MyFox
 

mabell's Blog

by mabell from Basehor, KS

Last Post 2 days, 13 hours Ago


I emailed Tyson Foods, today, concerning the blog that MissNancy and JKJr had posted.  Below is the response I got back from Tyson Foods.
If I were to believe their explanation, and I'm not saying that I do, it sounds like "Blackmail" by the unions and/or B.S.

There seems to be much to complacency regarding immigrants, legal or illegal.  When does it end, when this country goes bankrupt financially or morally,  or both?



Still Recognized at Tyson Foods
Union Contract Provision only at Shelbyville, TN Plant

Springdale, Arkansas - August 4, 2008 - Contrary to recent reports,
Labor Day is still a holiday at Tyson Foods. This issue concerns only
the plant at Shelbyville, TN. The majority of employees at the Tyson
plant in Shelbyville, TN, are represented by the Retail, Wholesale and
Department Stores Union (RWDSU), an American union that asked for and
received Eid al-Fitr, as one of their eight paid holidays, in place of
Labor Day. This applies only to the Shelbyville plant and resulted as
part of the union contract negotiated last fall. This change does not
apply to Tyson Foods' other 118 plants. This is not a religious
accommodation, rather, it is part of a union-initiated contract demand.
This change came about as a result of union demands brought to the
negotiating table, and was agreed upon by Tyson in an effort to reach a
contractual agreement with the union. The contract that calls for this
change was unanimously recommended by the 12-person union bargaining
committee, which included three Somali employees. The contract was then
overwhelmingly agreed to by 80 percent of the rank and file membership
of the union at the Shelbyville plant.
The Muslim population at the Shelbyville plant is primarily composed of
approximately 250 Somali employees, who are political refugees, most of
whom came to the plant as a result of refugee resettlement efforts based
in Nashville. They were employed at the plant through the Tennessee
Department of Employment Security office.
The Shelbyville complex employs approximately 1,200 people.
Approximately 1,000 workers
are covered by the union agreement at Shelbyville.

Libby Lawson, a Tyson spokeswoman, noted that the plant had three
Christian chaplains, and prayer rooms for Muslims and Christians alike.
Each plant at Tyson Foods provides a chaplain as an extra benefit for
its team members and their families. The chaplain is an ordained
minister, endorsed by his or her church to serve as a chaplain. Tyson
Chaplain Services provides compassionate pastoral care and ministry to
Tyson Team Members and their families, regardless of their religious or
spiritual affiliation or beliefs.

Carma Nicholson
Consumer Relations
Tyson,  Food Safety & Quality Assurance


-----Original Message-----
From: queenmotherab@yahoo.com [mailto:queenmotherab@yahoo.com]
Posted At: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 02:55 PM
Posted To: Comments
Conversation: Contact Us form submission on
http://www.tyson.com/Corporate/CustomerService.aspx>
Subject: Contact Us form submission on
http://www.tyson.com/Corporate/CustomerService.aspx>
27 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 27
Page 1 of 2
1
Last
StephentheHeathen read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 6:31 AM

Thanks for the info mabell. When I read the entire news article when it first came out I knew about it pertaining to one plant and that it was union negotiated. I'm glad to see that Tyson at least puts out the effort to provide chaplain services to it's employees.

I think that Suzy_Q had a good idea about having a couple of "floating" holidays. My previous employer and the union negoiated two floating holidays for us, we traded Veterans and Columbus days for them. Everyone enjoyed having those days off when they wanted/needed them.

JohnKJR read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 10:46 AM

So in actually Tyson is trying to do what the Unions demanded? Go figure.
Unions = Bad things. I wonder if other unions will demand and bend over backwards for Christians in the workplace? Me thinks not..

StephentheHeathen read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 11:19 AM

Hey John, since I'm a former union steward/negotiator let me see if I can lay this out for everyone.

As with most corporations/companies Tyson couldn't care less if paid holidays are all floating or what name they are called or when they occur. As a matter of fact it would be beneficial to them if all holidays were not fixed, allowing the plants to be operational 365(6) days a year, with the days off just restricted for scheduling purposes. This holiday thing was negotiated, meaning that both sides had to agree to it.

Doing the math, 250 Somalis out of 1,000 total working out of the plant is 25% (those covered by the union). There was an 80% pro vote which was 800 workers that leaves some 550 non-muslim workers that voted in favor of this contract. (yes there are some variables like those who didn't vote and are all of the non-Somalis non-muslim, but my point is made) Blame the leadership of the union local? Not hardly, they did their job. Blame Tyson? Not really, they didn't lose anything.

Seems that no one bent over backwards for anybody.

At the very least these Somalis are working and not on welfare.

Unions=Bad things, puleeeeze, do your history on the things that unions have brought about in this country.

Now let's see if they need a Pagan chaplain at Tyson, or is that an oxymoron? lol

JohnKJR read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 11:36 AM

One of the things Unions have brought to the country is the increase in the cost of all goods and service purchased within our country.
It's wonderful paying 30% to 40% more more something retail because of the unions. Wouldn't you agree? (Sarcasm off)
Not to mention all the strong arm tactics the members use to enforce thier code and stiffle freedom of choice for all Americans.

JohnKJR read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 11:39 AM

I would rather be unemployeed them be forced to work inside a Union. If you are a good worker, honest and productive then there is no need to be a Union member and also no need for a Union.

StephentheHeathen read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 11:59 AM

Glad you wanted to discuss this.

Your first statement is a gross generalization and one that is unfounded. Union membership has been on a sharp decline for quite a while now, yet the costs of all goods and services have steadily increased. Doesn't add up does it?

Do you realize how few retail products are American made, let alone union made? Once again your statement doesn't add up.

I will admit that I don't always agree with the international and national leadership of unions, but I support the locals in what they have to deal with.

Place the blame where it belongs. Greedy corporations and our corporate owned government are to blame for how our economy is, not union workers.

If you want a list of what unions have done for this country then I'll list them, or you can google them up.

Could you explain this to me, the countries that have the highest standards of living also have the highest percentage of union workers. Just a coincidence?

The only thing that a union ever did for me was to raise my standard of living.

StephentheHeathen read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 12:04 PM

How do unions stifle freedom of choice?

I had to represent many "honest, productive, good workers" that the company I worked for tried to mistreat.

JewwellsP read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 12:59 PM

I find union employee's are the first to hire non union worker's.

The head of the carpenter union here in KC buit a new house when he retired(his son now is the head), not a union employee to be found.
When he sat in my sister's back yard at a BBQ she hosted. He got pissed & left. I had to explain to him that he was nothing but a hypocrite. He made a large sum of money over the years as a union manager, yet when he builds his own home. The union companies charge way too much..

One way or the other, Tyson is being a good employer, they worked with the union demands.

StephentheHeathen read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 1:12 PM

jewwells, "The union companies charge way too much.." in comparison to a non-union illegal immigrant wage scale, yah, I guess so.

I now work for a company where my job is to bid out small projects that are too big to be done in house. My union background aside (where I work now is non-union), we have much (many?) fewer problems with the union companies than with the non-union companies.

JohnKJR read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 1:15 PM

Unions are a protection racket for the Dumb, Lame and Lazy. Simple as that.

StephentheHeathen read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 1:23 PM

John, I see that you still resort to name calling when you have run out of or never had any ammunition.

Oh well, that's what makes it just an opinion.

Searchingtoo read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 1:35 PM

There are tons of nonunion construction, landscaping, carpentry workers out there that not only DO NOT have illegal immigrant workers, but are in fact born and bread American workers. I cant speak FOR them but I feel they would resent your accusation that nonunion means illegal.

As far as Unions go.. I still cant believe that the UAW pays 20hr to someone to stand there and screw a piece onto a part as it heads down an assembly line.... dont you think that is a bit excessive?... If they wanted more pay.. they should have taken classes, like the rest of us to learn a skilled postition.. by that I mean.. they should have taken steps to earn it...

Searchingtoo read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 2:24 PM

Also, Jewells I'll give you another example of what you were saying.
Worth Harley Davidson in Blue Springs has not just made a living.. but Millions off the union.. when it came time to build their new fancy building... all non-union labor.. said it saved them over 100,000.

The union picketed outside the whole time the building was being built.. but to no avail.. building went up without them.

DogJ read my blog
Aug 7, 2008 | 2:42 PM

JohnKJR - I have to agree with Heathen first; then I'll agree with you.
Unions CLEARLY had a valid pupose in this country. I won't go into the historical aspects, but I truly believe they served the American worker well.
Beginning a few decades ago, unions had seen their purpose come and go. Today, while not adding to costs that much, in the 60's and 70's they did. Then, somewhere along the line they stiffled managements ability to meet a changing global ecomony.
Three examples of US unionized industries that have been crushed by foreign competition:
1) Autos
2) Steel
3) Mining

ralex read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 3:13 PM

Then there are the unions in the public sector. Lets not forget those. This is one area where unions are growing. I know here at my FD, we can't blow our nose without union approval.

gunmandanhunting read my blog
Aug 7, 2008 | 3:17 PM

I would take exception to the calling me dumb, lazy and lame. I worked a UNION Steel mill job for 35 years and came out with my sanity and both legs and a strong mind. I lost my job to cheap, subsidized foreign steel and if we don't wake up soon in this country we'll all be asking "Master; what do you want me to do next only we'll be saying it in Spanish or Chinese.

Searchingtoo read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 3:26 PM

By wake up .. do you mean accept a little smaller paycheck so that our goods can compete on the global market?

mabell read my blog
Aug 7, 2008 | 5:46 PM

Changing the subject from the union confict, for a minute.
What I find unbelievable about my original post is: "the company has 3 Christian Chaplains and prayer rooms for both Christians and Muslims". I have never heard of a company/corporation that provided "prayer rooms" or "Christian Chaplains" for their employees, which clearly omits people of the Jewish Faith. If and it's a big IF, this is true it must be a happening, since they started employing Muslims, who clearly are the ones dictating to employers. I believe that's exactly what's happened in this case, maybe they threatened the union and the union, in turn blackmailed Tyson.
BTW, I think unions can be corrupt. A good example of that was when they "ran" Las Vegas. It was as bad as when the Mafia was in charge.

MamaMia read my blog view my photos
Aug 8, 2008 | 7:56 AM

I think unions served their purpose early on but the demands for high wages and incredible benefits etc. eventually contributed to the downfall of many of the manufacturing industries in our country. Companies went elsewhere for cheaper labor. As DogJ said Autos, Steel, and Mining left for cheaper labor.

As for Tyson they should have told the Muslims they could trade Christmas for their religious holiday IF they felt they had to do something

MissNancy read my blog view my photos
Aug 8, 2008 | 11:13 AM

Thanks, Mabell.
My problem with their response to you is that it contradicts their first release. In that release, they said there were 1200 people employed in the plant, 700 of whom are Somali muslims. Also, one of the Tyson employees said he had helped build the muslim prayer room but said nothing about a chapel or chaplain for Christians. I guess any Jews, Hindus, or other religions are just out of luck

Whoever responded to you must not have read their own news story. I would seriously doubt a full time minister is available and on salary at the plant. Their Employee Assistance program undoubtedly provides for religious counseling, but on premises? I sincerely doubt it.

Once again, and I will say this 1000 times if I have to---why are so many foreigners being hired when so many Americans are looking for work? Why have a Somali muslim relocation effort when we have Americans ready, willing and able to do the jobs they so liberally hand out to foreigners who hate America?

Page 1 of 2
1
Last


Write your comment below:




mabell

I love to read, work crossword puzzles, traveling, collecting Southwest Art and spending time with my family.

Member Since: 4/30/2008