It pains me to say this, as a former Teamster who has nothing but disgust and disdain for them, and unions in general for that matter, but I found myself in agreement with them on two issues today.
First of all, they are calling for more transparency of corporate campaign donations, of which I could not agree more. link
Secondly I was talking to some picketers near my office and it turns out they have beef with Coca~Cola over alleged human rights violations. Now I as a rule distrust the Teamsters and don't really drink soda all that much anyways, but if push came to shove, Id have to say I'm down with Pepsi. What can I say, I'm the new generation, so I will abide by this boycott. link
But then I did some homework when I got home. It seems that once again the Teamsters are more concerned with dues than anything else. Which is fine, its their "job" to look after their workers jobs, but don't cloak it in human rights bullshit, when its all about the dues at the end of the day.
The Teamsters are also afraid of job losses due to the cancellation by universities of a number of lucrative contracts with the company. The universities have been pressured into action due to student protests over allegations involving hit squads, murder and pollution.
....but more impressively Coca~Cola has hit squads in Colombia? That's badass!!!
Fuck The Student Protesters
Fuck The Teamsters.
I'm switching to Coca~Cola, but not only that, I am switching to Coca~Cola specifically imported from Colombia.
Anyone holding?
EE-Aw!!!
7 comments:
I had not heard this story until you mentioned it. From the BBC report Coke is accused of hiring rightwing death squads to terrorize workers. Coke says it has no responsibility because its plants are run by "business partners." That sounds like a chicken-shit excuse to me.
I assume from your post that you are all in favor of death squads for workers, at least those who attempt to unionize. Hell, we had death squads in the early union years in this country.
I swear I am beginning to believe that most so-called "conservatives" in this country would welcome a rightwing military take-over in this country, with torture and death squads and the whole fascist apparatus.
I respect honest and principled conservatives. Where are they?
I would only welcome death squads in this country if they came with the whole golgi apparatus.
OK, made me google.
i'm a pepsi man, too, but coke blak is an unparalleled culinary delight.
just out of curiosity, was this a post-bong post?
Here's my problem, and to be honest, its beginning to bore me explaining these things in crayon to you all time, its fucking COLOMBIA!
You know the same Colombia with the hundred year civil war, corrupt government, non existent legal system and a police force on the take, not to mention the drug lords.
Death squads are part of the deal.
To say its Coca~Cola's practice of hiring death sqauds is just outright preposterous and disingeneuous. Numerous international and independent workers rights groups have cleared them of wrongdoing and in fact just last month a judge ruled the case against Coke has no merit, but allowed that it can go ahead with the local bottlers, although I imagine not much will happen as a kickback to the local Colombian union reps will make this go away quickly enough now that it has hit stateside.
Coke just makes an easy target because they are perceived as a big bad evil American corporation (with deep pockets), although technically and legally the bottlers are not even a part of Coca~Cola Corp. as they are almost always locally owned and operated. Coca Cola Enterprises is the only bottler than I am aware of that is owned by Coca~Cola Corp.
From my understanding, yes there are problems, and some employees were murdered a decade ago, but once again...its fucking Colombia. Its not Coke's fault. Throw a dart at a company in Colombia and theyve had workers killed. Once again, its part of the deal.
Begrudging a Company that pays their workers on average 3x the nat'l average and has a union rate 6x the national average (30% as compared to 5%) is counter-productive as they seem to be one of the few in Colombia taking care of their workers.
This is a leftist money grab, plain and simple and the student protesters and American unions taking part of this bullshit boycott are ignorant but knowing pawns in the game.
I have no respect for liberals, for as you proof once again, they are always quick to condemn America and her interests without knowing shit about shit. You fuckin sicken me, and if I ever catch wind of you drinking a Coca~Cola product or gassing up at Exxon, two great American companies you have now besmirched, I will hunt you down and beat you with your own left hand.
...and then my right.
Donsky going forward just assume anything dropped after 7pm is a PBP or at least a Post PBR Post. Ive never drank the blak, but then again Im a bigot.
Gary if you are saying that you googled golgi, then that explains alot about you and Im gonna have to ban you from partaking in any future science related discussions. Jackass.
Ugueth Urbina used to close for the Expos but death squads pay more so now he is going to serve like 14 years in prison...
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