Author
|
Topic: Another Candian company exploiting immigrant workers
|
windsorworker
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9686
|
posted 17 September 2008 05:27 PM
This Guy is a real treat he has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in arbitration cases and doesn't want to pay and now this..Presteve foods owner charged with 6 counts of sex assault quote: Plant owner charged Leamington man facing six sex assault charges released TuesdayWHEATLEY - The owner of Presteve Foods Ltd., Joe Pratas, has been charged with six counts of sexual assault after representatives of CAW Local 444 took four current and two discharged Presteve employees to Chatham-Kent police on Sunday. Local 444 president Rick Laporte said Tuesday the union became concerned while conducting interviews into the recent firing of four workers. "In the process we stumbled over some information of inappropriate behaviour," Laporte said as he and other union supporters gathered outside the fish processing plant on Erie Street. An arbitration hearing in May resolved a dispute over hiring foreign workers, Laporte said, adding there are 34 workers from Thailand and four from Mexico at Presteve, with many living in a bunkhouse attached to the plant.
Also just today an investigation into the bunk houses where the workers lived found a sickening sight bunk beds stacked in a very small room , rat and mice feces ,the bunk house was imediatly declared unsafe and closed .The workers were sent to local motels to stay.[ 17 September 2008: Message edited by: windsorworker ]
From: windsor | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kropotkin1951
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2732
|
posted 18 September 2008 04:12 PM
Hi Bob maybe you missed the point of this forum. I suggest you leave now before you really embarrass yourself. You have stumbled into a part of the internet where the people here actually believe in dignity and respect for others. So since you seem to think you know the facts tell me how big was the kitchen, how many people shared the same kitchen, was there working hot water, how much counter space was there for cooking and cleaning, how many mice were resident in the shack before it became a bunkhouse, how about rats, was there a washer and dryer available to wash clothes, how many hours a day did the workers work, how big was the fridge, are you a bachelor, if yes may I inspect your house when 3 dozen of your buddies have been over for a week. . Any ways just a few things I thought you might like to clarify. I personally was offended by your remarks about the workers brought here and given hovels to live in. For you to place blame on them tells me you really need to read about issues around globalization and racism and imperialism. There are lots of old threads that you could start with right here on babble. I hope you educate yourself to the realities of the world we live in. Have a nice day and don't let the door hit you on the way out.
From: North of Manifest Destiny | Registered: Jun 2002
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PFL
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 15522
|
posted 19 September 2008 11:17 AM
[ 19 September 2008: Message edited by: Michelle ]
From: Wheatley | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
|
posted 19 September 2008 11:44 AM
You know what? Piss off. You've been banned twice and now you're being banned again. And I'm deleting your post so you don't get the satisfaction from your little stunt. Don't come back again. For everyone else's information? All three banned accounts in this thread (joe macdonald, bob123, and PFL) are from the same IP address. [ 19 September 2008: Message edited by: Michelle ]
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
|
posted 19 September 2008 12:15 PM
Same IP address, everyone. Clearly management from Presteve Foods. Judge this accordingly, including the first post in this thread where one of them called the "immigrants" a bunch of "slobs".Stupid move, using your real e-mail address to sign up for babble. You just outed all of these accounts as management from the plant by using the same computer for all four of them. Duh. But please do keep on keeping on, and saying all sorts of offensive things about your workers - I'm sure it'll really help things along in your dispute now that everyone knows who you are here. [ 19 September 2008: Message edited by: Michelle ]
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
captiain kirk
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 15523
|
posted 19 September 2008 12:23 PM
you ever think about the idea that the immigrants living there are slobs and dont clean their place of residence?LOOK AT WHAT I SAID...I NEVER CALLED THEM SLOBS, I SAID 'YOU EVER THINK ABOUT THE IDEA...' PLEASE RE-READ AND DO NOT TRY TO MAKE ME SAY THINGS IM NOT! THANK YOU...
From: kingsville | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
mr spock1237384
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 15525
|
posted 19 September 2008 12:34 PM
[ 19 September 2008: Message edited by: mr spock1237384 ]
From: wheatley | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
|
posted 19 September 2008 12:49 PM
quote: Originally posted by mr spock1237384: Hey by the way Michelle you obivously did not read the Private Policy of babble did ya?
Sure I did: quote: We reserve the right to suspend posters who have provided false information for their profile. We reserve the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you.
I got a complaint from babblers here. Furthermore, you kept coming back with new accounts after being explicitly told not to. And you're a management shill who pretended otherwise in order to post racist shit about your employees here. Most people aren't stupid enough to use their company e-mail when they do stuff like that, however.
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
writer
editor emeritus
Babbler # 2513
|
posted 19 September 2008 12:50 PM
Uh, you mean where it reads: quote: We reserve the right to suspend posters who have provided false information for their profile. We reserve the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you. We reserve the right to read private messages when necessary to investigate complaints about inappropriate or abusive messages.
You are dreaming if you don't think there have been complaints.
From: tentative | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
mr spock1237384
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 15525
|
posted 19 September 2008 01:50 PM
well i guess no one wants to chat anymore so everyone have a good night and week-end. PS keep those comments coming!!!!!!!![ 19 September 2008: Message edited by: mr spock1237384 ]
From: wheatley | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
|
posted 19 September 2008 01:51 PM
quote: Originally posted by mr spock1237384: For one i used my real information so no violation there and for 2 the complaints where not from my posts and what complaints are you people referring to anyway.
Actually, you raise a really good point. You did use your real information on the one account, and it was the other two accounts that people had a problem with and complained about, not yours. And I suppose there IS a possibility that other people started those accounts and not you. So, fair enough. I will remove your name and e-mail from all of the posts other than your own, and you can choose to edit your own posts if you'd like to remove it from yours. You can do that by clicking on this icon: [ 19 September 2008: Message edited by: Michelle ]
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
M. Spector
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8273
|
posted 19 September 2008 03:44 PM
quote: Presteve Foods Ltd. was hit with more than 50 orders from Ontario Ministry of Labour inspectors Thursday covering a wide range of alleged defects in the fish processing plant's equipment and buildings.The orders cap a turbulent week in which the 67-year-old company owner Joe Pratas was charged Monday by Chatham-Kent police with six counts of sexual assault allegedly involving foreign female workers. Labour inspectors called for a police escort to get into the plant Tuesday. A crowded bunkhouse adjacent to the plant used by 26 female workers from Thailand was then ordered closed Tuesday by Chatham-Kent building inspectors. Canadian Auto Workers Local 444 president Rick Laporte is now calling for an investigation into how the federal Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program is supervised. Laporte said he discovered foreign workers in the plant also had passports and other personal documents held by management and were being charged for housing that should have been free. The bunkhouse should have housed no more than 20 workers although there were beds for 36, Laporte said. Laporte understood the bunkhouse was closed mainly for safety reasons because of fire hazards and an alarm system, which while working, wasn't an appropriate design for the building. Presteve employs 34 women from Thailand. Two more are from Mexico and the rest of its 60 workers are Canadian. They work two shifts a day, mostly filleting fish, paid from $8.53 to $13.80 an hour.
read more...
From: One millihelen: The amount of beauty required to launch one ship. | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Spector
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8273
|
posted 20 September 2008 07:30 AM
I think we've established he's a she. quote: Based on pay stubs he's looked at, Laporte said significant amounts of wages were being withheld for housing, contrary to the seasonal worker regulations in Ontario.The mostly female workers were being paid less than $9 an hour but on some pay stubs, Laporte said he saw a $140 deduction for housing. He's still trying to sort out the reasons for various deductions. Laporte said passports have now been returned to all foreign workers, and only two still have complaints outstanding about personal documents being held. According to the Human Resources Canada website explaining the seasonal workers program, "employers are not permitted to take away and keep workers' passports, medical cards or other personal documents for any reason. If this occurs, workers should contact their government liaison officer immediately." The program also requires employers to provide free housing, except in British Columbia. Employers who provide meals to their foreign workers are allowed to deduct $6.50 per day. Laporte said the bunkhouse provided by Presteve had stoves and fridges so the workers could cook their own meals.
From: One millihelen: The amount of beauty required to launch one ship. | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289
|
posted 20 September 2008 07:33 AM
Wonderful, bad employer, doing wrong things, blames union for; the plight of his workers caused by him and his getting caught holding their passports.However, this really brings up how the Liberals and now the CPC have created/sustained slavery conditions through the guest worker program. Where are the media in exposing this travesty of the Liberals and Conservatives to Canadians?
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
mr spock1237384
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 15525
|
posted 20 September 2008 07:35 AM
quote: Originally posted by Stargazer: Okay, how long is this person staying? I mean seriously, what a horrendous individual. His faux concern is just that - fake. It is quite clear he is here to bash immigrants, bash unions and protect a sleazy company. Can we not bid this person adieu?
Exactly how am i bashing the migrant workers? They are just victims of circumstance. They are being used by the union so the union can get their way, yes i am bashing the union and i have every reason to do so. If you know womething about this situation that i am not aware of please enlighten me.
From: wheatley | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289
|
posted 20 September 2008 09:08 AM
quote: Originally posted by mr spock1237384: do you understand English?...how is that fair that they get to vote...when they are not even Canadian. By the way are you?
I think I understand English quite well.If I am not Canadian, do you feel that I do not get a say, nor have a right to an opinion?
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
bigcitygal
Volunteer Moderator
Babbler # 8938
|
posted 20 September 2008 10:12 AM
mrspock, as a moderator I need to step in at this point.This is a pro-union, pro-worker discussion board. You seem to have a lot of inside information. I question whether some of it should be made public, such as the number of votes in a decertification meeting. I would assume that meeting was for workers only, not management. So someone, maybe a mole, told you the results? From what I understand this isn't supposed to be public information and it's not cool for you to post that here. But whatever. You are clearly very close to this issue and are offering one side only. Generally when we criticize unions on babble, it's with the understanding that workforces are better off with them than without, but as institutions they are not above being criticized for their flaws. This isn't what you're doing. If you could admit your position, (as someone who's a manager or owner it seems) who's invested in placing the blame on the union only, that would aid in your credibility. Not by much though. Nonetheless, I really don't think you have much else to contribute here, since you clearly joined just to post in this thread. Some facts for you: Migrant workers are rarely represented by unions. The needs of the migrant workers should not have been situated in opposition to the needs of the "Canadian" workers. If they were, yes, that's a legitimate issue to discuss. But not the way you've done it. And, the detail in which you described the living areas tells me that you may have had a role in setting it up AND that you yourself don't have to live there. Sorry, you don't get praise from us on this site for providing (maybe) livable housing for your workers. The fact that the workers don't earn enough to allow them to rent a room in town, and the ability to transport to and from work, means that you are exploiting their work and labour, which is what most bosses/owners do. "Offering" to keep valuables in a locked safe (because you're so nice?) in which adult workers need to ask for permission to access their own property should tell you how unjust and humiliating, never mind controlling, and, as already pointed out, illegal, such a practice is. Imagine if you had to do that. Such a practice is indefensible, and the fact that you continue to defend it speaks to your place of power in the relationship with the workers. I'm unclear about banning you at this point, but will consult with other moderators.
From: It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent - Q | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289
|
posted 20 September 2008 11:42 AM
Oh yes, we have heard that meme before of "if only the unions would have bent a bit", and we have also observed unions bending, only to get the shaft, after millions of tax payers dollars are also given to the company, and after the union workers bent.The real issue is that it is the companies that need to bend. They need to bend in their belief that they are intitled to ever increasing profit margins, at the expense of the workers, and indeed the environment. Moreover, employess that have worked at a place of employment, no matter their status, have an absolute right to have say in unionizing. And those "guest employees", that have worked for 2 years, actually have 2 years senority, which would make them have senority over those "Canadians" who may have worked there less time, than 2 years. As to your response quote: no i am not saying that you are not entiltled to your opinion, of course you are
You tried to infer that I did not know English, and then asked in another post, if I was Canadian, after insisting, wrongly, I would add, that Canadian employees have a right to have a say in employment conditions, while guest employees do not. What then was the reason for asking if I was Canadian, if not to suggest, either some type of bias, or no right to be expressing an opinion on this topic? My Canadianess, or lack thereof, has nothing to do with this topic, nor in fact do I as a person. Workers are under no obligation to vote in a block or a unit, nor should they comply with other workers opinions, it is a individual person's decision, and their alone to make. A person has no right to judge them, nor discriminate against them for their freedom of conscience decisions. Say nothing of thinking it is alright to deprive them, and others, of their voice.
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
oldgoat
Moderator
Babbler # 1130
|
posted 20 September 2008 12:23 PM
Mr spock, in the spirit of fairness, you have been granted unusual latitude during your time here. You have been expressing the most troglodite anti labour boilerplate, and are bordering on open racism. Management at your organization seems to have been pretty successful at dividing the workforce along the lines of race and citizenship to their advantage. If any purpose has been served here, it is to underline and obviate the need for strong unions. This has actually made me a bit ashamed to be a Trekkie. You would have been more honest naming yourself after a Ferengi character. Anyway, you're in violation of babble policy, (read the first two paragraphs) and you're gone. I've also locked the account of the last remaining unused presteve account, so don't bother.
From: The 10th circle | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
bruce_the_vii
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 13710
|
posted 20 September 2008 04:52 PM
quote: Originally posted by Frustrated Mess: It ain't? Don't visit Leamington. That would really burst your illusions.
Another work camp situation in Ontario is the northern bush camps. I read about them, it was actually a post on an Internet Forum. You are paid well, work all the time and don't spend any money. The guy I was posting with said they are a great experience, very healthful. It's good for a young guy trying to save up some money. This would be what farm labour would have to become if it wasn't for Caribians. [ 20 September 2008: Message edited by: bruce_the_vii ]
From: Toronto | Registered: Dec 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
bigcitygal
Volunteer Moderator
Babbler # 8938
|
posted 20 September 2008 05:45 PM
quote: bruce: This would be what farm labour would have to become if it wasn't for Caribians.
What? bruce if you're quoting someone saying racist shit, do us a favour and don't. If you yourself are saying this you may have earned yourself a week off babble. And glamourizing farm work? You've got to be kidding with that bullshit. I'm getting really sick of this thread.
From: It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent - Q | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
|