Mott's Demands Pay Cuts despite $555M Profit

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CBS News

Labor Day 2010 finds a lot of American workers on the sidelines. The U.S. unemployment rate stands at 9.6 percent. There are five job seekers for every opening. And in many cases those who have jobs are being asked to take pay cuts even at healthy companies. CBS News correspondent Elaine Quijano reports on a case in point in Williamson N.Y.

For more than three months, Michelle Muoio has been picketing the plant where she's worked for 15 years - Mott's apple juice in western New York.

Three hundred union members are locked in a heated dispute, symbolizing a new shift in the power struggle between management and labor in America.

Companies typically ask for labor concessions when they're losing money. But Mott's parent company, Dr. Pepper-Snapple -is making record profits of more than half a billion dollars a year. Yet workers are being asked to take a $1.50-an-hour wage cut - and a pension freeze.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/06/eveningnews/main6839967.shtml

[hlthe2b]

1. Close 'em down, Union... I will boycott

That is bullshit.

[Hosnon]

37. My thoughts exactly.

Fuck any company that treats its employees this way.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

2. Race to the bottom...

Racing to get the rages to match China's :mad:

[AndyA]

3. I buy Dr. Pepper sometimes. It goes on the boycott list if they keep this shit up.

It's insane that they want concessions from the workers with profits like that.

I wonder how much their CEO makes. Is he taking a cut as well?

K&R.

[FedUp_Queer]

7. It's going on 9-10 months

Mike Malloy had this story about 2-3 weeks ago.

[corpseratemedia]

4. I think i just saw the VP of dr.pepper/snapple the owners of motts onpbs

saying the workers make too much money while the ceo of motts made more than 6.5 million last year ...

the guy was excuse my language a fucking piece of stinking shit, and that is an insult to defecation

labor news like this needs to break through the 24/7 billionaire social engineering of fox news so people can turn off the mouthpiece and start thinking for themselves, and start boycotting all their products, etc.

it would be nice to make that piece of human garbage feel less sure and glib about his and his boss's profits

[ShamelessHussy]

9. Here's a message we need to deliver to our CxOs (LINK)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9085815

psst... pass the word ;)

[badgolfer]

5. Senior Exec pay

Also, I wonder how much the total compensation is for that senior VP of consumer affairs. She probably can't make it without food stamps.

These senior executives for major corporations are a bunch of greedy bastards.

[customerserviceguy]

6. In trying to independently research this story

I came across the following:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dr-pepper-snapple-group-responds-to-labor-secretary-hilda-soliss-call-to-resume-talks-with-union-in-williamson-ny-102302529.html

Now, I'll be the first to note that it's something put out by the company, but maybe there are things in there that knowledgeable people can comment on. I did happen to see one of those real estate papers that are available for free, a friend had it, and was amazed by how inexpensive the house prices are in the Rochester area.

It says in the article that the average wage will remain at about $21 an hour, I know that when I worked in manufacturing about three and a half years ago in the rather expensive Portland, OR area, I was only making about $13 an hour.

[xloadiex]

11. When you consider taxes

health insurance, trying to have a little taken out for retirement, 21.00 an hour should be what workers make. That's not an extravagant wage. Especially when you consider the cost of housing, food, energy. Everything has gone up except wages. 13.00 an hour should be minimum wage. We need more of these good paying manufacturing jobs. It seems too many people have this attitude of "if I can't make that kind of money, you shouldn't either." We need good paying union jobs but it seems people just don't want to organize anymore.

[customerserviceguy]

12. Yes, we need good manufacturing jobs

But while the economy is in the toilet, and there are workers halfway across the world willing to do a day's work for what we pay an hour, then maybe a bit of moderation is warranted.

[Kermitt Gribble]

14. Good strategy.

Lets keep up the concessions - your "moderation" - until we're all making what those "workers halfway across the world" are making. :eyes:

People in this country have been taking concessions for the past 30 or 40 years. Enough is enough.

[RamboLiberal]

19. Where the hell is the moderation from CEO's and Big Execs?

Always the workers are asked to take less. Never from the Big Boys & Girls who continue to take more and more even when they run the company in to the ground!

[girl gone mad]

31. This company isn't hurting.

They are making record profits and paying out record amounts to their executives. The workers should be rewarded, not punished.

[customerserviceguy]

44. We need tax strategies

to deal with executive pay, a return to the 50% bracket would be a resounding start, when it reaches three or four hundred K a year. But if this particular plant is ineffecient, it will just be cut out if costs cannot be controlled.

[Aristophrenia]

33. Maybe its time you started thinking a bit -

those wages are half way across the world - but the products are right here.
Trade laws prevent unfair advantage in almost every market, in fact there are barriers,
tariffs and subsidies in your country right now for agricultural products.....whats my point ?

The world needs to tax, tariff and protect against unfair wages - in short a country making a product
which does not meet minimum wage standards and conditions should be taxed to meet that standard - there by equalling
the global trade imbalance - returning the economy to the position where market advantage is derived from innovation
or productivity increases and NOT SIMPLY WAGE CUTTING.

In other words - if Chinese workers were paid the same - or tax the products - then they would have to compete
on a level playing field.

This would restore the entire western middle class world to being wealthy - AND - raise the living standards of all emerging economies.

Why does this not happen ?

One reason and one reason ONLY - the profits of Major American corporations would be reduced.

The only reason Chinese labour is used is to maximise US corporate profits - thats it.

So for you to compete with the Chinese is to lower real wages globally.

The class war is well and truly alive - the US corporates are now simply destroying the US via the erosion of the middle class
as a weapon against YOU the working class.

Refuse to allow imports of endangered species, bio-threats, commodity dumping, IP counterfeits, etc, etc, etc but most of all - unequal wages.

It is that simple - campaign to have wages considered part of the WTO and we all win - even the Chinese.

[laughingliberal]

43. Oh, right! Cause as soon as the economy's all better, the company will do right by the workers.

Brilliant! All these years we've watched corporate profits skyrocket while wages declined. I'm sure any day now, they'll decide it's time to let the workers share in the increases. We just need to give up a little more and that day we've been waiting for will be here before we know it! Let the trickling begin!

[zogofzorkon]

18. Labor is never worthy of its hire

Only invested money and the minions that serve it are deserving.

Of course there are always the crabs in the bucket that won't allow there brothers a way out. The bucket is good enough for us it is only reasonable that its good enough for you.

[aquart]

39. Average?

One makes makes a million an hour and everybody else at minimum wage? That can make for a very hefty average wage. What's the median wage?

[FedUp_Queer]

8. I can't help but wonder...

when/if the regular people of this country have had enough and revolt...yes, violently. Yet, I wonder. If what's going on now doesn't do it, what will it take?

[valerief]

10. What will happen if they don't address this?

"When there's a situation when you have wages and benefits out of line with the local market and industry norms, however difficult it may be, it's something we have an obligation to address," said Tina Barry, the company's senior vice president for corporate affairs.

[Jack_DeLeon]

13. I love drinking Dr. Pepper, move the plant to Texas....

It would be cheaper and $15 an hour will go alot father here.

[Kermitt Gribble]

15. So you would be ok

with these people losing their good union jobs in a plant relocation? Might as well move it to China.

[Jack_DeLeon]

17. So you are comparing Texas to China?

If the plant is shut down it would be better that it is moved to Texas, still part of the US last I checked, that to be sent overseas. The cost of living in Texas is much more reasonable than most of the rest of the US.

[Kermitt Gribble]

22. No, I'm illustrating

the loss of good union jobs - it doesn't matter where they go if the union jobs are eliminated.

[girl gone mad]

32. You bring up a good point.

Pretty sure the executive offices are in Texas. The executives live in Texas, so their pay should be cut substantially to keep in line with average Texas wages.

[crikkett]

40. Actually, yes, since Texas doesn't allow unions either.

"right to work" is doublespeak.

[DeSwiss]

20. Sure, the minute they start growing apples successfully in Texas. n/t

[Downwinder]

24. Thats where it started out. They call it Mockingbird Station now. n/t

[WorseBeforeBetter]

27. How far will $9/hr go?

That's what some fat cat company spokesman said a forklift operator should be making during a News Hour segment I watched earlier this evening. He's proud to hire temps, and pay shitty wages with no benefits.

Way to look out for your fellow Americans, Tex.

P.S. It's "a lot," not "alot."

[alcibiades_mystery]

36. Scab motherfucker

[Tansy_Gold]

46. I don't think that's allowed under the DU rules

but I heartily agree with you.


TG, NTY

[laughingliberal]

16. K & R nt

[hayu_lol]

21. Moderation? Not on your life...

boycott these companies.

[DeSwiss]

23. K&R

[Glidescube2]

25. I was listening to NPR today aout unions

And the guy on the show was leading to one scenerio. Perhaps its time to stop playing Mr. nice guy.

I agree! Perhaps we need to return to the proactiveness of sitdown strikes, bloackading company propety and harrasment of executives and management at thier offices, homes and private lives. We can also go after theri subcontractors wholesale. If they want to pick a fight wIth labor then it's time we gave them one. MR. NICE GUY NEVER WON ANYTHING!!!

[november3rd]

26. Agitate

Agitate, agitate. Use every non-violent means to make them regret this violence against American workers.

[gvstn]

28. Cost of living goes up and up

The company is saying that that wage is out of line for the area which may be true. But from an employee stand point their wage has been going down as they lose benefits.

Imagine you've worked at Motts for 20 years. You've been at $15.00 an hour since about the first 5-8 years and have been getting 50 cents cost of living raises for the last 12 years.

Meanwhile you medical insurance has changed dramatically. You now pay some portion of the premium $100 or more a month and your co-pays and deductibles are much higher. Your prescriptions used to cost a few dollars now they are 20-40% of retail while drug prices have sky-rocketed. Oh, and you have gotten older and actually need and use some health services and maintenance drugs which make heavy in roads on your paycheck.

That $21.00 an hour doesn't look that great a wage anymore. Bringing it down instead of up only perpetuates the myth that anything over $12 an hour is good money. It isn't anymore. When minimum wage was $3.50 a union employee in such a job could expect to top out at about $12 to $14 (approx. 4 times minimum). With the current minimum wage of $7.25 a union employee should be getting $26 to $29 with full medical and pension. It is called a career. One can get very good and valuable doing mechanical work. It is beneficial to the employee and the employer for established businesses. Motts is an established business and can afford a living wage.

[GETPLANING]

29. This is what's behind the push to end unemployment

benefits. Force people back to work at a new, lower pay standard and lock that lower standard in. Business sees this as their big opportunity to crush labor once and for all.

[bertman]

30. This greed displayed by CEO's is a fucking DISEASE like rabies. Those

motherfuckers need to be quarantined until they are disease-free or dead.

Since when did having an American worker make $21 an hour with benefits become a FUCKING PROBLEM when the company is successful and the product is selling??!!

Rec and kick.

[Hugabear]

34. Fucking strike-breakers and scabs keeping Motts afloat...

There's a good chance that management would have given in if it hadn't been for strike-breakers and replacement workers.

[jonthebru]

35. These guys make more money than their neighbors so...

I can not believe the company allowed this lady to speak those words on CBS. A mediator is called for, how is NY law structured?
A mediator should look at the companies finances and give the workers what they deserve.
Damn, another company whose products I must boycott.
Oh well, I usually buy Safeway generic anyway.

Support unions where ever you can!

[Shining Jack]

38. Greedy bastards !

Half a billion is still not enough ?

[nilram]

41. No more Snapple for me!

[Plucketeer]

42. I can't BELIEVE some of the replies here!

Folks saying maybe it's time to relent a bit - given how tough times are and the prospects of lower wages somewhere else??? What the F??? And some of these folks have over a thousand posts!!! Gotta be blue, blue, blue, INDIGO blue Blue Dogs.

[alcibiades_mystery]

45. It's truly unbelievable

I especially like the logic that says other wages in the area are low, so the workers should accept their paycut. Uh, excuse me, but if they're producing a half BILLION dollar profit for the company, why shouldn't they live high on the hog relative to average wage in the area?

There's some pathetic scab logic going on here.

[HughBeaumont]

47. I got someone on ignore with over 30 thousand posts that supports job offshoring and globalization.

Wholeheartedly. And insulting about it to boot. There are 5-8-10 thousand posters on here that advocate for the same damned thing.

Our "Big Tent" is a bit TOO accommodating, if you ask me.

[blindpig]

48. Capitalism at it's finest

Maximize profits by stealing even more from the workers, the investors will be grateful.