Outside the front doors of the local coop, the employees are asking incoming shoppers to sign their petition. The petition basically says that the ownership is trying to stifle their wages, make it much harder to gain any benefits, while at the same time posting record-breaking, increasing profits. I say, “Not right now, please,” and walk into the coop to shop. Lets be clear: what the employees are asking for is modest—a far below average cost of living raise that is lower that what they had been receiving, but higher than what the ownership has proposed—a negotiated middle ground. Something like 2.0%. They ownership is also requiring, to qualify for health insurance, that an employee work for a minimum of 19 years with the company. The employees are asking for a shorter term of employment to qualify for benefits. I feel conflict inside me. I want employees to have proper pay and benefits, especially if the company is making these kinds of profits. But at the same time, food is expensive. If the employees succeed in their efforts and receive what I think they should have, the prices of food will rise. In other words, the ownership will not let their profits slow down without at least first attempting to raise the prices of the food to compensate for the increased cost of labor. Again, in other words, if I sign, the employees will get better compensation, the ownership will still continue to increase profits through raising prices of food—and the consumer (us) will have to burden it all. Most likely, the ownership would blame rising food costs on the “greedy” employees, and fail to mention their own desire for increasing, record-breaking profits. I signed the petition. I signed because in the end, the burden will fall on the ownership and their profit margins. If they want to try and blame the employees—employees that are barely getting by—let them try. If they want to blame the consumers—“you signed the petition for them, now pay for the consequences”—let them try. In the end they will simply be protecting their idea of exponentially increasing profit. And that falls into the category of greed.
Posted on: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 21:52:53 +0000
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