(Updated: Originally published November 17, 2006)
The article caught my eye, and the numbers are mind-boggling.
"Hundreds, All Nonunion, Walk Out at Pork Plant in N.C." by STEVEN GREENHOUSE
The Smithfield Packing Company’s hog-killing plant in Tar Heel, N.C., the largest pork-processing plant in the world employs 5,500 people and slaughters 32,000 hogs a day."
Conservative estimates mean that is 160,000 a week; 640,000 a month; and over 7.5 MILLION hogs slaughtered a year!
At ONE PLANT! This is where my libertarian streak gets into trouble.
Almost want to enforce a code of Veganism; however, let's just shut down the factory farms and make a simple "you want to eat it, you need to kill it" rule.
Mass market protein alternatives.
The globe can support both animal and human food needs, with some meat still available for those who raise them humanely and properly.
As a good conservative, the smaller the monied interests, the better.
The company blames immigrant workers it has fired for the ruckus, but:
A number of workers said the discontent stemmed not just from the recent firings but also from brusque treatment, the speed of the production line and widespread injuries."
Does that ever ring a bell! You don't say?
Workers discontent over "brusque treatment, the speed of the production line and widespread injuries."
Better watch it, workers.
Factory will move to Mexico, hire back the illegals they just cut loose, and dis all you "discontented workers."
Let's hear from just one, o.k?
Keith Ludlum, who is paid $11 an hour to herd hogs to slaughter, said the workers were concerned about far more than the immigration matter:
“They’re asking for the company to allow us to have a union contract, and to respect workers’ rights and to respect workers in general.”
I've always wondered why it is that if unions are so bad for workers, why do corporations work so hard to keep them out?
Upper classes always more aware of discontent than layman; remember the "united we stand, divided we fall" cliche?
Upper classes have worked forever to deny mass collective action, tainting it with several slanders throughout history.
The term communism was pejoratively used during the Cold War to demonize any regime the US tended to view unfavorably, no matter the accuracy of the charge.
Regardless of corrupt union practices in the past (a small percentage of actual union conduct), workers (or anyone for that matter) are stronger collectively than individually.
That's just a gall-darned FACT!
