Fate of XL Beef workers uncertain

DP

- October 9th, 2009 at 21:05:09

r u blind??? Well, no, but your vision is suspect when you have to refer to the country to the South to come up with an argument. According to your position, the more you need a job, the lower the wage offer I can make to you. OK, when are you willing to work for less than minimum wage? OT for regular pay? No safety equipment? According to most people, there are lots of jobs in Saskatchewan, and if XL beef chooses to close the doors because they can't make people work for (nearly) free, that's what they are going to do. Give a greedy corporation an inch and they'll take your life. Stay focused people; this battle is yours to win or lose.

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DP

- October 7th, 2009 at 10:55:30

Better to die on your feet than live on your knees. Keep up the fight guys and gals. Yes, overtime means a bigger pay check, but it should be voluntary, and it should not ruin your family life. You do not owe your life to some company!

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  r u blind???

  - October 8th, 2009 at 10:58:32

  r u cmpletely blind???? having no money and no options for work have reeked havok to families in the states. houses are going up for for closure!! with no options to rent anywhere and no options to sell and re-buy while unemployed in this maket, how can u not see that these stressfull economic factors are going to pull families apart! it is hard to stay or you feet fighting when there are no other options! so please tell me what r u planning on doing when heat bills go up a few hundred in the next few weeks/months due to the winter? people have to work for a living!!

Moose jaw voice

- October 6th, 2009 at 11:32:07

Frankie you stole my thunder...exacly what I was going to say..if the workers do not compromise no matter what the issue here is this plant is going to be closed forever..ask Maple leaf workers in Edmonton how it worked out for them a few years ago??? The plant they were striking at and the Union insisted they were bluffing shut down permanantly and is mostly demolished and a storage depot!!!

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  MR TRUTH

  - October 7th, 2009 at 10:58:10

  My point is here is that if you look at the history of this company they are leaving NO MATTER WHAT. Could it be that they are fishing for tax dollars as they have don e in the past in other locales???? Is this plant really economically viable???? Were the workers really asking for too much??? And when it comes to overtime, what is more important missing the important things with your family or making a few extra dollars???? Really what are our priorities???

Frankie

- October 3rd, 2009 at 10:12:27

I could be wrong, but doesn't "OVERTIME" mean a "BIGGER PAY-CHECK" ???? I wish I had a job where I could work overtime !!!!!!!! You can bet that if this contract is not accepted, XL BEEF will "NEVER OPEN IT'S DOORS AGAIN". ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A BET ???????

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  MR TRUTH

  - October 6th, 2009 at 11:32:46

  Hey let's face it this plant is done. With the Brook's acquisition only someone naive would ever think that this plant, with its revolving door of ownership, wasgoing to be allowed to survive. I could agree to kiss the boss every hour on the hour right on the BUTT but it would make little or no difference. My heart goes out to these guys it is like they've got threir coconuts in a vice

Buffalo

- October 2nd, 2009 at 10:28:35

I think BOANER69 should maybe get his facts straight before he post Fact: The union had no intention on presenting the offer to the members until we where back to, not two weeks before hand Fact: People who have 5 weeks holidays get to keep them but the 5 week holiday has been cut from further people attaining it Fact: It is impossible for us to work more than 10 hours a day since people would just start to fall over Fact: The company present an offer with a date and the union failed to present the offer to it members stating it didn't know who its members where Fact: The nest offer they present was to be voted on by the 27th of sept and the union went into to negotiations on the friday and they came out with the third final offer in which we did vote on Fact: You guys complain about how they want overtime but when the company asks for one friday off every month you guys complain about that as well. So no overtime and no loss time you sound like you are about as hard to get along with as you think the employer is If working overtime and bringing home huge checks for you family will cause you a divorce i'm sorry but you have other trouble there. At least you'll be able to afford a good lawyer. Fact: The only thing not worth voting on in this contract was the clause with the severance pay! Fact: time to get our heads out of our asses and realize that there are not a whole lot of good paying jobs in this city and that maybe 16 or 17 $/hr with overtime and benefits is not to shabby.

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Employee Supporter

- October 2nd, 2009 at 10:27:42

Well Said BOANER69

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BOANER69

- October 1st, 2009 at 13:23:24

JUST A COMMENT ON C.L. SYMONS ARTICLE IN TUESDAY NIGHTS PAPER. ARE YOU SURE THAT YOUR HUSBAND WORKS THERE, BECAUSE YOUR FACTS ARE ALL SCREWED UP? FIRST OF ALL IT'S A LOCKOUT NOT A STRIKE. SECOND OF ALL THE VOTE WAS 48 YES VOTES, AND 96 NO VOTES, NOT 60 PLUS. THIRDLY WHEN WE VOTED YES TO 4 HOURS MANDATORY OVERTIME ON THE LAST CONTRACT, WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE OCCASIONALLY. IT HAS BEEN EVERY WEEK FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. SO WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT 8 HOURS OR UNLIMITED OVERTIME WOULDN'T BE THE SAME AND NOT OCCASIONALLY. AND FOURTHLY, ARE YOU KIDDING ME, WHEN YOU SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN HOME WITH OUR FAMILIES FOR THE LAST 5 MONTHS ? I'VE HAD TO WORK A JOB THAT TAKES ME OUT OF TOWN FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS AT A TIME, AND AWAY FROM MY FAMILY. THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE TEMPORARY. IF I WAS TO AGREE TO WORK UNLIMITED OVERTIME AND NOT BE HOME FOR MY FAMILY PERMANENTLY, I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE THE DIVORCE PAPERS DRAWN UP NOW. DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT I WANT MY JOB BACK ALSO, BUT NOT AT ANY PRICE. HERE ARE SOME FACTS. IN JUNE THERE OFFER WAS FOR $2.00 AN HOUR OVER 4 YEARS PLUS 8 HOUR MANDATORY OVERTIME FOR 21 WEEKS. WE SAID THAT WHEN IT GETS 2 WEEKS BEFORE WE GO BACK TO WORK WE WILL VOTE ON THAT, BUT WHEN 2 WEEKS BEFORE CAME, THEY SAID THAT OFFER WAS NO GOOD AND THEY REDUCED OUR RAISE TO $1.00 OVER 4 YEARS. WE ARRANGED TO HAVE A VOTE ON THAT, BUT BEFORE WE COULD EVEN VOTE, THEY SAID THAT OFFER IS NO GOOD EITHER, NOW HERE'S YOUR NEW OFFER OF $1.25 OVER 4 YEARS, BUT WE WANT UNLIMITED OVERTIME FOR THE WHOLE 4 YEARS, PLUS WE LOSE A WEEK OF VACATION. WHAT'S THE NEXT OFFER, A PAY CUT? WE ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE A CONTRACT NEGOTIATED NOT DICTATED. AND APPARENTLY YOUR WRONG ABOUT THE PEOPLE JUMPING AT THE CHANCE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF A JOB, BECAUSE JUST BEFORE THEY CLOSED, THEY WERE BEGGING FOR NEW EMPLOYEES. WHEN THEY HIRE SOMEONE, THEY DON'T EVEN LAST A WEEK, SAYING YOU WANT ME TO DO THAT, FOR HOW MUCH? YOUR KIDDING RIGHT? AND THEY WALK OUT THE DOOR. SO THE COMPANY BETTER DO ALL THEY CAN TO KEEP THE EMPLOYEES THEY HAVE, AND GIVE US A REASONABLE OFFER TO VOTE ON, AND GET US BACK TO WORK.

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his partner

- October 1st, 2009 at 11:35:40

Okay lets get this straight......its a lock-out NOT a strike. If you have never worked in place like this in your life, then you have no idea what its like. If the people who think its just a job (Symons), then when/if the plant opens then you come on down and apply. It is back breaking, wrist wrenching, shoulder killing work. Symons, if your man works at Packers, then you would know that it is a lock out and not a strike. There is a difference. I, like Seriously, have a job. In fact I have 2, to help make ends meet. So maybe you should also, to lessen the stress on your man. Back to the issue at hand. Beef farmers are getting robbed, the workers are getting screwed and XL beef is getting rich of the backs off the province of Saskatchewan. They own every piece of beef here and now the ppl who sweat their asses off everyday in a plant are standing up against them. They can afford to share the wealth. Now the farmers need to take a stand. Best of Luck to you all.

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Just an observation

- October 1st, 2009 at 11:35:12

So you want more time with your families, just an observation but it would appear that you got it and hows that working for you?

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Mrsp

- October 1st, 2009 at 11:34:59

My husband works at XL and as a person with secondary education and a trade he makes a good wage and would like to go back to work. I know the people on the kill floor do a very physically demanding job that a lot of people would not be able to stand for one day let alone make a living doing it and they should be commended. Unlimited overtime being a requirement while doing such strenuous work that has its hazards is not something to be taken lightly and that is why there is a Union so that workers do not get taken advantage of and made to work in conditions that are not safe or tolerable. Has anyone considered that working 48 hours a week with one day off in a building with floors that can become slippery, cows that occasionally get free and run through the kill floor and sharp knives in the hands of exhausted workers could do real damage to a tired worker? WCB claims would sky rocket and people could be seriously hurt or disabled. By the way I also have to comment on SERIOUSLY's post above. Telling someone to go get a job is rude and ridiculous. You do not know their situation. It would be like someone telling you to get educated and learn how to spell. FYI: salary, don't, there, too, that's, yeah, because, it's, article. Don't even get me started on punctuation.

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Seriously

- October 1st, 2009 at 11:29:50

Cowgirl get a grip do u believe u r the only one who raises cattle? Go 2 the city & get a job like the rest of us. Anyone who farms or raises cattle knows u can't make a living at it. Have fun in your travels.syb

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Cowgirl

- September 30th, 2009 at 11:48:49

As a cattle producer who's living the nightmare that is the cattle business, all I want to say is that this needs to be settled..... now! While this dispute goes on, the people who produce the raw product both the union and the packer relies on are liquidating their herds and getting out of the business. A 50 cent raise? Forgive me for not crying a tear, but we are receiving a wage that is equal to what we made in 1980. See how long you can live on that. This is a make or break year for the cattle business in this country. If the liquidation goes on as it is, there will be no supply to keep this plant going in the future, and this discussion will be moot.

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Cory

- September 29th, 2009 at 21:49:28

Hey Lee, before you assume who i am maybe ask. I'm not the cory that was a union rep, nor would i want thta job, in my posting it's pretty clear i'm not a big union fan, you are probly pissed off at getting fired from there and cory sold you up river for being lazy. And to glad i left shit hole moose jaw thank you for reading and paying attenion to my statement that i worked at CP Rail, i have left there and now work for CN Rail, and do not hold a union postion anywhere. So To you Lee blow it out your ass and pay attion to the facts whiner. Signing off Cory not the union rep guy who sold you short.

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move on

- September 29th, 2009 at 15:13:38

To XL Supporter, maybe your children weren't there that long because I know someone who was working there when they got the notice that it was shutting down, and I can tell you he was making just over $18 not less then $18. It's funny how when the plant was open half of these guys complained about there job, saying they could go find a better paying job, and better benfits and all this crap, well why didn't they get off their butt and go to that job that they say they could have. Oh right because there was never another job. Yes the OT sucks but you need to make money to support your family and if you were that concerened about your family you would have went and found a new job so you could support your family, you knew from the day you were laid off that there was a good chance it wouldn't reopen. Atleast some of the people that worked out there were smart and went and found other jobs, they didn't sit on EI all summer, they went out to find other work to support there family and needed to be sure they would have a job. EI is over now so now where are you going to get your money from? You don't get paid that much to strike and hardly anyone goes out that way to see you anyways. It's sad that soo many people have lost there jobs, but in the same breath you could have been out there looking for something else, even if it mean't not making as much as you were there but, atleast your making something. And like someone else had said they will just bring in imagrents to do your job, and then you will be really out of luck.

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Just a GIrl

- September 29th, 2009 at 12:33:47

I have heard rumors that there are imagrents coming here to take jobs from these workers out there.How is that fare for the ones that have been working there for 10-20 plus years.Oh even the ones that have "a university degree" could be at risk as well that work out there or anywhere for that matter.So I dont believe that if you have schooling under your belt matters any more you are not more important.We are all at risk and we will be the ones training to give them our jobs.Can this have any part on what is happening out there??

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Just A Dude

- September 29th, 2009 at 10:18:49

The funny thing about these comments is that the people saying to suck it up are the ones who wouldn't last a week there.

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Stevo

- September 29th, 2009 at 01:40:16

Suck it up and get back to work. Nobody will pity the people who spit in the face of decent paying jobs in these times. Heres a question... Why do people always feel that they deserve to be paid as well as engineers, welders and police officers when they don't have any schooling? Entitlement is the problem.

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Cory

- September 28th, 2009 at 22:36:04

To XL BEEF SUPPORTER, i have walked a mile in there shoes as i have stated i have worked there before and left. I also agree 50 cent's a year is not much of a wage increase but in these tuff times on the economy it is better then a wage rollback. The union which represents them is garbage from the bottom up, they represent other places in moose jaw and haven't had much luck on many contracts. I have been represented all my working years by unions and don't believe in any of them the teamsters the ufcw and many others. I think the union only protects the weak and not the strong employees i don't think it's fair to those who bust there ass and those who dog it that they get paid the same rate. I have always believed that if you do a good job you should be paid a good wage. I may be wrong but i think the writing was on the wall that this was going to happen as far back as 8 years ago but i seen it and left, i wonder what a picket line well afect if they have no traffic or anything to stop what point are they proving. I think last time i cheaked if you don't get paid to walk the picket line what is the point you lose that time of your day when you could be job hunting. You wanna know what my last pay increase was by my union contract was 3 % and that even at my job which pays well only meant a 3000 dollar a year raise and i have to spent half my time on a train in the middle of nowhere and sleep away from home many nights a week, so if they wanna talk family time and not having any come live in my shoes for a day or week.

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BeenThereDoneThat

- September 28th, 2009 at 22:35:29

In a time when jobs are becoming fewer and further away, voting against a contract and not returning to work seems like a poor choice. I believe the complaint was with the OT clause. If you're offered a contract, and you decline, a counter offer should be presented. From that point on EI shouldn't be footing the bill, the Union should be. I would not be surprised if the plant ends up relocated to another community at some point. Pity, those who want to return to work fall prey to those who dont, or those who can afford to sit back waiting for things to flow their way....and Im not saying XL is without fault. (nothing like tons of overtime at peak, then slowdown when convenient). Earn your paychecks, it is hard, dirty work that is not for everyone. When it comes time to overtime or working Saturdays, don't if you cant. That creates the need for a larger pool of casual employees to be brought on and trained. It couldn't be very far off Walmarts business model. One would probably earn more from wrongful dismissal than strike pay, and the lost wages will never be recouped. But, it is your life, your family. I know what I do to provide for mine.....

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XL Beef supporter

- September 28th, 2009 at 22:17:34

To Cory: when you left your wage was 14/ hr, right now the most you can make at XL Beef is less than 18 /hr. So that means their pay raises have been less than 0.50 per year. Would you want to be treated like that? You are right that they will never make back the money they will lose by being on strike, but sometime you have to take a stand, and stand up against big companies. I think "observer" made a very valid point about the employer's underhandedness. The point I was trying to make with my previous comment was that until you know all of the accurate facts and have walked a mile in these employees shoes, you shouldn't pass judgment on these people. They are simple trying to earn a decent living for themselves and their families, so they can make a positive contributions to our community.

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Terry

- September 28th, 2009 at 21:45:43

Is strike pay more than what EI pays? Dose this mean it ends your EI claims there is one to think about pay cut for doing notthing.

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observer

- September 28th, 2009 at 21:14:28

I find it interesting how these employees find themselves without a contract just before their scheduled return to work after a layoff! Obviously someone had planed it this way, to catch these people at a vulnerable time when their employment insurance benefits would be coming to an end or forcing them into disqualification of benefits because of a contract dispute. This stinks of employer underhandedness, take your pride folks and find a real employer, even if it means relocating. This town has little to offer in regards to jobs and never will the way it is going so face reality and start looking elsewhere. You can`t support yourself on dreams!

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Paranoid

- September 28th, 2009 at 20:53:16

Hmmm well lets just imagine if the plant in Calgary or went on strike (as their negotiations are coming up as well)or closed and all boxed beef and kill were in Mj would there be overtime involved then? I would think so yes jobs are important but quality of life is also important.Wages are nothing if you can't see your family but I guess for some its max out your credit cards buy the biggest house drive 3 new vehicles and live away from home to pay the bills its all about choices and living in MJ and a former employee of XL I say dig deeper to whats goin on out west the something in the works here.

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Babs MJ

- September 28th, 2009 at 18:30:25

WOW...I admit I don't know ALL the facts here, but ... WOW ... I sure hope there is a happy ending to this nightmare, an agreement that serves the workers well and yet allows the company to be competitively profitable... win/win ...My loyalties would lie more with the workers, you shouldn't have to take any huge pay cut, you shouldn't have to be forced to work OT, and I hope this all works out! Good luck!

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misses

- September 28th, 2009 at 18:10:59

Go work out there and see what a physical demanding job it is. 8 hrs a day is all one can stand of the ignorant management and being treated worse than the cattle. I think this is how they are going to shut down for ever..blame it on the union contract when XL Beef had this planned all along.

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Gary

- September 28th, 2009 at 17:48:26

Competative in the marketplace?? or company greed?? Competative in the marketplace as far as I am concerned will just lend to further degradation of worker's rights and product integrity. This is a cutthoat industry that could care less about workers. Anyone who has been involved can certainly attest to that. I worked out at this plant when it was called Canada Packers which was owned by Maple Leaf Foods. Back then we were second to none. Our plant was efficient and clean. We made short work of our rivals both here and in the Northern U.S. i.e, North Dakota. Anna 1, bring on the scabs. Have you ever stepped foot on a kill floor?? I remember when Pocklington and cohorts started busting unions in Alberta. Did it bring about lower costs to the consumer?? or higher prices to the producers?? I think not. Sure costs have risen i.e., utilities, transportation but at today's price of meat someone is making a pile of money. The only thing hiring scabs accomplishes is dividing workplaces and communities. Companies tend to spend more money training and supervising these people than it's worth. When I worked out there in the eighties I was earning $13.06 per hour. In reading through these posts I can see wages have not changed that much so can't blame the unions. Last I heard ranchers/farmers are not making a killing - so again - who is?? To all XL employees, good luck and stand up for yourselves. Failing this, my advice would be to get out, get some retraining or pursue a different line of work. In all reality it is only going to get worse.

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Art

- September 28th, 2009 at 17:32:21

I am wondering what our municipal government is doing to assist in keeping this company in our city? By no means do I think government should ever enter into a labour dispute with a private company and it’s employees, however what are they doing to try and lure this company in staying? Has our Mayor and his cronies met with XL beef to see if the city can perhaps give a tax break for a few years or some service breaks to try and minimize operation costs to assist in keeping this large employer here? I am concerned that regardless of the Union dispute we are about to embark on losing yet again another prominent employer and pushing us to be a ghost town as far as good paying jobs are concerned. If we can not attract people to work here, who will move here? If we can not earn decent wages what happens to our economy? What happens to our youth? Mayor McBain, Councillors: Chow, Del-Findlay, Luning, Sagal-Henry, Schwinghammer and Swanson should be ashamed that during their tenure four prominent employers have left and we have not attracted anything as far as long term employers to our community in their tenure. Things need to change in this community Today….waiting for tomorrow is no longer an option.

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  MJ Resident

  - October 2nd, 2009 at 10:27:18

  Well Said..for most part.

Buffalo

- September 28th, 2009 at 17:29:55

I'm one of the workers that will be walking the very soon and I think thats its a shame we didn't vote in this contract. As far as all this talk of workers getting treated badly at the plant I've never seen it. Minimum wage? What are you talking about XL Beef Supporter, people make good money out there for not having gone to school. Many people make upwards of 18$/hr and some that have some schooling make upwards of 25$/hr out there. All these people crying about not being able to see their families b/c they're working too much, well such is life! If you don't like it then go work somewhere else and don't come in and vote come next time. This company is not going to give up this overtime b/c they need it to stay competitive. Lets get back to work and vote yes next time if we ever have a next time.

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Cory

- September 28th, 2009 at 16:39:10

Hey XL Beef Supporter, who are you to say they only make minimum wage, i used to work there and when i left 8 years ago i was making 14 something an hour, you can't tell me that they have rolled wages back and that they are only making minimum wage. Like do all these employee's want us to believe they are treated poorly and make next to nothing, last time i drove by the parking lot i seen some clunkers but i also seen alot of new cars out there, but that must be the managers car right? Cause you want us to believe that they make a poor wage when for the work they do they may be a little under paid but please don't try and make us believe that they are paid like a teenager flipping burgers at mcdonalds. I used to work there and the work is hard and demanding but i still had a life and made decent it wasn't great i made okay money. It is a pay issue and going on strike never solves it, you never make back the money you lose buy walking the picket line, i know i walked the line with CP Rail and we never made back the 6 weeks of work i lost, so here is a little advice unless you are getting paid to walk the line go find other jobs, cause if you only make minimum wage you can get that pumping gas for the co-op or who ever hires you.

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XL Beef Supporter

- September 28th, 2009 at 16:29:50

I have children who work at XL Beef and all they want is a decent contract so they can survive and to be able to spend time with their young families. Before you slam people for not accepting a contract, a more intellectual decision would be to know ALL of the facts before you pass judgment. How would all of you who are slamming these XL Food employees, like to work for barely more than minimum wage, and work in an environment where YOUR BOSS decides when it's your home time or how many days/ hours a week you will work. Perhaps if Moose Jaw's economy was booming like the rest of the province, XL foods wouldn't feel the need to bully their employees. All of you anti-union people are probably the same ones who bitch about the union but are the first ones to go running to them when you are treated unfairly at work.

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RED4ME

- September 28th, 2009 at 16:17:48

Its called life Boaner69. Unless you are millionaire get use to it. And even they have to work. I know people whos husbands go away to work for weeks at a time and then come home and have to work here. You do what you need to do in order to provide for your family. Work is major factor in it. Puts your pants on man and get to work cause its a hell of a lot better then stiriking. Yeah stand in the cold during winter (cause this may go on for awhile) for your what measily couple of hundred dollars a week (not day). It will cost you more to cloth yourself and drive there in order to keep warm. I am not saying that XL is all good but at least they offered you your jobs with no paycut!!!

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boaner69

- September 28th, 2009 at 15:57:59

I work there, and I don't have a problem working overtime, but when there is no limits, and no choice, that's a different story. I have a young family, and i want to be there to watch them grow up, not be forced to work 6 days a week for likely up to 13 hours a day. That is when double time kicks in, and the company won't want to pay that. I'll be so tired i"ll need sunday just to rest, so when do i get time to spend with my family, can you tell me that?

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Shhh

- September 28th, 2009 at 15:34:59

No work = No Pay = Bill CollectorsNo Food, No House= Welfare Lines or the streets with your children = Our taxes going up to support those of you you who chose to vote NO. Hope you are the ones who end up like that and those of you who voted yes exceed in life. Plus its better then flippin burgers if your even lucky to get a job there... Step back people and look at the whole picture. You not only have screwed yourselves but your friends. There are more people that rely on XL then you guys. Truckers, Cattle Farmers, Maintenance people, Inspectors, Office Staff. If you dont want to work overtime find a different job then and let those people who are willing and wanting to work work. You selfish jerks!

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DWIGHT

- September 28th, 2009 at 15:18:37

You people have a chance to go back to work, "SO TAKE IT" !!!!!! I guess you aren't hungry enough yet.. If these people don't want the jobs, hire other workers that want & need a paycheck. "FOOLS" !!!!!!

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  mackrod

  - September 28th, 2009 at 15:38:35

  I cannot believe that some people think this all the unions fault. XL Beef I think, had a pretty good idea that they were going to do this when they laid of the workers last spring so I don't think that they are totally in the right in this situation. The union cannnot roll over and except whatever the company offers them because the company will try and drive the wages down so low that social assistance which is taxpayers' money will be a better option for the workrers.

chris

- September 28th, 2009 at 14:54:28

Yes its too bad that 200 jobs are at stake. But no one seems to have considered what was actually offered in the contract. Who would work unlimited overtime, and have a dollar twenty five raise over the next four years. Yes these people have families but if you have to work six days a week, when would you spend time with them. It is a very physically demanding job and they need down time too!

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HOPE

- September 28th, 2009 at 14:37:25

Some of the employees voted in favor of going back to work. These are the ones with young families to support. These people want to get back to work!

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anna1

- September 28th, 2009 at 14:19:14

Bring on the scab labour! This is the stupidest union move I've seen in a long time. talk about entitlement issues.

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Cory

- September 28th, 2009 at 14:16:44

The only people who get hurt by this is the workers that are now on strike. I used to work out there and when they closed the boning plant it was great i took my buy out and got retrained. I seen this coming back then the brothers in crime had no intrest in this plant for the long term they only needed it short term and now that they have the plant in Brooks they simply do not need this one. A cattle shortage come on now be funny, I bet they still killed 5000 head aday in Brooks well these employees were laid off for the summer. The union,I say is to blame for not protecting it's brotherhood. It's sad to say that for some of these people they well be bankrupt, at the food bank or on welfare to make ends meet. The job does pay well but i think they are paying the employees in Brooks less so the company want's to make it a pay issue. I wish you all the best of luck i got out and got lucky enough to fall into a good paying job and have never looked back at XL. You well all need good luck considering that Moose Jaws economy is in the tank and no promise of any economic boom on the rise, under the fab 5 and the mayor Moose Jaw has been raked over the coals as far as good jobs go i don't need to list them as for you all know which places have dried up and disappeared, but the council members have mattress of money to sleep on after getting the mutiplex downtown. I hope all of you can find work at the mutiplex construction site. Good luck you well all need it.

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RED4ME

- September 28th, 2009 at 13:51:35

Everyday these guys don't work puts some of them and their families a day closer to the food bank. This is not an animal cruelty issue it is a human issue and people got to work in order to put a roof over their heads, heat their homes (this is Saskatchewan and it soon will be winter), food on the table and clothes on their backs. So Veggichick stay out of it.

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Veggiegirl

- September 28th, 2009 at 13:40:36

Every day these guys are not working is another day that a cow lives. Think about it!

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  Dwight

  - October 3rd, 2009 at 10:12:25

  VEGGIE GIRL: "GET A LIFE" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MJ Reader

- September 28th, 2009 at 13:27:55

That's too bad, I would assume that after a layoff over the summer these guys would be keen on getting back to work, too bad unions screw things up all the time...whatever happened to the "work hard and get rewarded" way of doing things?

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red4me

- September 28th, 2009 at 13:21:42

If the first contract was brought to the employees back in June. This probably would have never happened.

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C Symons

- September 28th, 2009 at 13:18:42

Get real you guys...get back to work and be thankful you could have a job to go back to unlike some that have recently lost their jobs. What are you guys thinking????

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