department of Treasury “.

Ultimately that does in fact get passed on to the consumer.

Now back to whatever the hell we were talking about.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Lets not slip into politics here.

But since I spent 30 years as Director of NA Logistics for a huge Pharma company the federal law is:

“ The Importer of Record shall be responsible for all payments of fees, tariffs and taxes to the US Department of Treasury “.

Ultimately that does in fact get passed on to the consumer.

Now back to whatever the hell we were talking about.

Wally, I only said it because I yearned for your inevitable presence.

I will behave now.

 

[Friar85]

Better be careful screwing around with Delaware North, just ask Don Bolles.

 

[Gee Wally]

Wally, I only said it because I yearned for your inevitable presence.

I will behave now.

All good. Many dont realize how it works. And for numerous reasons not everything can be made in the US. We are the largest importer of everything in the world.

 

[Patdud]

hell yeah f*** you JJ CJ all the Js

 

[KnightofBoston]

The article said part of what the union is seeking is protection against AI and automation taking their jobs. My only point was that I think that's a losing battle. Argue for better pay, argue for better benefits but I would think arguing to block 'progress' is a non-starter.

There are ways to do both anyways. AI can absolutely be used to automate the ordering system and machines putting together certain things where as in some cases it’s better to have a human do it, and at the end of the day we still as consumers want the human experience of interacting with concession workers

I don’t want a machine making my food, but I’m cool with it quickly pouring simple drinks or sliding candy boxes around, for example. AI can be very helpful when volume increases and lines build

 

[BigGoalBrad]

People who don't tip are the worst. Wages are suppressed all over various service industries because tipping is so ingrained in our culture, think of it as part of the overall cost of the transaction.

If their wages were raised to a fair and livable standard, than it's different, but they aren't and all you're doing by not tipping is taking advantage of this setup we've collectively decided to have.

So at $20/beer it's the responsibility of the customer to support the person pouring and not the business owner making a 1000% profit margin?

 

[TD Charlie]

Why are you tipping for counter service anyway?

You don’t tip a bartender?

 

[EverettMike]

You don’t tip a bartender?

I was on a charity pub crawl organized by my friend and at the first bar her cousin (who I did not know) said he wasn't going to tip all day because he'd save "like 14 bucks."

My friend instantly reamed him out and it was glorious. The cousin tipped on every drink after that.

 

[BigGoalBrad]

You don’t tip a bartender?

Bartenders don't serve drinks that people walk out of the establishment with that is a liquor store. Sit down service is different.

Why shouldn't the people at Market Basket get a tip as well? Put the 10/15/20 options on every transaction there.

Jacobs probably spends under $1 for the beers he charges $19 for.

 

[wintersej]

There are ways to do both anyways. AI can absolutely be used to automate the ordering system and machines putting together certain things where as in some cases it’s better to have a human do it, and at the end of the day we still as consumers want the human experience of interacting with concession workers

I don’t want a machine making my food, but I’m cool with it quickly pouring simple drinks or sliding candy boxes around, for example. AI can be very helpful when volume increases and lines build

Frankly, I don't think "the man" gives a f*** what the customers want. If they did, the food at the Garden wouldn't be LA County Jail quality food.

Machines probably make most of the food people get at the grocery store already.

 

[TD Charlie]

I was on a charity pub crawl organized by my friend and at the first bar her cousin (who I did not know) said he wasn't going to tip all day because he'd save "like 14 bucks."

My friend instantly reamed him out and it was glorious. The cousin tipped on every drink after that.

As he f***ing should!

I like your friend

 

[EverettMike]

As he f***ing should!

I like your friend

She's f***ing nails.

 

[TD Charlie]

Bartenders don't serve drinks that people walk out of the establishment with that is a liquor store. Sit down service is different.

Why shouldn't the people at Market Basket get a tip as well? Put the 10/15/20 options on every transaction there.

Jacobs probably spends under $1 for the beers he charges $19 for.

Is the liquor store pouring your drinks and preparing food for you?

 

[Gee Wally]

 

[KnightofBoston]

Frankly, I don't think "the man" gives a f*** what the customers want. If they did, the food at the Garden wouldn't be LA County Jail quality food.

Machines probably make most of the food people get at the grocery store already.

Well sure, but we outnumber them. People have to fight for it.

While that last comment may be true, I can tell you at my local big y they make everything fresh by hand and it’s superior

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

I was on a charity pub crawl organized by my friend and at the first bar her cousin (who I did not know) said he wasn't going to tip all day because he'd save "like 14 bucks."

My friend instantly reamed him out and it was glorious. The cousin tipped on every drink after that.

It always makes me cringe when someone starts talking about their pride in being cheap, completely unaware of how off putting it is to the majority of the population.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

Sans some awful service or other rare circumstances. If you don’t tip you are a cheap prick.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

So at $20/beer it's the responsibility of the customer to support the person pouring and not the business owner making a 1000% profit margin?

Here’s the problem. By not tipping, you’re not moving the owner any closer to paying a living wage to his or her employees. You’re just shorting the worker.

I don’t know why it can’t just be factored in to people’s psyche when they receive service. You have a direct line to the front line employee in terms of their compensation. Like it or not, until further notice, that’s the system. So unless you’re out there fighting for raised wages for all these service people busting their humps for a poverty level base pay, accept that it’s part of the deal and have a tiny bit of generosity and/or basic humanity to help a brother or sister out.

No, I’m not saying you should be clicking 30% tip when you get a 6 beers for $120. But a few bucks scattered around to the various workers throughout the Garden? For Christ sake, if that’s all it takes for me to contribute in a tiny way to a positive environment jammed into a building with thousands of other people, I’m doing it. I hardly enjoy seeing people miserable.