THE LOW-WAGE ECONOMY

Food service workers are a typical part of the low-wage economy. People who work for food service contractors at cafeterias in the High Tech-Biotech Corridor are often paid low wages and have limited benefits. Food service workers earn 69% less than the median wage for the area. Contracted food service workers also earn less than those in comparable jobs that similarly do not require higher education or training.

Many contracted food service workers are priced out of the housing market, struggle to afford basic necessities and cannot afford health insurance.

Claudia Rivera: Struggling to Make Ends Meet
Genentech, November 2006

As a single mother, making ends meet is hard. I already use WIC to get things like milk and eggs for my daughter. Working at Guckenheimer doesn’t make it any easier. In my nine months as a cashier, they have shown little regard for my well being. They often deliver my paycheck late, making it impossible for me to pay all my bills on time. I struggle with my rent, childcare costs and the high price of Guckenheimer health insurance. Recently, I’ve been considering getting a second job or getting on the county health insurance because my paycheck alone won’t let me support my daughter.

Mark Simmons: Promised Raises
Genentech, November 2006

After finishing culinary school at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, I did an externship with Guckenheimer. They started me at $8 an hour. They told me I would get a 30% raise when I started on the regular payroll. Instead, I had to fight with the management for over 2 months to get my raise. After two and a half years, and another two raises, I can barely afford to pay off my loans from culinary school and still have enough to live on.

Ri Hua Zheng: Slighted by Management
Genentech, May 2006

I’ve worked for Guckenheimer as a driver, a porter, a caterer and an assistant cook. I like my job and I work hard to keep the customers satisfied. But the managers here don’t reward us for our experience and dedication. They offer higher wages to newer workers. And they don’t always give us the raises they promised. It is not easy to take care of my two daughters and wife on a Guckenheimer salary.