Union fights to keep Goshen plant open

I have a relative whose spouse works at American Crystal Sugar (ACS) in northwest minnesota. They are a farmer owned co-op with a union based labor.

 These people make a nice wage, $20.00 and up, and ACS paid their health insurance. Last summer, ACS and the union were in contract talks. During the process, ACS was offering a pay raise, and also wanting the employees to pay for their own health insurance. These people said NO! I am still amazed that they expect their employer to pay ALL of their health costs while they make over $20 and hour. I have always had to pay for my own health care, like SO MANY other people out there, and the union should be no diffferent. Needless to say, ACS locked them out of their jobs. Most are still unemployed because of it.

It kind of reminded me of Conn-Selmer those few years back. I realize the employees can cry about how management treats them, but when you are making excellent wages, and say NO to a couple of bucks less to pay for your own way (I always equate lower cost health care as a couple of dollars an hour along with the hourly wage)  or to help the company out, then its nothing more than greed to me.

Greed, whether from the employer, union/workers is wrong in my eyes, but I would rather have a job than be without any income, especially in this volatile economy.

Union workers are so clueless it's just heartbreaking.  When you make 32.50 an hour...you are rich.  What are you doing with all your money??  Companies are in the business of making a profit.  Unions have done this to themselves.  The "strike" today shows just how clueless the union member and leaders are.  Um...you don't walk out on your job when they want to move your job to Mexico to begin with...might as well threw fuel on the fire.  Not real smart.