Doug Grow: Corporation's cold-hearted firings add fuel to unions' fire

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.startribune.com/465/story/1169185.html

Doug Grow: Corporation's cold-hearted firings add fuel to unions' fire

By Doug Grow, Star Tribune

Last update: May 07, 2007 – 9:43 PM

Corporate America continues to try its best to rebuild the battered union movement.

Virginia-based Circuit City, for example, did its part to inspire unionists in March when it fired 3,400 of its highest-paid employees, replacing them with cheaper workers. There was no union protection for any of the people fired -- or hired.

Layoffs seem to be a way of 21st century life. But Circuit City's style was grotesque.

The electronics retail giant dumped its most loyal and senior workers in an effort to knock down wages from as high as $19 an hour to $7.50.

In an act of corporate compassion, Circuit City did say the fired workers would be allowed to apply for Circuit City jobs, at the lower rate.

Not surprisingly, the AFL-CIO looked at Circuit City's action and smelled opportunity.

FULL story at link.

[Deja Q]

1. Andersen windows did the same thing recently...

Chop a number of jobs, then re-port many of them -- at vastly lowered wage offerings.

[driver8]

2. I will never step foot inside a Circuit City again.

I have been telling all of my union co-workers this story...hopefully it will convince them not to shop there, either.