400 Walkout from Hershey factory

About 400 foreign students walked out of the Hershey factory on Palmyra, PA. They complained about working conditions, regarding the pay they receive. As part of the program they are required to work for $8.35 per hour. Their living accommodations and program fees are deducted from their paychecks. They are upset about this and decided to walk off the job.

They come to America, work for 2 months, learn English as part of their Visa's. Hershey says they save 8% by hiring these people, not having to pay Social Security and taxes helps the companies in this.

Here are my thoughts... YAY!!! now we have about 400 openings for AMERICAN workers!! WTG!! Thanks for the walk out!! You want to complain about the amount of money you are making and the money that is deducted from your paycheck? Try raising kids on that money, paying your bills, finding a way back and forth to work, and still manage to get to work on time! We Americans do it EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR!!

When my daughter heard the whopping $8.35 per hour, she was ready to pack her bags and move to PA!! She said she could make things work at that per hour!! She was only making $7.40 per hour. That's .95 cents more!! Who couldn't use an extra $40 bucks a week!

Maybe they'll go home and tell their family and friends the propaganda they see in their home Countries are a bunch of bunk! American streets aren't paved in gold and everyone doesn't have 2 cars and a big house! And the wages? They stink on ice too!

WELCOME TO AMERICA!!!

Comments: 22

Pamela Marks Aug 18, 2011, 10:47pm UTC

Good post and I sure hope they hire Americans for the job

Sweet S. Aug 18, 2011, 10:54pm UTC

Thanks!! You can bet come tomorrow those unemployed will be beating a path the Hershey's door!! Quick like and in a hurry!! Too bad I live so far away, I know I'd be knocking on Hershey's door!

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dee b. Aug 18, 2011, 10:53pm UTC

I'm glad they walked. They were given an golden opportunity, and blew it. I pray that Americans can get those jobs now.

Sweet S. Aug 18, 2011, 11:03pm UTC

Oh me too!! They complained they had to work faster... Umm, yeah.. it happens, get your act together and WORK people!! It ain't easy making $8.35 an hour!

There is a shoe factory on the east coast that is doing it's darnedest to keep it's doors open to keep people working. So the WORKERS have decided since the company was working to keep the jobs here in America, they would do their part and make production go faster! To me that is the American Spirit getting it's act together!

New Balance is the name of the shoe company. They have gotten a bit of bad press. I won't mention it on here. But darn it!! At least they are trying! It cost so much to produce items, if the workers don't make 'production' levels then they lose money. So the workers are working harder... On their own, not being forced. They are doing to keep their jobs.

dee b. Aug 18, 2011, 11:27pm UTC

I commend the people of that company as well as the company itself. You rarely ever hear things like this anymore. And yes indeed that is the true American Spirit! Wish there was more of it.

Sweet S. Aug 19, 2011, 8:44am UTC

I know, usually you hear of people who get angry that their pay isn't enough, the working conditions are too hard etc.. Right here by me we have some factories that get up in the 100's during the summer months. The people work hard, they sweat a lot. The company offers them plenty of water and they get a break every 2 hours... Their doing the best they can, and the people are trying to keep up production. Jobs are just too hard to come by in Michigan!

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Tessa D. Aug 18, 2011, 11:07pm UTC

hurray!

Sweet S. Aug 18, 2011, 11:14pm UTC

I hope they don't expect any sympathy from us! Maybe we should all write Hershey and tell them "Hire American's, they WANT to work!!"

Tessa D. Aug 18, 2011, 11:16pm UTC

exactly

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Stephannie H. Aug 18, 2011, 11:19pm UTC

you got that right

Sweet S. Aug 19, 2011, 8:46am UTC

Waiting to see what happens in the news today regarding this!!

Betty S. Aug 25, 2011, 8:35pm UTC

I sure wouln't count on Americans being empoloyed if working condition which is over thare as bad as it is now.I live in a poultry producing and processing area and we are overun by people from mexico.We have Americans that has been without jobs so long thier unemployment has run out and no jobs,

Sweet S. Aug 25, 2011, 8:44pm UTC

I did get a response from Hershey to my letter. In that area they don't have enough people to fill the jobs. These are temp jobs for production purposes. They will no longer be using these types of employees.

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J W. Aug 19, 2011, 8:53am UTC

hope the jobs go to some americans

Sweet S. Aug 19, 2011, 9:08am UTC

Actually I just wrote to Hershey on the 'contact' area on their website imploring them to hire American workers!!

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RedBird. B. Aug 19, 2011, 7:17pm UTC

I have always thought that 'something' Good could come out of a Bad sisutation.
Well, I say Let the Americans have there jobs!

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Bloo P. Aug 25, 2011, 5:16pm UTC

I have to say, I cannot believe how low the average minimum wage is in the US compared to the UK! Although I don't know how to account for exchange rates or anything, so....

Sweet S. Aug 25, 2011, 7:04pm UTC

What is the minimum wage for the UK? Just out of curiosity...

Bloo P. Aug 26, 2011, 4:34am UTC

The main rate (for those 21 and over) is £5.93, which is over $9.50 an hour

Sweet S. Aug 26, 2011, 5:44pm UTC

Wow!! Actually that is really good!! Ours here is $7.40 per hour... very difficult to make ends meet with this amount.

Bloo P. Aug 26, 2011, 6:23pm UTC

I don't quite know what I'd do to be honest :/

Sweet S. Aug 26, 2011, 7:54pm UTC

we have people who are piling into housing accommodations with others to try and make ends meet. Some are just barely scraping by. A lot have lost hope and that is the saddest part.

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400 Walkout from Hershey factory

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