The other day a friend said they only wanted to buy "Made In The USA" products. I asked is it the company that has to be American or is it the workers, I have worked in a few factories in New York state and over half the workers were illegals, so is paying the price for Owners of companies to live well, enough for you. I don't think Americans have the same work ethic other countries have but at the same time I have seen owners live very well while paying their workers poorly. I am a very good worker also I am an outspoken bitch and at this point in my life anyone who has to deal with my bitching should find themselves some tranquilizers before talking with me. I have seen a great deal of workers who smoke, drink and do drugs to deal with the job, the work is physically demanding and the game-play of the management is tiring. So the next time you complain about the price or it not being MADE IN AMERICA - know who is getting your money and how well the owners of a company are doing and what they paying the workers and who are those workers. Made in America means Made By Indians, Mexicans, Brazilians, ETC...
[I have to comment in a number of posts, due to the HTML will only accept 4,096 characters at a time. So please read on!]
ReplyDeleteI think the problem is the "American work ethic", or the lack thereof. We go through this all the time at work.
I work for a large, world renown company. Believe it or not, we've been hiring all throughout this current "recession" the country's been in. People come to an interview, and we're very honest with them; telling them that it's not an easy job due to the schedule [365;22/7]. We tell them that they MUST follow the rules, and that this is something that's followed up on a continual routine basis. Safety is the #1 concern, along with compliance. We tell them about random drug/alcohol testing. Dress codes, attendance, self reliance along with team work--on and on and on.
By this time, you're probably wondering where I'm going with all this. Well oddly enough, I would bet that almost 30% of the people we have at work were not born in this country and speak with distinctive accents.
ReplyDeleteIt's very sad to say, but when [not always, but when] these people work out as good employees, they far outshine the American staff. They never complain, and are hard workers. I'm also caught in the middle with this. My father was first generation here, and I remember his parents very well. They came off the boat from Poland around 1908, and had the typical immigrants' story to tell. They worked hard, owned their own home and never went on welfare or food-stamps. They also came here legally.
The other interesting thing is the other slow growing minority I'm seeing at work. Can you guess who it is?
It's THE GAYS! Needless to say--I'm thrilled about that. Although due to political correctness, being gay at work is kept rather low key. But little by little, the gays are proving themselves as reliable, hard working team players. Imagine that! For the most part, they don't have kids, and they seem to be more "spiritual" than they are religious. They also know what it is to be frowned upon, and so when they are afforded a fair opportunity, they run with it. [I'm very proud to say that I'm out at work, and I put in far more effort than most of the others. As a result, I function as, and I'm respected as, a key member of the staff. I'm very proud of that.]
So needless to say Dave, your post hit a nerve with me. I'm also happy to have the opportunity here to vent a bit.
I can relate to what you've said very much. I had a 25 year "professional" career that I left about 12 years ago. I left because I was bitter about being a whore for my bosses who went on to extravagant lifestyles, right up to the point of pending bankruptcy. [Greed like you wouldn't believe.] Meanwhile, I and others like me, were always the ones behind the scenes getting them there, affording them their lifestyles. We were nothing more than expendable work horses: whores!
Meanwhile, the whole process of recreating myself and finding a new job was not easy. After three years of working low paying jobs and looking for something better, I finally landed where I am. I worked my way up to a supervisor/management position, and yes--I'm still very much a whore. BUT! Now--I'm on a much more fair playing ground. [Being a corporate company, what applies to me, applies to my boss as well as anyone else that works there. I didn't have that before.]
Getting back to what you've said, I think the sad thing is NOTHING is made in America anymore. Just as you've said, if it is made here, who's making it? And who is making the money from it all?
I was one of the people who bought a Saturn. I loved the car, and I loved the fact that it was made in America; I wouldn't consider buying a foreign made car. But after seeing what the UAW did to American car companies, and after having to train a number of UAW people who have lost their jobs and are now working with me, I've had a change of heart. After seeing what lousy work ethics these people have--I think next time-- I'll buy a Volkswagen. What's the point of buying American when Americans can't come to terms with what and where their ethics are? I'm tired of dealing with people who shit in their mouth, and complain of the taste.
Whew!
Now--Happy Easter everyone. I hope you have a great weekend!
Once people get through the screening process and have been called for an interview, they tell us how THRILLED they are to have this opportunity. They tell us how well qualified they are with similar experience. They remind us how compared to what's out there--no one is offering such a good starting wage. [$16.50 right now; $17.00 in July]
ReplyDeleteFine. They're hired, and everyone's happy...
That is until the training starts; little by little, sighs of discontent begin. And then it starts.
"...I didn't think you would actually enforce this... I didn't think I would actually have to start so early in the morning... I can't work weekends... But I have kids..." [Ugh! the famous 'Kid Card'] ...But it's Christmas, and this might be the last one I get to spend with my mother... ...You know, I really thought the benefit package was going to be more than this..."
Then there's the "religious card": "I can't work on Sundays because I'm a Christian... I can't work Saturdays because I'm a Witness... I've got to be home by sundown... It's Ramadan..."
On and on and on! PLEASE! GIVE ME A BREAK!
I don't know if you will approve the comments I submitted, but I think they came out in the wrong order. The last one should probable go in the middle? Anyway--thanks!
ReplyDeleteComing back to this a day later, I guess all I needed to say is that we all seem to forget where we come from, and that we need get over ourselves a bit. Thanks Dave for posting my thoughts!
ReplyDelete