JUSTICE at HERSHEYS

Run time: 05:28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-h8EBP0JSs   Posted on YouTube: August 17, 2011 By YouTube Member: GuestworkerAlliance Views on YouTube: 309   Posted on DU: August 18, 2011 By DU Member: kas125 Views on DU: 2103

 
Foreign students who were exploited by Hershey's fight back.

This is currently happening, right?

K&R!!

sign, if you're so inclined -

Tell Hershey's: Don't Exploit Student Guestworkers

On August 17, hundreds of student guestworkers from around the world were joined by unemployed American workers and labor leaders in a factory sit-in at the Hershey Chocolate Company packing plant in Pennsylvania.

The students paid $3,000-$6,000 each to come to the U.S. this summer for what they thought would be a cultural exchange program. Instead, they found themselves packing chocolates at the Hershey's plant in deeply exploitative conditions.

Their demands: end the exploitation of student workers at the Hershey's plant, return the money they paid for a cultural exchange, and make these jobs living wage jobs for local Pennsylvania workers. You can read more and watch video about the struggle here.


http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4023/c/33/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2702

grew up thinking that Hershey's was what chocolate was supposed to taste like. As a cake maker, it makes me sick not to be able to buy Hershey's chocolate because I still think it tastes the best, but I won't buy it because of the way they've treated their employees for the last decade or so.

I have been boycotting Hersheys since they moved production to Mexico in 2006/7 (besides, M&Ms are better although I do miss York Peppermint Patties - which closed in Reading for Mexico in 2009) but I do have to say this on their behalf: Per the interview the one gentleman said he ended up with $5/hour for 40 hours after they took out his housing (electric/cable/water/sewer). By my math, at minimum wage, that is $400 a month in living expenses.

Dear sir, I agree that the work is shitty for the $3-4 grand you paid for the "cultural exchange" experience, but $400 a month with all utilities included? Let me tell ya. You are 200% off than the rest of the people in the area.

Thank you for fighting for 'living wages' for residents, but at $400 a month with money in your pocket, you aren't going to find many sympathizers here.

/justsayin

Thanks Hillary, Obama. Thanks a lot.

- Goddamn.....

K&R

It isn't their fault. The fault ls with the corporations that use these underhanded tactics to get cheap labor. There are no laws on the book to prevent this sort of worker exploitation. The president of the US and members of the cabinet are not law makers.
Thank heavens for labor unions. They can make a difference if the Republicans would give up trying to take away the rights of workers.

I spent a few days at the Residence Inn in Virginia Beach last week. One of the employees in the breakfast room was from Turkey. He told me that he paid to get this job and that he was going back to Turkey in September. I didn't think much of it, until I watched the video. He was very happy to come to America just like the kids in the video. One morning I heard his lady boss in the kitchen yelling at him. It was a bit distressing at the time, but now, it is clear to me that Marriott may also a big player in this program. I can't help but wonder how mistreating people that are guests in our country reconciles with the Book of Mormon.