Just remembering how in 2005, I was just starting college and working at Meijer. Most full time cashiers were older than me, 26-32yo. They all were union cashiers who made $30+ hr and had mortgages instead of renting. They had high school degrees. They’d go on vacation and had healthcare and stuff.
If I had stayed, I would never have made that much, since changes in the union contract after 2000 meant cashiers were capped at $18. I was only there for two years and the new cap had already fell to $15.
What the hell happened? I get talking about boomers, but this is not that.