Unions Oppose Hiring of Mexican Workers by Vidor Business

[seriousstan]

Camille Briggs BUNA BASED SOUTHEAST TEXAS INDUSTRIES SAYS IT HAS EXHAUSTED EFFORTS TO FIND QUALIFIED WORKERS IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES SAY THEY'VE BEEN FORCED TO GO ACROSS THE BORDER TO SEEK OUT EMPLOYEES.
THE COMPANY'S ATTORNEY PETITIONED THE VIDOR CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT TO ALLOW THEM TO HOUSE UP TO 100 DOCUMENTED MEXICAN WORKERS ON SITE ... TO FILL ITS NEED.
REPRESENTS FROM LOCAL LABOR UNIONS EACH TOOK TURNS VOICING THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS INDUSTRIES DURING THURSDAY'S VIDOR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
Jerry Wayne Pillsbury/Pipefitters Union
"It's 2006 and we are setting up concentrations camps. They work 12 hour days ... 7 days a week ... Have we progressed to that."

SOUTHEAST TEXAS INDUSTRIES' ATTORNEY ... JIM WIMBERLEY IS ASKING THE VIDOR CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOW HIS CLIENT TO HOUSE DOZENS OF MEXICAN WORKERS IN A FENCED IN AREA ON SITE.
Jim Wimberley/Southeast Texas Industries
"There's going to be a communication problem. This is not something my client wanted to do. This is a last resort."

WIMBERLEY SAYS THE COMPANY HAS WORKED FOR MONTHS TRYING TO HIRE LOCAL SKILLED LABOR, BUT HAS COME UP SHORT.
Jim Wimberley/Southeast Texas Industries
"Just to be clear $18 an hour is what you are paying them right? For steal workers, yes mam."


http://www.kfdm.com/engine.pl?station=kfdm&id=14706&template=pagesearch.shtml

[acmavm]

1. Bullshit. No qualified American workers for $18 per hour

jobs?

Yeah, and there were WMDs in Iraq.

[seriousstan]

2. Why didn't the union bring in workers willing to work?

If they, and you, are so sure this is bullshit, where are the workers?

[acmejack]

8. Why don't you write the Union & ask them?

Instead of demanding these answers from everybody else? Demand them from the people who would obviously have them. You are running about insisting upon replies to all of your questions, which are some good ones, but as you know, or should-you seem to be an intelligent person, that none of us will have those answers, ask them of the proper parties!

[seriousstan]

10. I ask questions of people who are making baseless assertions.

[saigon68]

46. For steal workers,?

[primavera]

20. How can you be so sure?

Really, I'm not trying to be confrontational, but what makes you so sure that businesses are lying when they say they can't find workers? Don't get me wrong, I'm not disputing for an instant that there are sweatshops in the world, many even in this country, but I feel like I hear all the time about how businesses involved in manual labor type jobs have a hard time finding workers at any wage. I never, ever hear those businesses being quoted as saying that they advertised for workers and they got hundreds and hundreds of applicants showing up. I know from my own experience having prepared employment based immigration petitions for clients, for which advertising is a necessary component, when we ran ads, even for well paying jobs, it was rare that we got more than a couple of responses. I know personally that you could not pay me enough to go work in a poultry plant, for instance. I just imagine the smell and want to barf. It consequently seems altogether plausible to me that many employers might indeed have a hard time finding enough workers to fill their jobs, especially if they're seasonal jobs, as many such jobs are, which aren't in a position to promise reliable full time work on a permanent basis. So how can you be so sure that's not the case and all of these employers are lying when they say they can't find workers?

[jukes]

23. self delete

[FreakinDJ]

11. I smell Bull Shit

They are Union Busting

[acmavm]

17. Baseless assertions? Please, I know bullshit when I see it.

And apparently from reading this thread I'm not the only one who thinks you're hurling some bull yourself.

[pschoeb]

24. Is this business even unionized?

I don't think it is. So how are unions supposed to help the business, if they aren't unionized? they can't pull in union workers for a non-union job, that would be ridiculous. There is a large amount of unemployment in this area, if this company can't find the workers with the exact right skills, why not train unskilled workers, it can't cost more than building and paying for housing for the Mexican workers, who I assume have to still pass American welder certifications, etc. as well.

Or maybe the company likes that the Mexican workers can only stay for 1O months, so they can easily change the number of employees to match it to work loads, and they never have to give anyone of these guys a raise. Companies love "contract" type labor as they can easily let you go when they have less work, without paying unemployment, then when they need a few more people just hire some more Mexican contract workers.

[Minnesota Libra]

3. No American workers for $18 hr?? "Last resort"?? BULL!!! nt

[High Plains]

36. Glad you know so much about this.

What else can you tell us about the employment situation around Vidor, Texas?

[Minnesota Libra]

48. The only way Americans wouldn't take an $18 hr job is if.....

.....there are job requirements specifically designed to disqualify Americans.

[Union Thug]

4. I don't buy it either... $18 dollars/hour would open the flood gates

of citizens in my area (Seattle) running desperately from their crappy, non-union, $9/hour jobs requiring similar skills. Nonsense.

Oh, and no american would pick lettuce for 50 dollars an hour. Remember this. All bullshit..all meant to keep the hammer in the hands of business.

[seriousstan]

5. Then why didn't the union show up on the doorstep with 100 workers?

Why can't a union find the workers to work rather than complain?

[Fierce]

6. I think what people are saying...

...is that $18/hour is the lie. No way could they be paying $18/hour. That's why the union didn't line workers up, because they knew there wouldn't be those kind of wages.

Although, who knows? Maybe the union DID line workers up. The company doesn't have to hire them. But that would come out.

[seriousstan]

9. Spin much? The union knew it was false so they didn't need to prove it?

B.S. And then just to cover the unions ass you say that maybe they did line up workers?

Why wouldn't the union mention this in the article? They were quoted on the story.

This was a published news article, not an internet rumor. You need facts to refute it, not tinfoil baseless assumptions.

[jayfish]

15. Stan, The King Of RW Spin At It Again.

Why don't you ask the company to produce records of ad placements, applicant response, interviews, offers of employment, rejection letters, etc.? You wouldn't want to do that would you, seeing that employers are so honest and forthcoming. It's those damn Unions who just want to fill these jobs with Texans who don't exist so they can complain about their breaks all day. :eyes:

Jay


SPELLING EDIT

[stepnw1f]

19. Was It the Name That Tipped You Off

I love reading these posts... attack the union at any chance they have. DISGUSTING.... here on DU too.

[jayfish]

22. It's Not DU, It's Just Stan Up To His Old Tricks Again.

Pop up every three or four months to make convincing argument from a RW perspective then disappear until duty calls yet again.

Jay

[stepnw1f]

27. I Have a Few on a Little List

Always the same foopls trying to play DU for fools.

[High Plains]

37. Always the same fools accusing others of being right-wingers.

What else can you do when you lack an argument?

[stepnw1f]

39. Too Bad

I don't argue with fools. There is no need really. Don't like it? Ignore me.

[High Plains]

42. I don't put people on ignore, but thanks for the suggestion.

[jayfish]

44. Don't Take Our Word For It,...

use the search function and find out for yourself. Funny, but my good pal Stan seems to have been argued right out of his own thread.



Jay

[trixie]

32. They might start out at $18...

but then we see they will "house" them so lets knock off another $5 an hour for housing, maybe another $6 for meals, $2 for laundry, $2 for transportation from "housing" to work. So I am at $5 an hour and I am sure there are more incidentals I am not thinking about. That's the game they will play.

[Union Thug]

7. Well, since the article spoke mostly about the

business perspective, we don't know the answer to that question, do we? Writing from the business perspective is one way they 'catapult the propaganda."

[Virginia Dare]

12. Yes, how dare the union complain

about forcing people to work 12 hour days 7 days a week for shit wages, how unamerican of them.

:eyes:

[seriousstan]

13. $18 hr and overtime = shit wages. MAN are you jaded.

This doesn't appear to be an under the table operation so they would have to abide by the labor laws.

[Virginia Dare]

14. Okay, we get it...

you buy the company's line of bullshit lock stock and barrel. Yea, I'M the one who's jaded. Right.

[RaleighNCDUer]

25. This is a transcription of an on-air interview --

and a badly done one.
"Just to be clear $18 an hour is what you are paying them right? For steal workers, yes mam."
This obviously mixed the quotes - Interviewer: "Just to be clear $18 an hour is what you are paying them right?" Interviewee: "For steal workers, yes mam."
(What is a 'steal' worker, anyway?)

This guy is clearly saying that SOME positions go for $18/hr. Since he specifies that particular position, it seems obvious that many, probably most, do not. The next paragraph states the supposition by a union rep that the average is $14 - which means for each $18 job there's another $10 job, which is pretty poor for skilled labor. I make something over $10/hr at my job and can barely support myself, much less any family. But if I lived in the basement of my building and didn't have to pay rent, that $10 could go a long way.

IMO, they're using these people as scabs - break what little power the union has.

[Chrisduhfur]

26. support yourself on $10/hr? I wanna move there...

[RaleighNCDUer]

33. Don't be hasty.

I also have a p/t minimum wage job that makes my car payments. Having a p/t job is a prerequisite for employment with the state of NC.

[SammyWinstonJack]

51. My son supports himself on $10.50/hr. Has a 1 bdr apartment in a

nice area of the city, he does drive a 12 year old toyota 4 runner, though it's paid for. Pays for cable/broadband internet and a cell phone. And has a little money saved, too.

[sadiesworld]

49. Hell, even Dubai gives their guest slaves a half day on Sundays.

[lastliberalintexas]

18. The unions have the workers

Wonder why the company won't hire them? Things that make you go hmmm...

[bennywhale]

52. Because unions represent workers

To turn up with a hundred workers would be top turn up with unemployed people who they don't represent. I think Unions should improve in thios area as they do represent a tiny amount of unemployed people in particular industries, but their existence is for the protection of employed people.

[lastliberalintexas]

16. Is info from someone in the area good enough for you stan?

There are plenty of workers here, union and not, who would take these jobs if offered. Especially from the Pipefitters' Local, as it has seen some very bad times in the last several years and would be very happy to have these jobs for its workers.

So you know, local businesses are blaming a supposed labor shortage on the hurricane from last year, and saying that many people either didn't come back to the area or are living high on the hog from the measly $2K that FEMA doled out. Despite these claims from Chamber types, this area still has a higher than state average unemployment rate, and plenty of people are looking for work still. Plenty of people here (white, Black, Hispanic, Asian) would be absolutely freaking thrilled to make a supposed $18 per hour wage, since the median income in SE Texas is about $33K.

But please don't let facts get in the way of an apparent union bashing party. :eyes:

[lastliberalintexas]

28. Hmm, stan seems to have disappeared

Wish I had a picture of a cricket about now. :shrug:

[High Plains]

38. So what happens when people apply for a job at this company?

Do you know anyone who has been rejected?

[High Plains]

43. Hmmm, last liberal seems to have disappeared.

[lastliberalintexas]

45. I don't typically respond to people with no knowledge of

a situation who are trying to sit in judgment of working people.

But so you know, there was very little fanfare concerning these jobs, as the unions were apparently/supposedly unaware of their existence until the company finally acknowledged that they were looking to import laborers. I've already given information concerning the local labor market, and am not going to repeat myself for someone who apparently wants to take the side of the Chamber types in this area. Suffice it to say that there are plenty of locals who would jump at the chance to make that kind of money- my unemployed brother for one. Businesses would rather have laborers from a foreign country who could easily be deported if they started making noise about the working conditions, though.

But I guess as a favor to you I'll support businesses when they decide to start importing laborers into the Dakotas, since I'm sure there are no unemployed people up there. Otherwise, the businesses wouldn't have to go through the trouble of bringing people in, right? Poor, poor employers. :eyes:

[maxrandb]

21. The Beloved GOP "Market Forces" have directly caused the Immigration

issue.

Illegal immigration is the logocal response to Republicans demonizing Unions and weakening labor laws.

The Repukes have gotten what they wanted all along. A low-wage work force with no workplace safety rules, no benefits, no power, and no voice. Enjoy America. Next time the Freakers bitch about Unions, every Democrat in this country ought to point to illegal immigration.

Repukes made this Illegal Immigrant bed...now they need to lay in it.

[flashdebadge]

30. no one has done anything to protect our borders. Both parties have

ignored the problem believing that they would get additional votes. I see it as a problem that neither party wishes to address at our expense.

[maxrandb]

47. I disagree with your "both parties" indictment

There may be some in the Democratic Party that are not friends of Labor, but never forget that the Democratic Party IS the party of the average American worker.

- It's the Republican Party that has demonized Unions.

- It's the Republican Party that has accused your fireman neighbor of being a "greedy, lazy, Union member".

- It's the Republican Party who belives that Nirvanna would be the elimination of collective bargaining and labor organization.

- It's the Republican Party that fights against workplace safety.

- It's the Republican Party that receives 85% of all corporate donations in this country.

- It's the Republican Party that sees nothing wrong with the CEO of Exxon getting a $400,000,000.00 severance package, but wants to cut worksman compensation, increase the 40 hour work week, eliminate overtime, reduce benefit packages, and eliminate guaranteed pension plans.

There may be some Dems that don't support labor the way they should flashdebadge, but it's not both parties that are to blame for this current mess. The blame belongs squarely on the shoulders of the party of the rich and filthy rich...THE REPUBLICANS.

[flashdebadge]

53. The post you are responding to is about border control not economics.

[maxrandb]

54. Immigration and economics go together like peanut butter and jelly

and if we're talking about border security and actually doing something about illegal immigration, you might be surprised to learn that prosecutions of companies hiring illegal immigration increased dramatically under President Clinton...AND HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO NEARLY ZERO UNDER PRETZLEDENT BUSH.

I'll look for the stats to post them, but Clinton did a 1000% better job enforcing immigration laws than Bush.

Throw that out to a Freeper the next time you meet one. Their heads will explode.

That's right America, the "supposed draft-dodging, anti-American, liberal out to destroy the United States" Bill Clinton did more to protect our border than Bush.

Oh, and another thing, 9/11 HAPPENED ON BUSH'S WATCH

[flashdebadge]

29. Illegal immigration is GOP's way of breaking unions.

I'm sure many GOP big wigs receive contributions from big business encouraging non-enforcement of the borders so that they can claim.."we can't compete anymore if we have to pay union members while everyone else uses immigrant labor. We're going to have to go to a wage for work system like most company's use." Then they will be out from under the labor laws which help protect our unions. I'm one union member that is for enforcement of our borders for this very reason.

[TomInTib]

31. I wouldn't live near Vidor for $50 dollars an hour.

That place absolutely sucks.

But then again, I wouldn't live anywhere for $50/hr.

[Bridget Burke]

34. Hey--you got something against the KKK?

Vidor has quite a reputation.

[libpunkmom]

35. Vidor's rep was

earned. Vidor has never been a great place. My mom works in Vidor (lives in Evadale). When I was a kid growing up (I'm 36) it was well known, that if you had brown skin you did not go anywhere near Vidor, especially after dark. By the way, I have brown skin and live in Portland now.

[zbdent]

40. Don't businesses claim that unions are the ones keeping American

citizens from GETTING good paying jobs??????

:wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf:

[AzDar]

41. Oh yeah, they're paying them 18.00 an hour all right...MINUS

40.00/day on-site housing; 20.00/day on-site meals; 5.00 per shower, etc...(speculation, of course. But I had a friend who took a 50.00/per hour job in Alaska, and this is EXACTLY what happened; you end up with almost NOTHING from that 50.00/hour after all the ridiculous 'company deductions').
Something is rotten in Vidor, Texas.

[sadiesworld]

50. Housing dozens of Mexican workers in a fenced in area?

Wow, maybe all those Halliburton "concentration camps" are to be used to house our new guest workers. Will they still be places places to be vilified or will they magically turn into free housing provided by caring corporations?

My, how slippery that slope gets when organized labor principles are tossed out the window!