Comments on: When Union Busting Goes Bad

By: PIssed in NYC

PIssed in NYC — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 03:06:56 +0000

Ten: I think that even the business press is calling bullshit on this one. These hedge funds/vulture capitalists are scaring the other monied assholes, because they keep pushing the envelope. Do that enough and eventually even lazy and scared Americans might cue the tumbrels. Especially when the tv “news” can’t hide what is going on in Europe any longer.

By: Marc McDonald

Marc McDonald — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 07:00:55 +0000

One thing that never gets mentioned in the MSM coverage of unions in the U.S. is that nations like Germany, Japan and South Korea have very powerful unions and yet those countries have world-class economies.
Germany’s unions are vastly more powerful than anything that exists in the U.S. What’s more, many German workers belong to two unions, which includes a works council. By law, labor is also represented on every board of directors at German corporations, (an arrangement that would be unheard of in the U.S.)
ALL German workers enjoy a minimum of 6 weeks paid vacation by law. (U.S. law requires a grand total of zero vacation days, sick days, and holidays for U.S. workers). In fact, what few labor laws that exist in the U.S. are weakly enforced—and have been since the Reagan era.
Despite powerful unions and strong pro-worker laws, Germany’s economy is very powerful and has currently has a lower jobless rate than the U.S. has. Germany regularly vies with China as the world’s biggest exporter. German products are noted worldwide as being very sophisticated and well-made. What’s more, since German products typically have very high entry barriers, Germany has little to fear from low-wage nations like China (unlike the U.S., which in many cases is competing head-to-head with Chinese companies).
I’ve long believed that Germany is a world-class economy BECAUSE it treats its workers well. You don’t get high-quality, well-made products like Porsches if your workforce is overworked, unhappy, and burned out.

By: Grung_e_Gene

Grung_e_Gene — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:33:08 +0000

CEOs must always be compensated because they are of the proper gentlemen class which must always be deferred to… Now, if you’re one of those lowly serfs who somehow managed to get an evil Union to provide you benefits why you are destroying America.

I mean think how much easier it would be for children with their tiny fingers to stuff a ding dong with yummy gooey filling? And you Unions and liberals have made that illegal!?!?!?

If a company wants to use slaves and children to make a more efficient product who is government to interfere???

Vultures gonna Vulture.

By: marcus

marcus — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 06:29:31 +0000

If you walked into a job, worked there for 20 years, but never really obtained any meaningful skill or competitive advantage over your colleagues would you expect to still be employed? Its business, not charity.

These union contracts are used as weapons against development of unionized employees. If regular training (and subsequently the accountability that comes with you being more knowledgeable) isn’t a regular part of your work, you should not expect to be paid more. Period.

Productivity is a must, people. Gains in dollars spent on labor have to come from some where… Let it be from you and your ability to perform a job better year after year rather than cuts to your pay.

By: TheCunningRunt

TheCunningRunt — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 04:38:42 +0000

This is how it’s done in the U.S.of Freakin’A. It’s a question of in your mouth or up your butt, you don’t have to choose because they ain’t askin’.

What most astonishes me is the significant number of working people who think this is the path we should follow.

By: Bruce388

Bruce388 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 03:18:45 +0000

Somewhere Archie Bunker weeps.

By: lambchop

lambchop — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 01:35:49 +0000

Jeebus! How low can these slime balls go? And they tried to make it look, like you say, BAD unions.

By: Tengrain

Tengrain — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:18:38 +0000

The thing that is bugging me is that it instantly turned into a talking point for how Unions are destroying jobs, and without looking any deeper at what has been going on for years (it started when went private with hedge-fund money, and it has followed in the predictable Bain Capital path).

The share holders will sell off the brandnames (and probably whatever proprietary recipes that they have) to some third party, probably the Mexian baking conglomerate Bimbo.

Anyway, it is a freaking shame, even if the food was crap, for these people to be fired in a recession and the right to have another mindless Unions=BAD talking point.

Rgds,

By: knowdoubt

knowdoubt — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:16:13 +0000

Really, Smoke and mirrors, I don’t think this has got a thing to do with the few union employees they have. The world will be a healthier if not better place without the the junk food they produce. I hope the workers can find something better like producing something healthy that might be a benefit to mankind rather than kill food that resembles cigarettes in it’s effect on the people’s lives who partake. I hope the management (owners, vulture capitalists) can find their way to hell where they belong.

By: Patrick in Michigan

Patrick in Michigan — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:04:50 +0000

Oh Noes! What will we fat people do?!?

By: Shatiblartfat

Shatiblartfat — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:43:57 +0000

This the traditional union tactic. The union members must be willing to put their jobs on the line to challenge management. This strike thingie is the only threat management understands.

By: Demeur

Demeur — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 18:19:15 +0000

This company was taken over by a hedge fund and we all know what vulture capitalists do.

By: Skinny Dennis

Skinny Dennis — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:10:14 +0000

C’mon, you know it’s really because of Obamacare.