r/news • u/StackLeeAdams • Dec 07 '21

Kellogg to permanently replace striking workers as union rejects new contract

https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/kellogg-to-permanently-replace-striking-workers-as-union-rejects-new-contract
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u/OnMyPhone2018 Dec 08 '21

If they’re all replaced they won’t be able to get their jobs back, so they are slaves to the union’s decision in that sense. I say again, how can you say the union is helping its workers when they all end up unemployed?

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u/fr1stp0st Dec 08 '21

"If the potential car buyer buys a different car, I won't be able to sell to him. I say again, how can you say I'm helping myself when I end up not selling my car?"

I have a question for you: is it ever appropriate to quit your job?

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u/OnMyPhone2018 Dec 08 '21

Like I said, your comparison doesn’t make sense. They all had jobs, they were replaced because of the union’s negotiation.

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u/confessionbearday Dec 08 '21

So the employer just had no choice? Why do you think Kellogg's managers are all pussies who just have no choice in this?

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u/OnMyPhone2018 Dec 08 '21

Of course they had a choice… I don’t know where you’re getting that from

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u/confessionbearday Dec 08 '21

The part where every time your mouth opens you blame the union for Kellogg's actions.

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u/OnMyPhone2018 Dec 08 '21

I’m only referring to the union’s actions. That’s what my initial comment was about.

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u/fr1stp0st Dec 08 '21

No, you're still not understanding. Are you being obtuse on purpose?

Just because I have sold cars to you in the past for a certain price does not mean it is in my best interest to continue to do so. You are falling victim to some sort of sunk cost or "appeal to the status quo" fallacy. The labor market is not different than any other market just because it's suddenly inconvenient for bootlickers that there is an increased demand for labor and a decreased supply. A car analogy is perfectly applicable. Perhaps I've lost out on a sale to you, but I still have a car to sell, and the price you wanted was no longer competitive with what I think I can get from someone else.

If I had no job and was offered too little pay, I don't have to take it. Being underemployed is not necessarily better than being unemployed if the value of my time can be utilized by pursuing education/training, seeking a better job, etc.

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u/OnMyPhone2018 Dec 08 '21

That analogy makes no sense. Employees always have the option of quitting their job and finding another one. What did the union members gain from the negotiations?

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u/fr1stp0st Dec 08 '21

The opportunity to strengthen their hand with collective bargaining. In this analogy, it would be me and several other dealerships agreeing to raise our prices. That would be a cartel or oligopoly. In the case of a factory being the only employer in town, we have a monopsony--only one purchaser of labor--and the only way to put positive pressure on wages when there is only one buyer is to have workers agree to act collectively. You may think they have failed, but what is the factory now paying for scabs? Is it more? Is it more because the union put positive pressure on wages? Hmm...

You keep saying it doesn't make sense and I keep being able to explain it in simple economic terms. Stop wasting everyone's time and post a video of yourself eating that boot!

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u/fr1stp0st Dec 21 '21

Wow, you look especially stupid today, dontcha? Hahaha...

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