AFL-CIO president takes on Crystal Sugar lockout
July 25, 2012 at 12:56 am in Grand Forks Herald
The president of the AFL-CIO is speaking out against the lockout of union employees at American Crystal Sugar. Richard Trumka will be in the Twin Cities on Wednesday to make what the 12 million member labor federation says will be a major announcement on the lockout. Continue Reading
WOW! The president of the AFL-CIO, I’ll bet American Crystal is scared now!!
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Let me guess … a boycott. A few hundred thousand dollars of member’s money for a local radio and TV campaign (a little late). More idle threats about bringing the power of American labor to bear on the management of ACS.
Any or all of these might have worked before three consecutive no votes, but now it is too little too late. The former ACS employees made their own beds. It is now time to sleep in them.
As for a boycott: Caesar Chavez this guy aint. Radio and TV campaigns will not change anyone’s mind or buying habits. Both are already firmly in place.
Finally: American labor is a ghost of its former self. Two decades ago it might have wielded a fair amount of influence; now it is an afterthought at best. That is too bad, by continually making poor choices unionized workers have marginalized themselves to the point of insignificance; leaving management to do as they please.
The union workers cannot blame Washington, or big business, only themselves. Starting with the auto industry and trickling down to every major union industry besides government employees (the gold standard for inefficiency), unions have participated in the dismantling of their livelihoods.
What a different world it would be if the unions were capable of thinking beyond the next contract. They might still have jobs.
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FN you said it all VERY succinctly; your comment should end anymore banter on this ridiculous topic…….move on GFH and beeters!
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Things that make you go hmmmm: the President is going to be shaking his fist & banging his shoe during a previously planned visit to MNPLS.
Sincere desire to end the lockout or afterthought? You make the call.
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“I like to honor Union boycotts.”
Ummm….do the circumstances matter at all to you?
I like to dig in a bit and see what it is exactly they’re boycotting….and why. More often than not, I find myself *not* honoring union boycotts.
It’s a logic thing.
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If you think those are the only two possible scenarios, well…..you’re incorrect.
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Seems like the option the union has selected is still pay union dues, no union wages, no minimum wage and government cheese.
Also what you are saying is that the union workers are only qualified for minimum wage jobs without the union’s assistance.
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“So what are the other scenarios?”
Gosh Robert….I have no idea. I do know that I’m not in a union, nor do I work for minimum wage and partake in government cheese.
So I guess if it weren’t for the “exceptions” like myself, (and the millions of others that fall outside of your two scenarios as well), your theory would have merit.
But alas….it doesn’t.
Sorry ’bout that.
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Well Robert, maybe the fear of me and my lunchbox being thrown out is what makes me work hard and earn the money that’s paid me, instead of hiding behind the protection of a union. I don’t need a union, I’m a hard worker that my company wants to keep around.
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@devilschild, he tells me in more ways than one. He verbally tells me and ND is a right to work state, the fact that I still have a job is proof he thinks so, and I get a raise every year, another sign that I am doing a good job and earning my wages.
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Bob I am glad you like your job and the people you work for. You said your piece without being rude unlike so many others.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Robert said, “How about this, for you non-union workers: Your employer can take you and your lunchbox, throw you out the door and tell you to never to come back.”
I am not union, my employers have never thrown me and my lunchbox out the door. You are union and have had your employer throw you and your lunchbox out the door. Tell me how being union is supposed to protect me again? I fail to see it. If you don’t want to be thrown out the door, get a non-union job so you don’t have other people telling you when you aren’t allowed to work, work your butt off, and enjoy the benefits. It really is that simple Robert.
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who cares.
Only a complete buffoon would think the Union has 1 single ounce of bargaining power right now.
For those who still think the company is goinjg to cave in to your demands…… Its not going to happen.
If you want a job i would suggest dumping the worthless dues stealing bums at the Union and go ask politely for your job back.
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I do wonder what I would do if I were a former union member that had gotten fed up with the amateurish behavior of the union and its leadership….and very recently had given up my union membership and went back to work only to learn that shortly thereafter the AFL CIO started doling out cash.
I’d be wondering aloud, (very aloud), if the “cash rescue” came this late in the game partially because enough “valued” union employees had dropped off of the membership roster.
I’d be wondering lots of other stuff too….that one is just for starters.
I do hope the AFL CIO leader takes questions from the floor after his speeches. But…..I’m not holding my breath. Rehearsed rhetoric becomes too easy for listeners to recognize and dismiss when you have to shoot from the hip and answer questions on the spot.
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$25,000 from an organization of 12 million? How much “pressure” does $25,000 buy when we haven’t even gotten into campaign season yet and the major Senate candidates have already raised over $6 million – for a state with less than 600,000 voters?
The math does not look that good. The word “token” comes to mind.
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This is pretty much all a joke now, It just amounts to maybe $20 for each one locked out that might be paying their dues while they would have been better off quitting the union and going back to work months ago.
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Perhaps they are going to use the funds to buy and even BIGGER inflatable rat!
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How can I sign up for a union job? I would love to get $25,000 to watch cartoons all year!
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the Union is a cartoon itself.
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With all that labor goonion money Trumka collects, why can’t he buy shirts that fit?
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Lighten up ‘devil’, take a pill; this IS an opinion board, nothing wrong with ‘slamming’….no one is forcing you to participate….
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Correct Richard. Public officials are fair game. Personal attacks on other board members will get your wrist slapped (I know) but lampooning public officials is an American tradition.
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The child that bemoaned how cruel and soulless everyone else is now attempting to make fun of others?
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According to a news report tonight on the news, all unionized workers are going to break all ties with ACS. So, apparently when the next Ripplinger or Knapper decide to break the law again, the authorities will not respond because they were told not to by the AFL-CIO. These jokers are threatning to fight against the sugar program again also, jepordizing thousands of good paying jobs across the country. They already killed the auto industry and now they are just moving down the line. I, for one, am sick of the unions tactics and wish they would quit talking about wanting to work and actually work!
I do thunk Trumka should get off his rear and actually do something, then maybe he could actually find a shirt that he could wear a tie properly when giving a public address. I wonder if Froemke showed Trumka his drunk dial clip on youtube?
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That says a lot when the child of the devil thinks youre being mean.
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Schurkey has posted the same thing about a dozen times before. His “support for the cause” lacks credibility in my opinion because he says the same thing repeatedly. He’s boycotting a company and its product until a certain individual gets fired. It’s laughable.
Do you think ONE PERSON is all that stands in the union’s way here?
Is the Berg fixation some sort of vendetta?
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I’m sure ACS will survive without you purchasing their sugar.
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shurkey…..we’ve heard that several times now. You better stop buying many products that contain sugar then! Sugar is in many things besides the white bag. Hopefully ACS can survive your boycott! ha ha
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Things that confuse me:
1.) I thought that the Nov 2011 contract update included the wording that the UNION had written to clarify the rules for outsourcing of jobs. Is this not correct? If so, how can job security still be an issue?
2.) AFL-CIO threatened to boycott the businesses that work ACSC and then there was a long list including police and fire fighters. So the AFL-CIO is going to boycott the firefighters? How do you do that? Refuse to let them do their job (stop your house from burning down)? Or boycott the police by not calling 911 when something bad happens? I just found that description odd. Does someone know if the police and fire fighters are members of the AFL-CIO and would be donig the boycotting instead of being boycotted?
Things I think:
1.) Lots of rude people making uncalled for rude comments on here. Wish they could act like adults. You can take sides without making fun of others, hoping harm on them or enjoying their misery.
2.) While I can agree that it is “noble” for Schurkey to follow his beliefs with action (boycotting ACS), I’ve looked at the situation and have come to the decision that a boycott isn’t necessary. ACSC has acted properly (in my opinion). I think it is also “noble” for me to follow my beliefs with action as I continue to buy ACS.
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As I scroll through the comments I look at the names. I only read a select few. I always read yours though Mike. Thank you for always being a gentleman.
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I finally downloaded the 3Q SEC report for ACSC. I guess I’d expect that the union would attempt to show this in the worst possible light, just as they did the 2Q report, but I was surprised to see that there were additional comments in this report to help clarify some items…. comments the union either refused to read or to acknowledge.
It has been reported by the union in several locations that the Cost of Sales increased $171M with an insinuation that the lockout is costing this much. The SEC report clearly states that $82M was due to changes in inventory levels. At 2Q report, you had to go to another section of the SEC report and do some math to figure out the same item.
It has also been reported the $48M increase in short-term debt, but no discussion on the reduction in long-term debt of $21M or the reduction in total liabilities of over $90M.
My point, most farmers run quite large businesses and are at-least somewhat used to dealing with balance sheets and financial reports. If the union workers are waiting for the farmers to revolt based on the 3Q report, I don’t think this is going to happen. The report shows that the workers last year did produce a large amount of saleable sugar and earned the company a good profit.
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In the past months I have heard how this contract offer is a bad deal, cannot earn a living wage, etc. etc. etc.
So now Mr. Trumka drops $25,000 to help out all the poor BCTGM workers. WOW so he just gave you each of the locked out workers $19.23. So only another $4.77 and your union dues are paid off for the month (do not forget to take taxes out of that). So all you good BCTGM members ask yourself this, who offered you a job and who is having you beg for scraps at their table? Good dog BCTGM, sit, stay.
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So the inflatable rat, hanging monkey, confederate flag, spitting on people, keying cars, verbal abuse, racial slurs, signs that read “a greedy farmer took my job”, youtube video of drunk dialing AF of L CIO leadership, etc. etc. is how the BCTGM union leadership shows how serious they take this matter and your giving me a lecture??? That is the best joke I have heard all week! Thank you so much for the good laugh. And just a little thought for you, the next time you feel like asking someone to be nice start at the local union hall.
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The rat made the news 10 feet tall or better, and had its turn at all the factories.
The confederate flag flew on the north side of the portable canopy that was set up by the concrete barrier opening on the west side of the Hillsboro factory. The monkey was hanging in front of the confederate flag. It was there for many days. The monkey and the flag were then put up in front of rat when the rat was at the Hillsboro factory. The monkey was hanging from the paw and the flag was below hanging from the trailer. It made the news. http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/51869/ If you have any questions feel free to call the Traill County Sheriff’s department or follow up with WDAY.
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You are absolutely correct, I do believe in an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth and a life for a life.
What does being a man of conviction (a man on fire if you will) have to do with being nice?
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To be a better person is to choose to walk the straight and narrow, and just like Grandpa pointed out “ if you choose to walk a straight line through a cow pasture you best be willing to get some shite on your boots”. “That is the price you pay”. He was right. And I do not mind paying the price for it, think of me what you will it is of no concern to me.
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I know.
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I don’t see how the new contract is so bad for the working class. Mr. Trumka references a decline in the middle classes’ ability to make a fair wage yet this contract gives annual pay raises and an increase in retirement benefits. In many contracts today wages are being frozen or cut, this is not the case here. Yes there is a change in health care and as I’ve stated before, this is partially driven by having the employee be more responsible for their own health care costs, you think twice about going to the ER for a cold when you have to foot the entire bill, and partially by the passage of Obamacare, Crystal’s previous union healthcare plan would be considered a “Cadillac” plan and Crystal would be fined for continuing to use it.
As for having the AFL-CIO’s support of the local BCTGM, it seems like too little, too late. Seems to me that the AFL-CIO doesn’t care about the welfare of those locked out and is using the local BCTGM as a pawn in a bigger struggle to keep themselves relevant in today’s marketplace. As a result our local BCTGM members have been tossed to the wolves.
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Sorry Aug53, I refuse to be muzzled.
By our BCTGM I mean those BCTGM memebers in the Red River Valley community.
I’ve come to believe that the union rank and file have been terribly mislead and feel sorry for their families. In some of the debates that I’ve been in and have seen on these boards I’ve realized that for the most part the rank and file never understood the previous contract let alone the changes being made to it in this contract. So who do they listen to, their union leadership which has mislead them half-truths and continues to give them false hope.
Fact of the matter is that Crystal processed a crop and made saleable sugar and is preparing to do it again. Also back in Feb when the union announced that they would lobby against the farm bill they alienated almost every grower. The very people that they are now trying to appeal to in order to come back to work. The grower’s sentiment now is: “We did it last year and we don’t need you to do it this year.”
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So NOW the AFL-CIO wants to become involved……hahahahaaa.
A good start for “solidarity” would be for the them to say no AFL-CIO affiliated union member (IBEW, IMA, Millwrights, Boilermakers, Pipefitters, etc) enter an ACSC plant. The plants are chock full of ‘em for the ICM.
But then I guess that would be jeopardizing big $$$ for the contractors, union members, and UNION DUES for future plant outages. Hmmmmmm.
I wonder if the “information line” will revert back to a PICKET LINE once the ICM is over and the trade unions are gone until next year.
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I would like to say welcome on board Mr Richard Trumka. When did you wake up and realise 1,300 workers were locked out? That was nice of you to fly into a city 230 miles away and tell us you have our backs. Right up there with Senator Al Franken and Governor Mark Dayton. I wonder if Bill Clinton could take a moment to tell us “I feel your pain”.
The $25,000 dollars amounts to 2 cents for each of the 12,000,000 members in the AFL-CIO. So in effect each member has given their 2 cents.
Thanks again
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ok…..I feel the same way. Thank you for mentioning it.
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Devilschild, you are taking a beating on this site which I believe you expect and can handle. I can not disagree with the intent of your posts and even admire them, but they will not be recieved positively here! Take care and realize these are polarized comments and often reflect our economic self interests. Not personal!
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@ Robert:
“Your employer can take you and your lunchbox, throw you out the door and tell you to never to come back.”
And their motive, (given that you were a valued, experienced, and productive worker), would be…..what?
Let’s slide the uncomfortable shoe on the other foot for a second. Let’s imagine YOU were the employer and that decisions YOU wanted to make AS the employer were “conveniently” taken off of your hands. Spooky, isn’t it?
If you were the employer, (and the decision-making process was entirely up to you), can you imagine that you’d be spending much time tossing out your valued and productive employees and telling them to never come back? Didn’t think so. On the OTHER hand, if you were the employer, (and the decision-making process WASN’T entirely up to you), would you be delighted that page after page of some contract was DEDICATED to making it difficult, (if not impossible), for you AS the employer to identify, (let alone address), employees that were perhaps NOT as valued and productive? Didn’t think so….
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From Robert:
“And there motive could be:
1) Hire a relative to replace you.
2) Hire a buddy to replace you.
3) Hire a younger worker that will work for less money than you.
4) Hire a single worker that will cost less for health insurance, than a married employee with a family coverage.
5) Hire an younger employee than keep an old one around.”
The cost to a company to actually fire an employee and replace with another is substantial and prevents the revolving door image you are trying to portray.
As for points 1 &2, if you don’t have as good as, or better skills for the position, it’s a possibility.
For the remainder, that gets into issues of discrimination.
I haven’t worked in a union setting but have friends that do. From what I have heard unions are more susceptible to the “hire a buddy”, “hire a relative” situations that you describe.
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Robert,
If the boss wants to get rid of you and give your job to his/her cousin/son/nephew, why is that not his right? It might be poor form and probably bad business (in which case he/she is doing you a favor) but the job theirs to do with as they wish. It does not belong to you the employee.
For as long as this discussion has gone on, I still can’t believe people actually think they own the jobs they occupy. It boggles the mind. What fantasy land do you people live in?
The job belongs to the one who writes the check, not the one who cashes it.
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Wrong again nursey. Their are many reasons why a person cannot be fired. The law is the law. “Under federal law, an employer cannot fire an employee because of race, gender, religion or disability, among other stipulations.” “In D.C., Maryland and parts of Virginia, a worker can’t be fired because of their sexual orientation”.”Union members or those with personal service contracts can file a grievance claim”. The list is a lot longer but one thing that stands out is a person under contract. “If hired under a contract the contract states the conditions of employment.”
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I agree about the contract OK, but now that the contract is ended, it no longer protects them; hence the lockout. Sure, ACS has to pay lip service to the union, but nothing more.
For non union employees ND is an at will state, which means either side can tell the other to take a hike. Most employers do not do this because it costs too much money.
In the end it is like I said, the job belongs to the one writing the check, not the one receiving it.
As you pointed out, as long as you were not laid off for being a member of a protected status; there is very little you can do.
This uncertainty is why people either work for large bureaucratic organizations or start their own business. Some people resent being a commodity that can be taken out with the trash
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Robert, I like numbers 1 and 2 especially, but it does raise a question. From the beginning of this lock-out, we’ve read countless posts from workers that say what they *want* is completely justified….for a number of reasons.
The working conditions are deplorable, the work itself is difficult, employees are exposed to a variety of dangers, they have to work outside in the weather, it’s hard to get time off, the company is evil, etc. etc.
Now it seems like you’re saying that without the protection of a contract, managers/supervisors would take “your job”…..and give it to a relative or buddy.
So…..which is it? Are the working conditions that bad or unusual, OR….are the working conditions so ordinary that managers/supervisors would have no qualms about giving the job(s) to relatives and/or buddies?
Long story short, what kind of friend “helps his buddy out” by rewarding him with a crappy job?
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The farm bill will go. Not this go round but most certainly in our lifetime.
The union is not protesting against the farm bill because they believe in free enterprise, but domestic violence. They are like a jilted lover who is screaming, “if I can’t have them no one will” right before they stab their baby mama
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I invite you all to go to my second favorite site….the Duluth News Tribune. There is a topic on the boards right now concerning mechanics that are on strike. The tone on their board is like night and day compared to here. But Duluth is a union town. If you go there behave yourselves. Don’t leave a bunch of snide remarks. They are my friends and I don’t want any of you to be rude to them. Just read the comments and try to be nice.
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tj, you hit the nail on the head. Tone (on both sides) is key to settle an argument…or a contract dispute.
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Melody,
After a year no one wants to settle. This issue is dead. Any desire on either side to reach an accommodation ended after the second vote. The third vote was for show and sealed the locked out worker’s fate.
People will periodically make noise, but no real action will be taken by either side.
This is a closed issue. My guess is there will be a move to decertify the union then an attempt by those locked out workers who have moved on to form a second union who will then meet with ACS and agree to the aforementioned contract.
That is only a guess. I have no insider knowledge.
I just know the AFL-CIO efforts are almost insulting in their tardiness and inadequacy. There is no desire on the national organizations part to waste any time or treasure to settle this.
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Flying nurse; not trying to say that tone will fix everything now. You are probably right…it has gone too far. And of course I have absolutely no insider information and neither do most of us commenting. Mine was only an observation of what has gone horribly wrong for both sides during this dispute…the complete lack of respect for each other. Maybe if a different tone had been set, we wouldn’t still be talking about this a year later!
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Melody, I agree with you 100%.
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Wow, quite the leap you took there.
I think the real lesson here is to acquire marketable job skills so you can take control of your own career rather than let yourself be pushed around by union leaders.
But that doesn’t let you play the victim… sorry, carry on.
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Robert: I graduated from nursing school in the dark ages. We are talking riding our brontosaurus to class. It was a hospital based diploma school. If you even know what that is you are dating yourself.
Even back then we were taught to be loyal to the profession; not necessarily where we practiced at.
My boss deserves my very best whenever I am punched in. I am a very conscientious employee.
That said, the boss whining about staffing has never kept me from leaving when a better opportunity came along.
The kids will do just fine. The days of getting hired & planning on spending 30 years in one place are long gone. They have been gone for 20 years. ND was just a little slow to catch on
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Oops…I accidentally gave Robert a thumbs up! I was laughing so hard I hit the wrong button! I don’t even know how to respond to you Richard.
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Oops again…I meant Robert.
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It is what it is. There is nothing anyone can write that will change the situation.
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Jack, put me in your “denial” column. On the other hand, you could encourage others to take on more personal responsibility for their actions. Anyone who has enough debt to feel “enslaved” has obviously made some poor decisions.
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What exactly does the aflcio do for employees? Or the bctgm? Employees unquestionably hand over their “dues” to them but what is given back in return?
Why does no one question their salaries? Or their actions? This is what I and the rest of the public want to know but not one union member will address.
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Is it really a “lockout” if you vote not to work?
Is it really a democratic vote if not all 1300 employees are able to vote? Only the ” eligible ” to vote union members can vote. That was reported to be less than 1/2 of the 1300 employees with the first vote. The voting membership dropped to far less than that at the second vote. The union leadership refuses to give the public those actual numbers.
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Starbuck you may find this interesting. The following is from the last letter we received dated July 12, 2012.
Sister and Brothers,
It is illegal in the United States of America, for an employer to permanently replace locked out workers. We emphasize this fact because a recent letter written to Crystal Sugar employees from Vice President Brian Ingulsrud suggests otherwise. Most see through the deceptive wording, but, if you know members who are alarmed, please reassure them that they cannot be permanently replaced.
Members should also be aware that rumors reportedly being spread by company officials about a management “offer” and another contract vote on July 28 are, as far as we can determine, unfounded. No new offer has been received by the union to date, and no negotiating or mediation session has been scheduled. Your union negotiating team has formally requested a meeting with company representatives and the federal mediator to negotiate a return-to-work agreement as part of a comprehensive resolution to end the lockout. But, to date, we have not received a reply either from the company or from the mediator.
It’s amusing how Crystal management keeps proclaiming that they have hired hundreds of new “replacement workers” who are going to operate the factories better that the last batch did, while, at the same time (in letters and personal calls), they are frantically begging union members to quit their union jobs and return as temporary, at-will employees.
Most members understand the consequences of putting their fate in Crystal Sugar’s hands. But, again, please remind those who seem vulnerable to company sweet-talk that, if they resign as an employee covered by the union contract, they will lose their contractual seniority, benefits, and year-round status, as well as all protection our union contract provides against arbitrary discipline and discharge. They will become temporary, at-will employees, which means that the company may legally dismiss them, at will, for no reason whatsoever–no matter how loyal or hardworking they may be. Note: You will not find this information on the company website.
Moving on to another topic, we thought Brian Ingulsrud’s supercilious insinuations about the conduct of union contract votes were sort of funny. We’ve seen no media reports of American Crystal Sugar Company shareholders being allowed to vote by secret ballot whether or not to continue the ill-advised and hugely unprofitable lockout. How come union member’s get to vote and farmers don’t?
In Solidarity,
John Riskey, President BCTGM Local 167G
Roger Delage, President BCTGM Local 267G
Gayln Olson, President BCTGM Local 372G
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I’m not going to explain my feelings about this letter. If you have read my comments over the past several months you already know how I feel. I posted this for Oofda and the other people I care about to read. Yes, union members, I am a traitor. Deal with it.
-tj-
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tj, thanks for posting the letter. I had not read it before. More importantly, thanks for making my day by telling everyone here that you care about ME! I think about your family often. I pray that peace and health continue to find the path to your home.
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We’re buds Oofda! And my family is fine.
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I do not understand the number of dislikes that cause this letter to be hidden, unless it is union members that are afraid the general public might see the brain washing rhetoric they depend on.
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That’s exactly what’s going on, but unfortunately it doesn’t stop there. The company has posted the letters THEY’VE sent to employees on the website, and they’ve done so from the beginning. It’s there for ANYONE to see.
The union has taken a different approach. They’ll send letters to employees, or whisper in the employees’ ears, but they won’t post what they’ve written IN the letters, or what they’ve whispered to the employees….so the public can take a peek and draw conclusions.
The biggest reason they don’t want the public seeing/hearing what they circulate to their members, is because doing so would result in them having to answer questions. Answering those questions wouldn’t go well for them.
In addition to all of THAT, the “leadership” is also guilty of NOT correcting the hearsay that circulates. They KNOW what the members are talking about, and if much of what’s being said is completely incorrect, they won’t speak up, because ALLOWING the nonsense to circulate only helps them when it comes to contract vote time.
The ACS contract talks website has a “myths” section because of the union’s reluctance to circulate accurate information AND their reluctance to STOP circulating inaccurate information.
The “leaders” rely on nonsense excuses like “not wanting to negotiate in the media” to explain away the secrecy, but it ain’t that at all. It’s simply the fact that making the information they circulate public, would mean that they’d have to answer for it. And the people that would be asking the most difficult and uncomfortable questions probably wouldn’t have the tunnel-vision the union likes to see in the people they distribute their propaganda to.
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Is this still going on? I thought it would have been done about a year ago. Why is the former union dragging this on and on? How many foreclosure notices have been delivered by the sheriff so far? Are there a lot of houses on the market for $30,000?
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Yes…the house next to mine is for sale. Won’t you be my neighbor? Think of it this way…we could fight in person instead of over the internet. And we could call each other names and not be moderated.
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I’m considering taking you up on that but I need to know if there are any other union companies up there that are on the verge of going on strike because the union members’ sense of entitlement has grown overly large, like in the case of the former ACS workers? I would like to get in on the ground floor when another company’s workers quit because they feel that $14 per hour and full benefits are poverty level.
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You once said you laid more pipe than ComfortSystems. With all your experience I’m sure you could find work Dead.
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Thanks for posting that letter. It’s one of those rare documents that’s laugh-out-loud funny, and incredibly sad…..at the same time.
I especially enjoyed the mention of “deceptive wording”. If there ARE any experts in the field of “deceptive wording”, union reps are certainly among the front-runners.
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Your welcome. I am at a loss of words. I don’t see how people can still buy into the union rhetoric but they do. And people call me simple minded. LOL
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“supercilious insinuations”
You just gotta love that.
I had to look that one up!
It is good to see Mr. Riskey has spent his time off improving his vocabulary.
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The average age of a Crystal sugar employee was 52 with 16 years of average service. (Those figures came from Dave Berg.)
If you look around the Union meeting you will find most of them are over 50. If you look at the people on the pickit line most of them are over 50. If you look at the average age of 1,300 locked out workers, most of them are over 50.
Over 150 employees retired this last year. Many more are very close.
There was a time when older employees cost much more to keep then younger employees.
Draw your own conclusion.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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What you say is true, & age discrimination is a real problem. I know, I am in that group. That said, nothing in this contract directly dealt with age.
Seniority was still alive & well as far as pay went. No, you were no longer guaranteed your choice of jobs or shifts based on seniority, but that is it.
There was no attempt to pay everyone a flat rate irregardless of years of service – which has happened in other contracts.
Long term employees still earned more & received more vacation. The big change was in deciding who did what & whether or not new job classifications would be union.
That has nothing to do with age discrimination. That is just management taking back something that should never have been given away in the first place.,
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“If you look at the people on the pickit line most of them are over 50.”
I can’t help but wonder if your spelling error is a Freudian slip. When you misspelled “picket” did you do so on purpose, or is the spelling indicative of some subconscious belief that anyone that IS on the picket line isn’t really a victim….and instead is there because they “picked it” by rejecting the offers?
“Pickit line”.
I like that.
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My conclusion is if I had a choice between having to pay part of my health insurance or not being able to earn a paycheck at all, I would choose to pay part of my health insurance and earn a paycheck.
That’s actually a choice I have made in the past.
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Ok, you nailed it. Greatest age discrimination scam ever created.
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***Ok, you nailed it. Greatest age discrimination scam ever created.***
“Ahhhh….we’ve created the most perfect age discrimination scam ever. But how do we implement the master plan unless we have some willing accomplices? I’ve got an idea. Let’s present them with contract offer(s) that are MORE than fair when considered with any sort of objectivity. They of course, will reject the offer(s)….repeatedly. Then we can lock them out and hire some replacements. As long as we can count on the *targets* of our master plan to play right into our hands by NOT viewing the offer(s) with any sort of objectivity, everything will fall into place and our master plan will be successful….”
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Trumka, who has spent numerous nights at the Obama White House is finally threatening a major shake-up in regards to Crystal and its lockout of its union employees. Boycott, or what are your plans, Dick? The Company is doing just fine with its temporary, permanent workers. ….and the beet grows on. T Rex, Trumka.
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