Flipping burgers is not what most people dream of doing as a career choice, but reality dictates when times are tough, you have to take what you can get. It’s made even worse when your employer requires that you receive your pay in the form of a debit card- one that has fees in order for you to even access that money. Most will accept it because they believe that they don’t have a choice. However, Natalie Gunshannon of Shavertown, Pennsylvania felt compelled to speak up.
After working at the local McDonald’s for a month, Gunshannon received a debit card that contained her wages. She objected to having to pay various fees to J.P. Morgan Chase to access money that she earned. The fees attached to the card include but are not limited to $1.50 to use an ATM, $5 for withdrawals in person, and $1 to inquire about the balance. While that may not seem like a lot of money, it is for someone who makes $7.44 an hour. The total that Gunshannon was owed was $200 which won’t cover rent. It might cover food for one month if you were really careful about your money. It may be enough to cover a car payment if you have an inexpensive car, but that doesn’t pay for insurance, gas or maintenance.
So like any good employee, Gunshannon went to her manager to inquire about receiving a check instead of the debit card. (She knew that if she signed it, then it meant that she accepted the pay and the terms that went with the card.) Her manager told her that the debit card was the only option she had. Next, she went to the franchise owners, Albert and Carol Mueller. They told her the same thing. It seems that she had come to a dead end.
Unfortunately, she felt that she had no other choice – she sought the help of a local attorney. He felt that she had a good case, and as a result, he’s filed a class action lawsuit so that other employees get what’s due to them. The Muellers own 15 McDonald’s stores which means that there are plenty of employees who are experiencing lost wages. While some might think that Gunshannon should just take her lumps, and find another job, that’s easier said that done when employment options are limited.
The sad fact is, Gunshannon is like many other working poor. She’s a single parent, working hard to support herself and her child. As such, Gunshannon is looking for another job. But it seems her prospects are rather thin. In fact, the area of Pennsylvania that Gunshannon lives in has a much higher unemployment rate as compared to the rest of the state. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Luzerne County saw it’s unemployment rate go from 9.7% to 9.9% in March. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the rate was no better for April, the latest month available, as shown in the map below:
Luzerne County is one of eight counties in Pennsylvannia that continues to record unemployment at a rate of at least 9.5%. So even if Gunshannon finds another job, chances are it won’t pay much higher than her McDonald’s job. The county’s poverty rate of 13.7% is much higher than the state average of 12.4%. It is a rural area with few opportunities. So when Gunshannon says that she needs every penny that she earns, she’s not exaggerating. She’s doing the best that she can, and working her hardest to provide for herself and her child. The shame is that people like the Muellers cut costs where ever they can, and try to get away with taking from those who have very little to start with. Let’s hope that her efforts pay off for her, and for other low wage workers.
Edited/Published by: SB
