Blue Collar Muse

Why are secret ballots good for Democrats, yet bad for Unions?

Popularity: 42% [?]

I’m going to break with what appears to be a rather large segment of the population and ask, “What’s the big deal over Tyson Chicken and the Union coming to an agreement over a holiday for their work force?”

Tyson and the Union representing workers at their Shelbyville, TN plant, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, reached a 5 year contract settement that included exchanging one of the plant’s traditionally observed holidays, Labor Day, for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr celebrated each year at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. This effects only the Shelbyville plant. It was done because the plant’s 1,200 member workforce contains around 700 Somali Muslims. They wanted the change and the union represented their desires to Tyson and an agreement was struck. In 5 years, they can vote again. I again ask, what’s the big deal?

I believe in allowing people the freedom to do as they please with their businesses. Tyson is not the government and is not constrained, Constitutionally or otherwise, from making whatever accomodations it sees fit to address the concerns of an increasingly diverse workforce. Every business in America was forced by the government to spend money to comply with the ADA a few years back. The government is implementing “No Smoking” practices against the will of many businesses around the country. These are great examples of behavior we should be outraged with. But being bent out of shape because a business went out of its way to accomodate the needs of a large section of its workforce? Is this really an issue we want to push as outrageous? Instead, shouldn’t we be championing corporate America’s willingness to be responsive to the needs of its workers? Shouldn’t we be using this as an example of management and Unions working together to address the concerns of Labor?

Much of the negative response to the situation centers around the idea that this is America and people who come here should celebrate American holidays. But there is nothing un-American about Eid al-Fitr. In fact, since Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday, it is not patriotic or political in nature at all. It is a religious holiday. And what is more American than ensuring that the Freedom of Religion is permitted here? The holiday being replaced is Labor Day, a day set apart to honor workers in general and union workers in particular! If the majority of the workers in the plant decide they don’t want a holiday honoring their efforts, preferring instead a holiday honoring their faith; and, if the union will back them up on this, how is this un-American? It’s about as American as it gets!

I support Tyson’s right to choose their corporate course, but they also need to be prepared to deal with the consequences. If people decide to boycott their products because of the decision, then Tyson and the plant’s workers will suffer. Tyson and the workers may change their mind later and find it more expedient to go with Labor Day. That’s the market in action and that’s a process I support. I also support people’s right to choose to be offended by Tyson’s decision and to take whatever legal steps they want to express their displeasure. As with so many things, I may disagree with what you say but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it! I’d just much prefer you to have a good reason to believe the things you’re giving voice to.

And that’s the rub. For the life of me I cannot find a single good reason to oppose the agreement that Tyson, the union and the workers hammered out. I can, in fact, think of a single reason, but as I mentioned, it’s not a good one. The only reason for the objection that I can find is varying degrees of anti-Muslim sentiment. Don’t get me wrong. I’m as opposed as anyone to Muslims who even think it’s OK to kill infidels in the name of their faith, let alone those who actually do so. That’s an objection to a crime. But I’m not prepared to bash a faith or a factory because they make choices that are good for workers and good for wallets. That seems to me to be little more than a negative response to someone different from us expressing that difference. That has all the earmarks of prejudice.

If anyone has evidence the Somalis in Shelbyville are cooking up C-4 or prepping trucks with ANFO bombs to deliver along with their wings, now is the time to speak up. But if all you can find fault with is a group of refugees coming to America, working hard and practicing their faith, you might want to reconsider.  Many others have come here for those reasons over the years.  Thanksgiving, Christmas and Memorial Day are just a few of the holidays we observe on behalf of other Americans doing and defending the very same thing.

Blue Collar Muse

SEE ALSO:

Tyson Drops Labor Day Holiday for Eid al-Fitr at The Shelbyville Times Gazette

Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day for Muslim Holiday at A Disgruntled Republican

What is Wrong with Tyson Chicken? by Brian McMurphy at Six Meat Buffet

Tyson’s Pandering to Somalis at Shelbyville, TN Plant at Bear Creek Ledger

The Surrender of Secularism at A Sense of Events

Irony: Labor Day Nixed by a Union at Hear It From Us

Popularity: 38% [?]

On a recent Sunday morning drive to church, I saw this sign. I was immediately struck by two things.

First, it hasn’t taken long for players on the Left to start marching to the beat of misinformation, deception and lies that must be part of Obama’s campaign if he is to win. He cannot be seen for who he really is or he will lose. Second, this is the Union’s marquis, not just Greg Stallings’. How many members believe gas prices are Bush’s fault?

Lies and deception? Those are harsh words. However, the question is, are they justified? An objective consideration of facts says they are. The sign’s point is the price of gas has increased from $1.46 p/gal to over $4.00 p/gal since 01/01. It was Bush’s watch so it must be Bush’s fault. Voters should, therefore, punish Bush and the GOP for their mismanagement and vote Democrat this Fall.

However, questions must be asked. Can only politicians impact price or might other factors explain the increase? If politicians are to blame, might a politician other than Bush be responsible?

Market forces and events impact price. 9/11 happened on W’s watch and had such an impact. But unless W generated more US hatred in 8 months than Clinton did in 8 years, you cannot conclude price changes after 9/11 were Bush’s fault. They may not be Clinton’s but they sure aren’t Bush’s. Yet for Leftist coalition members like Unions, there are no market explanations. It’s all political! Where is the Union’s objective consideration of the impact of market forces? They offer only political solutions. It doesn’t have to be true, just effective. How does misrepresenting the issue serve their members?

If, however, we assume politicians can impact the market, why assume only the Executive branch can? According to Energy Information Administration data, graphing gas’s price over time yields interesting results. From 01/01 when Bush took office to 01/07, when Democrats took back Congress, the price of a gallon of gas went from $1.49 to just $2.29. That’s just an $0.80 p/gal increase over 6 years! This time frame includes 9/11 ($1.56 in 09/01), the Gulf War ($1.73 in 03/03) and Hurricane Katrina ($2.95 in 09/05)! There were several drops in price during that time. Once the price actually fell below the $1.49 starting price! However, from 01/07 to today the price rose from $2.29 per gallon to $4.11! Almost a $2 per gallon increases in 18 months! 150% worse performance in 25% of the time! There was one dip in price which never neared the starting price! What event marks this time period? Democrats regained control of Congress. So why doesn’t the sign read “When Democrats took office gas was $2.29”?

Leftists cannot have it both ways. In 2000 they charged Bush was in bed with Big Oil. During the ‘06 elections, Democrats again blamed Bush for high gas prices and vowed to fix it if only we’d elect them. Americans fell for the lie and Democrats were voted in. How have they performed?

It’s actually worse since Congress could reduce the cost of gas tomorrow if they’d rescind the federal tax on gas. All Americans would benefit, including Union members. But it isn’t about helping Americans, unionized or not. It’s about power for Democrats and their Union allies. If access to tax dollars to dole out is reduced, the Left loses power. It’s unlikely Democrats would permit that to happen.

But the real tragedy is not that Unions and Democrats are selling out the country for personal gain. It is that misdirecting the people’s attention away from the real reasons for high fuel prices guarantees the problem will not be fixed. Is this really the sort of representation Americans need in Union halls and legislatures? It cannot be said too many times. The Left says they are for the common man. But their actions say different. Despite deceptive signs, it’s actions, not words, which mean the most.

Perhaps Americans will reconsider voting for the Left in November. They may want to reconsider union management votes as well. Gas may not cost less in the short run but there will be people interested in fixing the problem in office. Elected officials, union and governmental, who care enough to tell you the truth.

Thinking that’s a good sign, both for unions and for government …

Blue Collar Muse

Popularity: 33% [?]