Georgia-Pacific workers rally for justice in Portland warehouses

[DainBramaged]

On the cold afternoon of December 4th, fourth generation Georgia- Pacific (G-P) employee Travis McKinney raised his voice above the frigid wind as he stood with close to one hundred of his co-workers, union allies and community supporters in front of the office at the company’s largest distribution center for paper products in Portland, Oregon.

He described to an outraged crowd, management’s cold-blooded refusal to allow him to tend to his daughter’s health: “When I had to take my daughter to the hospital to be diagnosed, the company told me I had to stay and work overtime instead.” Travis was eventually able to get medical help for his daughter – despite G-P’s lack of support – and found that she was autistic.

Doug Stilwell, another G-P employee, spoke at the rally about management’s constant pressure to speed up forklift operations. “There is no safety… ever since they put this computer system in here , we’re all taking shortcuts trying to get this stuff down, pushing their paper out. It’s wrong,” said Stilwell.

http://www.ilwu.org/?p=1657

[onestepforward]

1. “Seven years ago,”

said Doug, “I walked into this company and thought, ‘here’s G-P, one of the biggest paper companies in the world, with good benefits, pay and retirement’—now they want to take all that away from us.”

Georgia-Pacific was purchased by Koch Industries in 2005.

[wilt the stilt]

2. Every Koch and GP employee

is given a copy of David Koch's book to read. This is an evil company led by evil men. That book would be kindling in my house. They will somehow find someway to fire these people.

[onestepforward]

3. Yikes.

I didn't know that. His book would be kindling at my house too.

[wilt the stilt]

4. Cruel and unusual punishment

I thought there was an amendment against cruel and unusual punishment and I can think of no better example thant having to read this blowhard's book.