Dunkin' Donuts Worker's Death Reveals The True Cost Of Our Low-Wage, Part-Time Economy

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A New Jersey woman died earlier this week trying to catch a few hours of sleep between jobs, a chilling reminder of the struggle low-wage workers, particularly women, face making ends meet.

Police found Maria Fernandes dead in her car on Monday night, parked in a convenience-store parking lot in Elizabeth, N.J., according to a police press release. Fernandes, 32, was wearing a Dunkin’ Donuts uniform when she was found. A friend and fellow employees told officials she worked as many as four jobs, said Lt. Daniel Saulnier, a spokesman for the Elizabeth police department. Authorities are waiting on a toxicology report to determine the exact cause of death, but Hazmat investigators found that fumes in Fernandes’ car were caused by a gasoline can that had spilled in the back, according to the release. Friends told police that Fernandes kept gas in her car to avoid running out of gas when traveling between jobs. And she often slept in parking lots to get a few hours of rest between jobs, authorities said.

“It is a very sad story and really tragic, and it shines a light on what is a real problem, particularly for low-wage workers, today,” said Elizabeth Watson, senior counsel and director of workplace justice for women at the National Women’s Law Center.

This story breaks my heart.

I remember doing something like this myself years ago. I was going to post this in the op about Henry Kissinger bragging about the wonderful world economy but this deserves its own thread.

It's a sad, sad world today!

Four fking jobs!

originally posted by: proob4
It's a sad, sad world today!

The world has always been a "sad place". Just read history. We now have the internet, so we just hear about it sooner.

Sad indeed but we have to remain positive and NEVER give up hope.
And strive for a better world where we can attain that old song by an old jazz guy Pharoah Sanders - The Creator has a Master Plan…peace and happiness for every man.

Though today we might add every man... and woman!

And they probably all kept her pt not to have to offer benefits. My heart is with her.

I always considered low wage unskilled service jobs as starter jobs for those moving into the job force or older workers using that type of employment to supplement their retirement. Apparently many are choosing these types of jobs as a career choice.

It surprises me that these workers are demanding wages that entry level skilled workers make.

For people that work these jobs that have the opportunity to better themselves, why don't they have the motivation to raise their standard of living?

I understand the economy is bad but for someone working four jobs, it wouldn't last long because sleep deprivation has its problems.

This represents the tragedy people rarely talk about. People who work non-stop and still can't afford the basics of life. Any talk of a recovering economy is insulting until this is improved.

Oh how did I know...

By "back" I assume they mean backseat and not trunk, either way there's a reason why gasoline tanks must meet certain safety regulations and why you shouldn't keep one in your car. Were there no gas stations near her four jobs? Highly unlikely.

originally posted by: eManym
I always considered low wage unskilled service jobs as starter jobs for those moving into the job force or older workers using that type of employment to supplement their retirement. Apparently many are choosing these types of jobs as a career choice.

It surprises me that these workers are demanding wages that entry level skilled workers make.

For people that work these jobs that have the opportunity to better themselves, why don't they have the motivation to raise their standard of living?

What Planet do you live on?

Who chooses to work 4 Jobs because they don't have the motivation to Better Themselves.

It's not a choice to work low paying PT jobs, it's just a matter of trying to survive.

a reply to: Willtell
Yes, this is So Very sad, I read the article when it first came out, Fernandes emigrated to the United States from Portugal and worked so very hard for her life to end that way.
In another article I read, her friends said she was so very happy and some times didn't sleep for five days.
She also sang Michael Jackson songs at work and mimicking his dance moves.

I understand she was going to take off for Jackson's birthday.
Let me find the article,,,, Google is my friend,,,,,,OK!
Link
It's a sad day when a person has done every thing right and is working so hard not to be a burden,, Loses their life and others get it all for nothing.

Let's all concentrate on the poor woman who had to work 4 minimum wage jobs.

Let's all focus on the debate about how low minimum wages are.

Let's all ignore the fact that America's worker base is service-related.

Let's all ignore the fact that America's creative manufacturing base has been wiped out.

Let's focus on minimum wage industry and ignore supporting, endorsing, creating professions like medicine, engineering, production, manufacturing, construction, architecture, science, etc.

We have a president and congress soiling themselves over minimum wage and they are purposefully ignoring the fact that in a service industry, you can't raise wages unless you raise the cost of service!
They are ignoring America's weakening educational levels, America's poor professional levels.

Forget having more scientists or engineers!

Let's raise the effing minimum wage to 50 effing dollars an hour!

*bah*

I'm not the sharpest bowling ball in the drawer, but even I can see this is going the wrong way!

a reply to: Dingo80
What I meant by my post was, why don't these workers learn a skill that pays higher wages rather than working several jobs at the same level?

I always tell this story in the context of sad tales like this.
This is how things have changed

In the 80’s I was at GM making good money for a young guy.
Before the auto industry got wiped out by the Japanese, bad American auto factories, and greedy capitalists.

The thing is we were actually close to a 35 hour work week shooting for a 4 day work week in the next union contract.

Then Ronald Reagan got in office and there’s history

Go go America, big tax cuts for the rich and after that the American economy slowly over the years with the Reagonomics, trickle down philosophy (super tax cuts for the rich) mixed with Bill Clintons NAFTA spelled the doom of the American working class and that dream of 35 hour work week has now turned into a nightmare of a 60 hour work week for the average American SLAVE!

Oh did I say slave…

originally posted by: eManym
I always considered low wage unskilled service jobs as starter jobs for those moving into the job force or older workers using that type of employment to supplement their retirement. Apparently many are choosing these types of jobs as a career choice.

It surprises me that these workers are demanding wages that entry level skilled workers make.

For people that work these jobs that have the opportunity to better themselves, why don't they have the motivation to raise their standard of living?

I understand the economy is bad but for someone working four jobs, it wouldn't last long because sleep deprivation has its problems.

Well there's security in having four jobs. If you lose one, you still have three. This may have been a consideration for this person.

Edit: This would certainly answer your second post better.

a reply to: eManym

While you’re learning a skill you still have to live and eat

I did that myself when the GM job went.

I took a buy out and started all over in computers. Got a degree and then worked my way back up to a livable wage

This may be what she was doing.

I can't speak for America, but in the UK social care sector you can get a thousand people going for the same professional job, particularly assistant psychologists and practitioners. This leaves many graduates working in any job whilst they're looking the gateway into the profession they want, which can take years. The average age of an assistant psychologist is 28, roughly six years after graduation. I don't think it's as clear-cut as saying low-paid workers have no ambition.

a reply to: eManym
Its not like that. How old are you? Not meant to be insulting, but it seems some older generations dont get it. Im intelligent and could probably do any job put in front of me. This includes specialist jobs. The fact is.. I couldnt pay for my schooling beyond 2 years. I pais for it myself so im debt free, but if you dont go all the way through pretty much to graduate school and find job placement.. you are s.o.l.

Ive considered starteing businesses, but I dont have the money. Ive been lucky enough to have a job for the last 5 or 5 years, but when I went in to ask for a raise (for a third time) last week, I was informed they dont give raises.
So im about to quit with no other prospe ts because im wasting ly life on a worthless job. Ive got a year and a few months of my twenties left. I guess I'll hit the road and write, or pan for gold somewhere.

I had originally started school for psychology, but my passion is film making. The school however was 60, 000 a year. So I switched to creative writing and I do write, but ive yet to try to publish. Now the monotony of this job and place has zapped my inspiration so its time for a bike trip, south and west I think. Any ATSers wanna let my pitch a tent in your yard for a night in the southwest let me know. Or if anyone in a similar situation wants to go panning for gold. We will set up camp on a river bend on a river with gold and pan and wetvac that creek bed clean.

Come on folks it’s the elite Bilderberger types, imo, that has caused this

This economy aint no accident it’s designed by the elite to dummy down and austerity
to be here.