Labor unrest and Corporate profits

[Capn Sunshine]

At the end of this lengthy post are some corporate email accounts. I ask that those who care drop the officers of Washington Mutual a line; they are very sensitive to national exposure.

I spoke briefly today at a banking seminar and one of the attendees from our Office over the hill and I were talking about the local grocery strike. His attitude, and many others in So Cal share this, was "Fuck 'em. They don't like it , they should get a new job, or have planned their career more wisely."

In other words, a classic "personal responsibility" republican talking point. But while the public at large seems very supportive of unions and are staying away from the stores,owing to surrounding myself with lots of bankers due to my profession I hear these same numbnuts almost daily. They have completely lost the sense of what the unions stand for. I almost did myself. It's easy to blame Union leadership for things when it's such a convenient scapegoat and they really don't attend the DLC winetastings if you get my drift.

But ever since I worked with organized labor in the anti-recall campaign I gained a newfound respect for these union folks, their history,and what they are ultimately standing to preserve and protect about America.

Which brings me to these irritating talking points. Does anyone honestly think that we could do without all the blue collar positions out there today? Apparently management seems to.

This is what it's coming down to my friends. I never felt a compelling need to stand with the unions (ok when I was in college I marched with the farmworkers to certify the UFW, but that was more a Californeo issue) as they semed to be doing fine , thank you very much, and things were at an uneasy yet wary truce for years.

But suddenly , emboldened by the power grabs and constant daily assault by media and pundit, at the behest of corporations everywhere, the unions need our help again. As democrats we always take their support for granted, but what is going on now is nothing less than an all out assault on working people everywhere as the neocon agenda is all about undoing the progressive agenda adopted in the 20th century and harkening back to the days when there was rich , poor, and nothing else. Do the supermarkets really think that we won't pay an additional two cents for toilet paper so they can afford what they are trying to take away from the grocery workers?

Then of course, from my own industry comes THIS little slice of heaven:

October 16, 2003

Chatsworth, CA – Washington Mutual Bright Horizon’s Child Care Center

Washington Mutual suddenly cuts funding to their local childcare program mid-school year, while reporting record earnings and assets over $283 billion. This may be a considered small-scale example of how expendable human interest have become in these time of large corporations. Yet it should still be seen an entire school staff left without jobs and over 100 children left without child care ranging in age from infancy to Kindergarten. This childcare program was undoubtedly started as a service to both the company employees and to all families of the community, since the Center held the policy to welcome any child seeking quality childcare in the community. The reasons given for this cut back by the new Health & Wellness Benefits Manager, Michael Cochran at Washington Mutual was that the utilization of the facility by Washington Mutual employees has decreased and the costs for running the center have increased. At WAMU.com you can find a sea information advertising how well this multibillion-dollar corporation is currently doing. You can find links to multiple press articles including a write up in Fortune Magazine naming Washington Mutual, a Fortune 500 company one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America. There are postings on the site stating that a record amount of braches were opened in August 2003 and announcing WAMU’s second consecutive $1 Billion dollar quarter in July 2003. The website advertises the company as being deeply concerned with human interest needs declaring that they donated $4.1 million last year to local schools, $72.1 million to charities and 37.4 million in cash grants to education and affordable housing.

The families affected by this decision are simply asking Washington Mutual to consider continuing the program until the end of summer so that the Kindergarten students can finish out the school year, and the teachers may have time to find adequate jobs in this troubled economy. We are further willing to eliminate or pay separately for the children’s hot lunch program, parents are willing to participate in house keeping duties, to help fundraise and provide the school with supplies and snacks. How can this request to allow the center to stay opened an additional six months truly be too much to ask from this multibillion-dollar corporation?
Continued…
October 16, 2003
Page 2

As we all know Washington Mutual constantly campaigns as a company concerned with human interest. Professing to set themselves apart from the dime a dozen corporations that treat people like a numbers. Sadly it seems these high values are clearly being abandoned in this situation.

There will be a meeting today, October 17th at 4:30pm located at the Chatsworth Bright Horizons. The only hint of concern coming out Washington Mutual has been the mere mention of possible media backlash. We are pleading that media consider assisting us by allowing the community to be aware of this situation. We are hoping that there are people out there that may share a little sympathy for the children and teachers affected by this, and can perhaps help us putting pressure on Washington Mutual to take the high ground in this circumstance.

Listed below is contact information for media and corporate contacts at Washington Mutual, along with contact inforormation for a couple local congressmen. The information is as follows:

1. Alan Gulick, Media Relation – Phone
Email: [e-mail]
2. Olivia Riley, Media/ Public Relations – Phone [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
3. Tim McGarry, Corporate Contact
Email: [e-mail]
4. Mike Thompson, California Congressman – Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]
5. Walter Herger, California Congressman – Phone [phone]

Thank you for you time and consideration. It is greatly appreciated.

Concerned Mother,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Cc: Washington Mutual Employees listed below (Via Email)
Kerry Killinger, Chairman, President & Chief Executive
Alan Gulick, Media Relation
Joann DeGrande, Media Relation
Olivia Riley, Media Relation
Tim McGarry, Corporate
Adrian Rodriguez, Regional Public Relations for California
Alfredo E. Padilla, Regional Public Relations for California
Mary Kelley, Regional Public Relations in Seattle

So , part of Bushcos never ending attacks on quality of life start here, and if they succeed, you'll see more of the same in YOUR state.

Go Gov. Arnold! Save the children ! Yeah right.

[Eloriel]

1. Unions have needed our help and support for a while now

I'm so glad you have a newfound respect for them.

They're not perfect, of course. They are headed by people who can be corrupted, or are corrupt. Lots of things about human beings running human organizations can suck. But unions are a desperate need in this country, in any country to help balance the power between corporations and workers.

I used to work in human resource management -- back in the mid-70s. If a company is well run, treats employees with respect, pays them decently, protects them on the job, offers decent benefits, etc., that company won't need a union and there'll likely be no unionizing effort. THAT is the best, most productive and honest way to keep a company from unionizing. Few companies fit this profile, esp. anymore.

Eloriel

[Capn Sunshine]

2. I warned all my clients today and yesterday

expect more labor unrest and stay the hell out of retail stocks.

[MrPrax]

3. good heads up...

I love reading about the changes concerning the internal thinking of the Machine...
And people call it a conspiracy...

Note to Self: innoculate against the term 'human interest' being substituted for 'human rights'

Mental Reminder: It's 'gaming', not gambling

[Clete]

4. Good news in SLO repuke county.

I have been trying to get by shopping at Kmart, Trader Joe's and various drug and convenience stores for our needs. But today I really had to go to a supermarket. I went to Scolari's, which is the only market in my area not on strike. The place was full of shoppers. The shelves were half empty and they were actually bringing stuff off of trucks unloading to supply the shoppers.

Now this little supermarket doesn't get the traffic the other chains get so shoppers are not shopping at the big three that are on strike and lockout. I hope it has an effect because I am big on unions myself and I wish there were more laws giving them the power they need.

[Capn Sunshine]

5. kick

:kick: