Irresponsible CNN Reporting

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by runamok on Sat Jun 20, 2009 7:10 am

activist0000 wrote:

It was rumored that the reason the owners allowed smoking in the plant was to give themselves an out, in case people got sick after working in the plant for years. If any smokers came down with a serious respiratory problem, they planned to blame it on smoking and not on the gypsum dust and forklift fumes in the work environment.

garhkal wrote:

That wouldn't surprise me.

Oh come on guys. You really think that at the board meetings they cooked up this diabolical scheme while wringing their hands and cackling?

runamok

Smoking Lobby Sponsor Joined: Dec 20, 2004 Posts: 1288

by activist0000 on Sat Jun 20, 2009 2:42 pm

runamok wrote:

Oh come on guys. You really think that at the board meetings they cooked up this diabolical scheme while wringing their hands and cackling?

Yes, I do. The reason I think they did was because the temperature in the plant got so hot one summer, several people had to be taken to the hospital. I talked to one woman in particular who told me how her heat-related illness required a trip to the emergency room, where intravenous fluids had to be administered. Then a little later, at a grievance meeting, I mentioned the fact that several people had to be hospitalized due to temps in excess of 100 degrees in the plant. The company reps sat right there, looked me in they eye and said, with a straight face, that no heat-related injuries had occurred that summer.

This place was a total sweat shop. Within a half-hour of starting your shift, you would be soaked to the skin. They still expected you to work at full speed, even though your clothes would be plastered to your body. It sent chills down my spine to hear them blatantly lie about the people who had to be carried off due to the wretched conditions.

So yes, I do believe they discussed potential health-related liability and how to protect themselves from employee lawsuits. Had I not witnessed their deception personally, I would think it was just paranoia or rumor-mongering. The experience of being lied to directly was a real eye-opener.

activist0000 Toker

Toker Joined: May 26, 2009 Posts: 86

by Asmoker2 on Sat Jun 20, 2009 3:12 pm

No, runamok, they don't wring their hands and cackle. It's not some nefarious plot; however, I've sat on enough boards to know that in executive meetings, the main concern is to plan what is in the corporation's best interest. Avoiding lawsuits is oft times a main topic.

Asmoker2

Smoker Joined: Mar 24, 2009 Posts: 143

by garhkal on Sat Jun 20, 2009 8:25 pm

ANd if allowing us to do something that we want, but can be used as an argument to stop us suing, i firmly believe they would do so.

garhkal

Enthusiastic Smoker Joined: Apr 24, 2009 Posts: 278

by runamok on Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:34 am

Asmoker2 wrote:

...in executive meetings, the main concern is to plan what is in the corporation's best interest. Avoiding lawsuits is oft times a main topic.

I would certainly hope so.

A major consideration in meetings such as these that I have been involved in is employee health and satisfaction. Without that, they will not retain the experience and talent required to be successful. Last I checked, slave labor is illegal and we are all free to move on if we feel we are being abused in any way. Much the same way non-smokers, or anyone else, are free to leave, or not even enter, an establishment whose atmosphere they don't care for.

runamok

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by activist0000 on Sun Jun 21, 2009 2:17 pm

runamok wrote:

A major consideration in meetings such as these that I have been involved in is employee health and satisfaction. Without that, they will not retain the experience and talent required to be successful. Last I checked, slave labor is illegal and we are all free to move on if we feel we are being abused in any way.

Ha, ha, ha, ha! What a charmed life you've lead, then. I never believed sweat shops existed in America either, until I worked for one. I live in an economically depressed area, so there aren't that many jobs available.

I myself was flabbergasted that people actually put up with temps above 100 degrees and dirt flying everywhere. The only reason I worked there any length of time was because it was a short drive and I had a three-day work week. Believe it or not, this place had a union but their main function seemed to be collecting dues. I hid my contempt for the place as long as possible, but after using the term "sweat shop" a few times, was branded a troublemaker and eventually harassed to the point where I had to leave.

Such places do exist in the US, whether anyone believes it or not. When you are operating in an economically depressed area, you can get a steady stream of new workers even if your turnover rate is high. Most people don't stay long enough to file complaints or try to work for change, so the conditions don't improve.

activist0000 Toker

Toker Joined: May 26, 2009 Posts: 86

by garhkal on Sun Jun 21, 2009 4:47 pm

And those who would stay to change, get roughshoodded out of there.

garhkal

Enthusiastic Smoker Joined: Apr 24, 2009 Posts: 278

by runamok on Sun Jun 21, 2009 4:50 pm

activist0000 wrote:

Ha, ha, ha, ha! What a charmed life you've lead, then. I never believed sweat shops existed in America either, until I worked for one.

I've worked on a packaging assembly line in an un-air conditioned warehouse that got to 100 degrees, made after-market motorcycle seat frames in a dirty, sweaty little machine shop, worked as a union laborer in a warehouse where we assembled bath waste drain kits and loaded them onto trucks, and cleaned toilets at a dirty little no-tell motel. They were all unskilled labor jobs but I didn't have any skills at the time. If my choices today were to take one of those jobs or starve, I'd gladly take the work.

activist0000 wrote:

I myself was flabbergasted that people actually put up with temps above 100 degrees and dirt flying everywhere.

Were you flabbergasted at yourself?

activist0000 wrote:

The only reason I worked there any length of time was because it was a short drive and I had a three-day work week.

So it had bennies that attracted you to it.

activist0000 wrote:

Believe it or not, this place had a union but their main function seemed to be collecting dues.

That is a union's main function. They are parasites that funnel corporation profits into their pockets so they don't have to work for a living.

activist0000 wrote:

I hid my contempt for the place as long as possible, but after using the term "sweat shop" a few times, was branded a troublemaker and eventually harassed to the point where I had to leave.

So, they had to force you out of the hell-hole that you loathed so badly? Seems you apparently found a new job that suits you better?

activist0000 wrote:

Most people don't stay long enough to file complaints or try to work for change, so the conditions don't improve.

Look, there are millions of icky and dirty, but necessary jobs performed by people all over this country day in and day out and that ain't gonna go away.

Though it is changing, there are still a lot of opportunities out there for those that want it.

You sound like you feel the world owes you a clean, well-paying job. Quit your whining.

runamok

Smoking Lobby Sponsor Joined: Dec 20, 2004 Posts: 1288

by activist0000 on Sun Jun 21, 2009 4:57 pm

runamok wrote:

You sound like you feel the world owes you a clean, well-paying job. Quit your whining.

Sorry, I won't post here any more.

activist0000 Toker

Toker Joined: May 26, 2009 Posts: 86

by Asmoker2 on Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:49 pm

activist0000 wrote:

runamok wrote:

You sound like you feel the world owes you a clean, well-paying job. Quit your whining.

Sorry, I won't post here any more.

Don't let runamok run you off for crying out loud. Stand up and speak out for what you believe. Right or wrong, you're still entitled to speak your mind even if others don't agree. You're name implies you're a fighter and don't run away easily.

Asmoker2

Smoker Joined: Mar 24, 2009 Posts: 143

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