From: "Jess Kutch, Change.org"
Date: Tue, August 23, 2011 2:57 pm
To: corvettelady@lavabit.com
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Dear Sharon,
Hundreds of foreign exchange students paid to come to America this summer, expecting
opportunities to learn English and experience American culture.
Instead, the exchange students found themselves forced to work in back-breaking,
round-the-clock production lines packing chocolates at a Hershey's plant in
Pennsylvania at low wages. When the students complained, Hershey's threatened to
have them deported.
Now the exchange students are fighting back. They just walked out of the Hershey's
plant and into the streets to protest Hershey's abusive conditions and to demand big
changes to Hershey's deceptive "cultural exchange" program. With a broad public
outcry, Hershey's will stop its abuse of exchange students and create good jobs for
local workers instead.
Can you sign the Change.org petition started by the National Guestworker Alliance
demanding Hershey's compensate the exchange students, and turn their work into good
jobs for local workers? Click here to add your name to the petition:
Yana, a 19-year-old girl from Ukraine, lifts boxes that weigh 40 pounds -- nearly
half her weight. Peng, a 21-year-old economics student from China, also lifts heavy
boxes during his eight-hour shifts at the warehouse.
Hundreds of students from Ghana, Turkey, Mongolia, and other countries each paid up
to $6,000 for the privilege to come to America in a cultural exchange program this
summer. Now Hershey's pays them around $8 an hour for their warehouse work, minus
costs of housing -- leaving many students broke, tired, and disillusioned.
Why would Hershey's want to use foreign exchange students as cheap, manual labor?
According to the National Guestworker Alliance, a group helping the students, it's
about profit. Hershey's is laying off 500 American workers in the next year. The
company's strategy is apparently paying off: Hershey's pocketed $130 million in just
the last three months.
The foreign exchange students are asking Hershey to refund the thousands of dollars
the students paid to come to America. And that's not all: The students also want
Hershey's to convert their low-paying positions to living wage jobs for local
residents in Pennsylvania.
Please sign the petition to Hershey's demanding the company refund the students'
costs to come to America and give their jobs back to American workers who live near
the warehouse.
Thanks for being a change-maker,
- Jess and the Change.org team
1|1|Oops, here's the rest of it...|Sharon|corvettelady@lavabit.com|00:00:13|08/24/2011|
I didn't copy the whole message first time...sorry about that!!
Subject: Abuse at Hershey Dear Sharon, Hundreds of foreign exchange students paid to come to America this summer, expecting Instead, the exchange students found themselves forced to work in back-breaking, Now the exchange students are fighting back. They just walked out of the Hershey's Can you sign the Change.org petition started by the National Guestworker Alliance Yana, a 19-year-old girl from Ukraine, lifts boxes that weigh 40 pounds -- nearly Hundreds of students from Ghana, Turkey, Mongolia, and other countries each paid up Why would Hershey's want to use foreign exchange students as cheap, manual labor? The foreign exchange students are asking Hershey to refund the thousands of dollars Please sign the petition to Hershey's demanding the company refund the students' Thanks for being a change-maker, - Jess and the Change.org team Who did these students pay the $6,000 to? How much of that covered their airline costs? $8 an hour is above minimum wage. Did these students expect to have free housing? Yes, production lines are "round the clock", but the email never noted how many hours per day the students worked. Is the complaint merely that some had night shifts? Does lifting 40lb boxes exceed OSHA guidelines? It was also not noted what areas of the company Hershey planned the layoffs. Remember, there are 2 sides to every story and this is just one side of this story.
3|1|thank you for the info, found this video too|cinda68|lacinda68@gmail.com|07:07:49|08/24/2011| Very important information, thank you so much. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-h8EBP0JSs
4|2|PLEASE READ THE FACTS NOT FANTASY http://staffingtalk.com/distortion-zone-fallacious-media-attack-on-hersheys-labor-practices/|JOYHAPPYONE|DAIDOLA5@AOL.COM|14:35:56|08/24/2011| JOY DAIDOLA
5|3|am I missing a page or 2 Joy? I only see a couple of paragraph's and the article ends with excerpts from comments others made about the Yahoo article. Is that all that is supposed to be there? I can't find a link to a page 2.|pussecat|pu55ecat@aol.com|15:10:37|08/24/2011| Also, it doesn't matter if Hershey hired another company to take care of thier It really doesn't matter to me WHO or WHAT company is/are doing wrong....... if they are doing wrong they need to be stopped. PERIOD. ***** BOYCOTT COUPON CLIPPING SERVICES +++ Total Coupon Savings For 2010 $ +++ Total Coupon Savings For 2009 $ http://www.jwj.org/hersheys/index.html When we were in DC earlier this month it was one of the things people were talking about. While it is true that Hershey's is using a staffing company, these jobs used to be filled by unionized workers at living wages with good benefits. That is the real kicker of this story. Hershey's profits are high and workers get less. Why not hire US workers at fair wages?
9|4|agreed|cinda68|lacinda68@gmail.com|16:01:21|08/24/2011| I thought it was remarkable how one of the student's demands was to make these living wage jobs for PA workers, great to see foreigners stand up for our benefit here. The students' demands: •End the exploitation of student workers at the Hershey's plant and return the $3,000-$6,000 that the student workers paid for a cultural exchange what they think they should get paid. I think in todays market there are alot of Americans who would be glad to work for $8 an hr
7|1|state dept is investigating|cinda68|lacinda68@gmail.com|15:30:08|08/24/2011| http://www.inquisitr.com/135474/hershey-walkout-j-1-student-visa-program/ apparently businesses save money by employing J1 visa holders: Here’s an explanation of how US-based businesses can legally save 7.65% off their payroll expenses. When you hire J1 students, they are required to pay a number of taxes – Federal, State, and local. What they don’t pay are Social Security, Federal Unemployment and Medicate taxes. It is a common practice to match some of the taxes so that a certain percentage of a worker’s wage goes to cover these taxes. These are usually 6.2% for Social Security, up to 6.2% for Federal Unemployment, and 1.45% for Medicare. For foreign seasonal workers, these three figures are zeroes. Thus, you save 7.65% of the total payroll expense, or 8.45% of total employee salaries. Sometimes you can save even more than that. Employees are allowed to take a credit of up to 5.4% for their State Unemployment tax which is less than Federal Unemployment tax rate of 6.2%. In case your State rate is below 5.4%, your maximum credit for Federal Unemployment will become less. The result? Your savings from hiring seasonal J1 workers grow. You can easily find out more by checking with the IRS Employers Tax Guide Publication 5.15 or contacting taxation and revenue department in your state.
10|1|This makes me sick. Plain old fashioned greed with an exploitation twist. Just like the old mine mentalities. You work for the company. You pay rent to the company. You buy your stuff from the company store. At the end of the week, your paycheck is close to $0.|Ranalt|ainebailey@gmail.com|17:00:51|08/24/2011| Good for those workers for staging a sit in. In Disney World, i've yet to find anyone working there that is from this country. I can understand in Epcot, as they are trying to make each of the countries authentic with people who represent them, but its in every hotel and all through the parks. Students are there for a year at a time. Last week we were at the Jersey Shore(Wildwood) and everyone working the games, rides, and a bunch of the stores were here for the summer from other countries. We have season passes to Hershey Park, so if this is happening, its not for everyone to see. Those working in the park and chocotate world are just local kids.
11|1|along with the savings on taxes, they do not have to provide medical insurance either. That saves a FORTUNE!!|dlpavitt|dlpavitt@att.net|18:01:02|08/24/2011| If you are a HONEST trader, there is nothing to fear in having a feedback link. If you do not have one, please set one up, BEFORE contacting me for a trade. If you insist on not having a feedback link, please do not contact me to trade. Feedback links protect all of us, on RS. Thanks for understanding. Donna
13|1|I know I will get bashed.Did you know these fancy resturants that we eat sometimes only pays the waiters $2.60 & if you don't leave 20% tip of the bill they don't make any money|greenthumbs|greenthumbs@charter.net|19:17:34|08/24/2011| I know that is their choice.But after I pay for the meal I don't have $6 or more to leave a tip.I just don't go there hardly any more to eat.
14|2|ALL I MEANT WAS ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO READ AND GET ALL THE FACTS FIRST BEFORE DECIDING WHAT YOU THINK....THERES ALWAYS THINGS THAT AREN'T TOLD IN ALL THE STORIES|JOYHAPPYONE|DAIDOLA5@AOL.COM|19:26:10|08/24/2011| JOY DAIDOLA
15|2|If I don't have the $ to tip my server, I don't go to a restaurant where I am waited on by a server.|pussecat|pu55ecat@aol.com|21:26:14|08/24/2011| It is part of the "bill".............. I'm not saying all servers should get a tip, good service is required, but if I can't afford a tip I got to Mcdonald's(example) instead. Also, JIC you didn't know this...........(in GA) If your bill is $60 the server pays taxes on and has to claim 10% of the bill ..... $6, whether you tip them or not! So if you don't have the money to tip, don't eat at a full service restaurant. ***** BOYCOTT COUPON CLIPPING SERVICES +++ Total Coupon Savings For 2010 $ +++ Total Coupon Savings For 2009 $ I'm not sure I agree with that. I think this tip thing has gotten way out of hand. If a fancy meal costs $200, that would be a $40 tip. Was that server really worth $40? Do they work any harder than the Denny's where my bill was $25 and the 20% is $5? Sometimes I think the percentage tipping is not fair to all servers. I do tip 20% but feel taken advantage of when they add it to the bill automatically. What do you think?
17|3|There has been a couple times where the server was horrid and to be forced to give a 20% tip would tick me off|teener|teenerzacsneenee@yahoo.com|12:43:32|08/25/2011| >Posted on Aug-25-11 at 11:11 AM (Eastern) Just because the bill is $200 doesn't mean you must leave $40...... but if you choose to go to a restaurant that charges that much then yes, you should anticipate tipping at least that much and tip less if the service is not "up to par". Just as I stated before.... if the bill is $200 the server MUST claim 10% whether they get it or not so that's $20.00 they HAVE to tell the government they made. Some of the higher class restaurants have server waiting lists YEARS long so if I were on the waiting list for 10 years, serving at another restaurant all the while, building my experience yes...... I would expect the higher tips ESPECIALLY if I worked for it. Also, a table can rack up a $200.00 bill at Denny's as well as at a classy restaurant. Does the server at Denny's not deserve his/her larger tip? I have worked for po-dunk restaurants, fine dining restaurants as well as bar and grills and let me tell you...... I WORKED for my tips and I deserved them, no matter if they were $2 or $200. I gave each table the same treatment and earned the respect of many return customers. (Some of whom I'm still personal friends with.) Serving is like any other profession............ you earn what you make and sometimes you work harder than you think you should for little to no money. We've ALL felt that way at one job or another. People rarely make what they are "worth" but most servers try too. Just sayin' :) ps.......... at one fine dining restaurant I worked at, the servers had to peel 20lbs of fresh shrimp everyday before they left. It didn't matter if they were cut early or stayed late, it was REQUIRED. Try feeling like you're NOT being over worked for that $2.60 an hour THEN. lol ***** BOYCOTT COUPON CLIPPING SERVICES +++ Total Coupon Savings For 2010 $ +++ Total Coupon Savings For 2009 $ kind of work.They even have to buy thier own uniforms.
19|2|A good waiter or waitress can make really good money.....if they have 4 tables every hour, with an average of $5 tip per table, that's $20 an hour right there.....I used to wait tables for 5 yrs before I became a nurse, and did just fine (the drawback is no benefits!). :)|saint6811|waylan@comcast.net|14:57:16|08/25/2011| " You'll get what's coming to you ... Unless it was mailed." >Posted on Aug-25-11 at 02:47 PM (Eastern) really can make very good money. I have worked at a lot of different kinds of restraunts and never had a complaint about the money. I have worked at several that offered benefits. When I worked at supperclubs, you were with a table much longer, the whole eating process is much slower, also we would have to do things like lighting flaming duck ect. When you work a big table and get an excessive tip, it is often shared with those who worked with you, busboys, kitchen, chef ect. ************ If you are a HONEST trader, there is nothing to fear in having a feedback link. If you do not have one, please set one up, BEFORE contacting me for a trade. If you insist on not having a feedback link, please do not contact me to trade. Feedback links protect all of us, on RS. Thanks for understanding. Donna
22|1|Also meant to say, many of the CHAIN restaurants are now offering insurance, and other benefits to full time employees. As well as providing uniforms. Denny's did when I worked for them.|dlpavitt|dlpavitt@att.net|15:36:30|08/25/2011| If you are a HONEST trader, there is nothing to fear in having a feedback link. If you do not have one, please set one up, BEFORE contacting me for a trade. If you insist on not having a feedback link, please do not contact me to trade. Feedback links protect all of us, on RS. Thanks for understanding. Donna
24|2|Bob Evans also.|Quietwaters|Quietwaters39@hotmail.com|15:47:27|08/25/2011| ************
From: "Jess Kutch, Change.org"
Date: Tue, August 23, 2011 2:57 pm
To: corvettelady@lavabit.com
opportunities to learn English and experience American culture.
round-the-clock production lines packing chocolates at a Hershey's plant in
Pennsylvania at low wages. When the students complained, Hershey's threatened to
have them deported.
plant and into the streets to protest Hershey's abusive conditions and to demand big
changes to Hershey's deceptive "cultural exchange" program. With a broad public
outcry, Hershey's will stop its abuse of exchange students and create good jobs for
local workers instead.
demanding Hershey's compensate the exchange students, and turn their work into good
jobs for local workers? Click here to add your name to the petition:
half her weight. Peng, a 21-year-old economics student from China, also lifts heavy
boxes during his eight-hour shifts at the warehouse.
to $6,000 for the privilege to come to America in a cultural exchange program this
summer. Now Hershey's pays them around $8 an hour for their warehouse work, minus
costs of housing -- leaving many students broke, tired, and disillusioned.
According to the National Guestworker Alliance, a group helping the students, it's
about profit. Hershey's is laying off 500 American workers in the next year. The
company's strategy is apparently paying off: Hershey's pocketed $130 million in just
the last three months.
the students paid to come to America. And that's not all: The students also want
Hershey's to convert their low-paying positions to living wage jobs for local
residents in Pennsylvania.
costs to come to America and give their jobs back to American workers who live near
the warehouse.
2|1|A few questions|oakridge32|hammer_1116@yahoo.com|05:38:01|08/24/2011|
I found this video too:
"logistiscs" they are still the company running the factory so if the logistics company did wrong ....... Hershey will be hearing about it and have to deal with it.
that don't want YOU trading *****
22,852.38 +++
16,187.27 +++
8|3|This is one of the Jobs With Justice campaigns...|sunriver|sunriver@gmail.com|15:52:36|08/24/2011|
•That Hershey's make these living wage jobs for local Pennsylvania workers
6|1|Personaly maybe they should have thought twice about coming here to take jobs in a country that's min ium wage is less than |teener|teenerzacsneenee@yahoo.com|15:11:11|08/24/2011|
Life is like a cup of tea,
It's all in how you make it.
Lisa
12|2|Read inside....they are not the only ones doing this|shopr7|shopr7@aol.com|18:05:45|08/24/2011|
that don't want YOU trading *****
22,852.38 +++
16,187.27 +++
16|2|Here, some restaurants automatically add 20% to the bill for the tip|Arizona|vbj48@cox.net|11:11:59|08/25/2011|
>by 98.165.172.77I'm not sure I agree
>with that. I think this
>tip thing has gotten way out
>of hand.
>If a fancy meal costs $200, that
>would be a $40 tip. Was
>that server really worth $40?
>Do they work any harder than
>the Denny's where my bill was
>$25 and the 20% is $5?
>
>Sometimes I think the percentage tipping is
>not fair to all servers.
>I do tip 20% but feel taken
>advantage of when they add it
>to the bill automatically.
>What do you think?
25|3|Some higher class restaurants DO make their servers work harder for their tips (M)|pussecat|pu55ecat@aol.com|17:15:56|08/25/2011|
that don't want YOU trading *****
22,852.38 +++
16,187.27 +++
18|1|I was only trying to show there are other worker that are working for less then min wages & their work is really hard also.I know the waiters choose to do|greenthumbs|greenthumbs@charter.net|14:47:34|08/25/2011|
20|2|But it has always been that way they make less an hr as they do get tips |teener|teenerzacsneenee@yahoo.com|14:57:34|08/25/2011|
>by 96.38.50.186kind of work.They even have
>to buy thier own uniforms.
23|2|Waiters and waitresses.....|Quietwaters|Quietwaters39@hotmail.com|15:44:56|08/25/2011|
*~~*He Who The Lord Sets Free, Is Free Indeed*~~*
21|1|Before working at the school I am at now, I managed a Denny's for over 10 years. I have seen how much money these servers make, and they did very well for themselves. Some people leave extra, some leave a little less, it all works out. That being said, with my restaurant experience. If a server is average, they get 15%, if they rock 20%, I also have NO PROBLEM leaving 10% for poor service(thankfully I rarely have to do this). TIPS: TO INSURE PROPER SERVICE. Plenty of peopl do not tip 20%, just because. I know from experience.|dlpavitt|dlpavitt@att.net|15:34:13|08/25/2011|
*~~*He Who The Lord Sets Free, Is Free Indeed*~~*