| Author | Message | ||
     Old_man |
The flag is flying at half-staff outside The Hershey Co. plant in Reading where production of York Peppermint Patties is ending. After 23 years in Reading, the chocolate maker is closing the plant Friday and moving production to a new factory it has built in Monterey, Mexico. It will mean the loss of 300 jobs in the southeastern Pennsylvania city. The plant also makes 5th Avenue and Zagnut candy bars and Jolly Rancher hard candies. The nation's largest candy manufacturer said two years ago the plant would close as part of a wider move by Hershey to eliminate 1,500 jobs and one-third of its existing production lines. Some workers will stay on for a few weeks to close the plant. I won't be eating them anymore! The economy of this country is of no concern to these executives who make these decisions. | ||
| Paw |
As much as i would like to agree with you 100%, I can not...One of the biggest factors that push companies to do this (Corporate Greed) are the investors, majority of them Americans. Companies will keep doing this to keep the investor happy with big dividends. As they say the bigger the profits...The more investors you will attract. Not only is it corporate greed but call it investment greed not only do the CEO's give 2 $hits about the American worker. Niether does thier nieghbor (fellow American) who buy's the companies stock. (Message edited by paw on February 21, 2009) | ||
| Old_man |
That's what I said. GREED! Without a bit of care for this country. As for me, they can shove their candy. Sell it in Mexico, where workers make less than the minimum wage of our country. If they make their money, they'll get none of mine. | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
Yes, shove it deep. I agree. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
How many candy bars do you have to sell to pay for a NEW plant in Mexico? Long term, how are sales going to be if EVERYBODY moves their plant to Mexico and there is no market left in US.....because nobody has a job ,or a lesser paying job that doesn't have candy bars in the budget? This shit has to stop somewhere. Our plant doesn't add equipment unless it can pay for it's self in 18 months. We spent a lot of time doing numbers to move one production lines to our other plant a mile down the road. It was going to cost neart a million dollars just to move and set up production with existing equipment! It was not going to pan out and the plan was dropped. We will just make do with the space we have where the original line was set up and automate another line in the same building, to free up personnel to go to the line was was going to be moved. Both plans had zero job loss or gain....just less reliance on unreliable temps. All our production workers are crossed trained to work any production position in both plants. Even maintenance and office people can and HAVE filled in. It's actually works well as you are not stuck in the same position, day in and day out..but you do have your strong point position that is your main role. My guess is that if sales tank, we will be asked to make concessions(non union) to save our own ass and still have a job. Labor is our main overhead and they pay really well if you do your job. Myself, I would take the cut as opposed to going out and looking for another job..............that probably won't exist as a permanent job,the way things are going. I leave for another plant/job.............and it goes belly up in another year........that would be a dumb move. Is there anything recession proof when the whole economy is in the fix it is in? This is just as much about worker greed as it is corporate greed. Deep down, are you worth what you are getting paid? | ||
| Cowboy |
Question??? is hershey union or non-union? | ||
| Danny_h__jesternut |
Somewhere, somehow, someone should compile a list of all the American based companies that have moved their plants/work out of the USA in the past few years or so. That way we the consumer can know witch ones to boycott. Heres to your greed  | ||
| Cowboy |
next question. Is there a problem with TAXES fed.-state- local ? | ||
| Bill0351 |
By the time this is over, we are going to be so desperate for jobs, China is going to start using us for cheap labor. I agree with you Zip. I'm a teacher. After seven years, I still make south of 40K and I won't break that for another couple of years. I have good, but not crazy-good insurance, and a decent, but not crazy-good retirement plan. With that money and those benefits, I raise two girls, own a decent car, and two motorcycles. I rent, but I could easily afford a basic house if I wanted to go that route. It's hard to take that step because I don't owe a dime to anyone and I like it that way. To me, that's what middle class means. I have everything I actually need, and a little money for some things I want. If more people understood just how great a life like that is, there would be a lot less greed, and a lot more happiness at every level. Bill | ||
| Old_man |
Question??? is hershey union or non-union? Do you think it makes a difference? Are you willing to work below minimum wage? | ||
| Ourdee |
I am going to get thinner. I ate a lot of York Peppermint Patties. Not any more! | ||
| Just_ziptab |
"To me, that's what middle class means. I have everything I actually need, and a little money for some things I want. If more people understood just how great a life like that is, there would be a lot less greed, and a lot more happiness at every level." Amen brother, amen! | ||
| Cowboy |
Old_man-- A business is formed to make a profit If it is threated by labor or taxes or transportation cost- raw materal or finish product then you remove the problem if posable just that simple our likes and dislikes dont enter into it. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
booze seems to be doing well. less than before, but if there was ever a time to drink and drown a few sorrows... | ||
| Just_ziptab |
"Are you willing to work below minimum wage?" It's better than NO WORK!.........and it's coming at the rate things are deteriorating. Millions of people survive on minimum wage. I did it for years...and was happy. There wasn't all the expenses...........cell phone,Internet,new clothes,new vehicles,house payments and the expense of owning a home,expensive toys,multiple club memberships,multiple magazine subscriptions and hobbies...and on and on. Look at your check book and see how much you spend on stupid shit that isn't "necessary" food and shelter. Take a deep look at what is necessary and you will be surprised. | ||
| Old_man |
My question was, Are you willing to work BELOW minimum wage. To all of you union bashers. Don't you realize that all of your working conditions, wages included, were won for you by workers unions? Look to history to see what your lot would be without unions. You should move to Mexico or China to see what it would be like. Even if you do not belong to a union, unions have improved what your life is like. (Message edited by old_man on February 21, 2009) | ||
| Rocketsprink |
cowboy. you are a real pain in the ass. time and time again, you try to blame organized labor. you're a non union lover. ok. we all get it. give it a ••••••• rest already. the reason is greed. no more complicated than that. they aren't getting rid of those jobs. they're moving for the cheap labor. you want to make pennies an hour for a living, move to Mexico. I'll gladly help pay for the move. | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
Wheres the incentive to keep the plant in the US? Dont we have the second highest corporate tax rate in the world? Maybe the auto industry needs to leave too to stay afloat. I get so tired of hearing things like "greedy ceo's" and the like. If you dont like the company then dont buy from them or work for them. Get a damned skill, go to work and quit your bitching. Start your own company where you can pay your ceo's $12 and hour. Or just quit working all together and wait for the government to help you. | ||
| Old_man |
In my job, I was 4 years as commander of Districts and 20 years as the commander of the homicide division in the police department, I had to go up against the union all the time. It sometimes was a big PITA, and made my job more difficult. But I always understood the need for the union. And defend them now. | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
President Obama is putting the finishing touches on an ambitious first budget that seeks to cut the federal deficit in half over the next four years, primarily by raising taxes on business and the wealthy and by slashing spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, administration officials said. taken from this article:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic le/2009/02/21/AR2009022100911_pf.html So tell me guys, where is the incentive to make it big and employ alot of people in this country? | ||
| Paw |
cowboy. you are a real pain in the ass. time and time again, you try to blame organized labor. you're a non union lover. ok. we all get it. give it a ••••••• rest already. the reason is greed. no more complicated than that. they aren't getting rid of those jobs. they're moving for the cheap labor. you want to make pennies an hour for a living, move to Mexico. I'll gladly help pay for the move. Well said!!! | ||
| Paw |
you remove the problem if posable just that simple our likes and dislikes dont enter into it. If that is true then why bring up a subject you dislike, why mention the the non union to union thing!!! Flat out...This is all about the fat man getting fatter and squashing the little man once again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Crusty |
'Are there no prisons?" 'Plenty of prisons,' said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. 'And the Union workhouses.' demanded Scrooge. 'Are they still in operation?' 'Both very busy, sir.' 'Oh. I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,' said Scrooge. 'I'm very glad to hear it.' | ||
| Limitedx1 |
sending jobs out of the country = bad enough said one mans pocket gets swollen and hundreds shrink | ||
| Old_man |
one mans pocket gets swollen and hundreds shrink Well Said. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Sad news... I (used to) like a peppermint paddy every now and then... | ||
| Ourdee |
Paint, If you find an American made one please PM me. The fat man is crying over here.  | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
sending jobs out of the country = bad enough said one mans pocket gets swollen and hundreds shrink Maybe you are young and just havnt realized this yet but most people start up companies to make money. They dont make products simply to entertain us. When you make it harder for companies to make money you force them to make tough decisions. You arent entitled to make a certain wage just like they arent entitled to huge profits. If you work at a crappy place making crappy money its your own fault. Its painfully obvious these common sense ideas are becoming uncommon in America. One Big Ass Mistake America | ||
| Dynasport |
I am very fortunate. I have a good job and so does my wife. We both work very hard, but we are not complaining. We have a decent house in a decent neighborhood. I can pay my bills. We just bought a new refrigerator to replace our 20 year old one and the store delivered it today. I was feeling very fortunate to be able to buy a new refrigerator with so many facing such bad economic times. I was talking to the delivery guys and they told me they just delivered $43,000 worth of kitchen appliances to a house nearby. Suddenly my new refrigerator didn't seem so special anymore. On second thought, I am still grateful I was able to buy a new refrigerator. Too bad they don't make them in America though. | ||
| Old_man |
Maybe you are young and just havnt realized this yet but most people start up companies to make money. Great wisdom from one of our elders. |
