Californian Strike Ends After 13 Years

[DotheDamnTHing]

Reminds me of the Seinfeld bagel episode

 

[z0mb13]

whoa

 

[cavemanmoron]

Nut strike cracks after 13 years

The dispute proved a tough nut to crack
Striking workers at a walnut processing plant in California have voted to bring their 13-year walkout to an end.
The 600 members of the Teamsters Local 601 union went on strike at the Diamond of California plant in September 1991 in a dispute over pay.

They have now finally ratified a new five-year contract, clearing the way for their return to work.

However, most of the workers have now found jobs elsewhere, and the union admits they are unlikely to return.

Nobody ever thought it would take this long

Lucio Reyes, union secretary-treasurer

The company has also filled most of their old positions, or replaced them with automated processes.

However, each striking member of staff is now being given 10 days to respond to letters inquiring if they want to return to the world's largest walnut processing plant.

"I think it was worth it in that we did accomplish something," said the union.

'Feeling good'

"Nobody ever thought it would take this long," said Lucio Reyes, the union's secretary-treasurer.

"The company didn't expect it, we didn't expect it. Both parties now realize we have to work together.

"Everyone should be feeling good about this."

The 1991 walkout had its origins back in 1985 when staff at the Diamond plant in Stockton agreed to a 30% reduction in wages during tough times for the company.

Both the union and the workers expected staff to be repaid as the company's finances improved, but in 1991 they were offered just a 10 cents-an-hour raise, and a bonus package.

This sparked the more than 13-year walkout.

 

[Kyteland]

I'm still on a 10 year strike from middle school. I'm holding out for a longer recess.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
"I think it was worth it in that we did accomplish something," said the union.

i fail to see what was accomplished

 

[Yossarian]

it makes no sense. either the company now uses non-union workers and has no need for these guys or it would have gone out of business years ago.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: Yossarian
it makes no sense. either the company now uses non-union workers and has no need for these guys or it would have gone out of business years ago.

Machines replaced most of the workers.

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: Yossarian
it makes no sense. either the company now uses non-union workers and has no need for these guys or it would have gone out of business years ago.

Machines replaced most of the workers.

Which makes this comment funny -

"The company didn't expect it, we didn't expect it. Both parties now realize we have to work together."

 

[icejunkie]

Originally posted by: Kyteland
I'm still on a 10 year strike from middle school. I'm holding out for a longer recess.

:thumbsup:

haha

 

[dullard]

One more example of my personal beliefs. In theory, unions are great and needed. In practice, unions often take things too far and are harmful to both the union members and the company. After 12 years, couldn't the union see it was a worthless battle to fight? I guess not.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
"I think it was worth it in that we did accomplish something," said the union.

i fail to see what was accomplished

They accomplished what most unions accomplish. They made some noise, cost the union members a ton of money and the union leaders painted themselves as heroes.

 

[SurgicalShark]

Originally posted by: Kyteland
I'm still on a 10 year strike from middle school. I'm holding out for a longer recess.

Cheap bastard, you are a drop out 😀 😛

 

[ElFenix]

OMG that episode was on last night!

it is also the festivus episode, and the one where jerry has a jekyl/hyde girlfriend.

 

[SurgicalShark]

festivus for the rest of us!!

Let's Bagel!

 

[Squisher]

I'm sure the union officials/bargainers were getting paid through all of this.

 

[anno]

Back in 2000, the head of the Teamsters union, James Hoffa, equated the striking walnut workers to the heroes of John Steinbeck's classic Depression-period workers' rights novel The Grapes of Wrath.

ya know.. if my daddy was jimmy hoffa, I think I woulda chosen a different career path..

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: SurgicalShark

Originally posted by: Kyteland
I'm still on a 10 year strike from middle school. I'm holding out for a longer recess.

Cheap bastard, you are a drop out 😀 😛

Actually they graduated me from the 8th grade, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm still on strike. :|:|

What really sucked was that I didn't get *any* recess in high school. 🙁

😀