First Load Crosses the Border

[cowman]

I thought IBP was having all kinds of trouble finding workers anyway? Seems they couldn't import them fast enough to keep up with the turnovers!
I guess their "razor thin margins" don't allow them to pay very much?
What is with these guys? How much of a no brainer is it to match Cargills wages and keep the gravy train going? I mean, come on...50 cent an hour increase? I doubt that even is the cost of living increase?

[rkaiser]

Follow the money for a moment. Border opens. Margins at Lakeside lower. Time for a break. Let things settle out for a while in a time where profits might be low anyway.

I think Lakeside wanted the strike.

First time in history that our Alberta Government may have done something that Tyson did not want.

[kato]

I bet they wanted it too.

Just think, they have a workforce that's 60% immigrant, from a country that is as different from Canada as you can get. Break the union, and trust me, this will not be a good place to work.

The last place I want to put the reputation of my cattle is in the hands of a corner cutting, rush 'em through plant, full of low moral workers who will soon come to not care about the quality of their work.

After the past two years, "We can't afford to pay our employees" ain't gonna get much sympathy from us.

[cowman]

Well Tyson/IBP don't like unions. Sort of like Walmart?
The really dumb part of that philosophy is you don't need a union if you treat your people right? There are lots of US companies that don't deal with unions but still have a very productive and happy labor force? A lot of big oil companies come to mind?
However if you treat a person like a dog don't be surprized when he bites you!