Comments on: Iowa: Trouble at Rubashkin?

By: Itzik_s

Itzik_s — Sun, 20 May 2007 07:08:02 +0000

This is not about being a decent boss. This is about unions, which allow the workers, who are easy to replace as they are unskilled labor (and who are very happy when not prodded to say otherwise by shochad and threats from union organizers), to essentially boss the boss around. And because there is the threat of seeming chilul Hashem (as defined by a kook kabal consisting of fad of the month liberal Jews who may not even be Jewish al pi halacha, the Conservative movement, PETA, a couple of die hard Lubavitch bashers,, and some left wing Conservadox who don’t know their right from their left), Rubashkin is really put in a bad position by the unions and their Forward lackeys.

Avraham Aharon (“Aaron”) Rubashkin came to the US as a refugee himself and started with a little store, which is still around on 14th Avenue, and a little restaurant on 13th which is now a “cover” for a one woman chessed operation named Mrs (Rivka?) Rubashkin.

One day, one of his former workers may well open a Mexican frozen food business with meat and assistance from Rubashkin’s treyf operation (from which they sell the 70% or so of cattle that are rejected after shechita), because that is how America works. The unions, whose time passed generations ago, profit by keeping workers from getting ahead and from polarizing them against management. For the unions to succeed, not only do the workers have to be kept unskilled, but so do their children. Otherwise, there is no new membership.

And one of the reasons only immigrants will work in a slaughterhouse is that unions have spoiled the old American blue collar worker and priced his labor out of the range of anyone who wants to make a profit. That’s why not one stitch of clothing I own is made in the US anymore, even though much of it has American brand names. Now, the union wants to price immigrants out of the market by raising wages so they can squeeze the workers and bosses alike for dues.

As it is, Rubashkin, and Alle, its main competitor, both have South American operations. If Rubashkin leaves Postville, it won’t be Rubashkin that suffers, nor will it be the kosher consumer. It will be the workers employed there, and Postville, which the firm brought back to life. And shoichtim will have to travel back and forth to Argentina and Uruguay for parnosso, as many Israeli shoichtim already do.

By: binah

binah — Sun, 20 May 2007 01:53:23 +0000

the bottom line is, if you wanna have good workers, you gotta treat them right. because if you don’t, eventually it will all catch up with you. and here, you have a jewish/religious company and it is a Chillul Hashem to everyone out there and especially to all the employees who weren’t compensated properly. it aint worth it. if you are a boss of one worker or multiple workers, be a nice boss. it is worth it all at the end of the day.

By: dflate

dflate — Fri, 18 May 2007 22:33:15 +0000

The Forward has a long history of anti-frum bias. On the other hand it’s reporting tends to be fairly accurate, but as a result of its anti-frum bias its reporting will be often incomplete and slanted.
To ignore the Forward completely is difficult.
Nevertheless, anything posted from the Forward, needs an opposing article with it or it must be ignored because of its inherent bias and it reference it in a vaccum is irresponsible.

By: matzahlocaol101

matzahlocaol101 — Fri, 18 May 2007 20:50:11 +0000

This is basically incitement from outside groups who would like to see their union get a foothold in Agriprocessors. One of the supervisors (2 years ago) came to management and told them he wanted the union to come in. They asked him how long do you work here? He told them. The management explained since he doesn’t have seniority in terms of years, if the union came in, he would be out of a job and someone with more time then him would fill it. The supervisor threw the rabblerousers out.
As far conservative schechitah goes, you know it’s a joke, they know it’s a joke, I know it’s a joke and their main criteria is…. it should be humane! After shechitah the lack of blood flowing to the animals brain numbs it in seconds. The actual schechitah, is the animal isn’t excited, happens so fast with a knife that is so sharp, the animal doesn’t know what happened. It usually sits there for a while pondering. The Peta video shows animals flopping around as if they were Tote shikur. Lack of oxygen to the brain, alcohol, carbon monoxide poisoning all produce the same results. The animal feels nothing. As a side note the animals loving hypocrites at PETA kill about 2000 animals a year at their Virginia Headquartes and spend $35,000 a year incinerating the dead carcasses.

By: iknowit

iknowit — Fri, 18 May 2007 18:48:52 +0000

I fully agree, News that you may not like to hear is as news worthy as a MVA in Flatbush.
To set the record striaght, Rubashkin is well known for questionable activity in all areas not only in AgriPrcessor. The employee rights as well as the Kashrus has been in question for a while.

By: Chaim Yankel

Chaim Yankel — Fri, 18 May 2007 18:27:03 +0000

OK.. This is something that affects the frum community , so why not on this blog? It is a valid discussion that revoloves around many areas of halacha.

I will state that I don’t think this “Tzedeck Hechsher” will get anywhere, as the Conservative constituants that do keep Kosher, haven’t really revolted about these labor issues, and teh rest of the Conservatives don’t keep Kosher and this won’t change their minds. So, no company will bother with it.

In terms of bashing the Forward. I certainly wouldn’t say that they have the mind or thoughts of the frum reader in mind, but what makes you think that their motivation is anti-frum? Simply because they happen to have issues with a single particluar company? Have they come out against kashrus? Shabbos? Anything else?

Maybe they actaully care about the rights of employees, Jewish or not? There any hundreds of Halachos that deal with how to treat employees, and yes even slaves, that are not Jewish. No, halacha doesn’t require one to allow a union, but it does require to pay fairly, in accordance with civil laws.

And yes, I have spoken with people that have been at the Agri plant, numerous times. Yes, frum people. Yes, Rabbonim. The basic concenses is that although the schechita is Kosher, there is much work that can be done to prevent much Chilul Hashem.

By: mark levin

mark levin — Fri, 18 May 2007 18:24:31 +0000

Pooper has a long standing vendetta against Rubashkin and Yiddin in general.

I would like to see all rabbonim put him in cherem which means even the “na, I wouldnt read that trash” crowd would not touch it.

You prob have to wash your hands and go to the mikva after touching it!

By: sephardicpride

sephardicpride — Fri, 18 May 2007 17:38:27 +0000

This is getting me nervous as to where yeshivaworld is deriving their info from? I hope more reliable sources then the forward.

By: art

art — Fri, 18 May 2007 17:25:25 +0000

Why is this on this blog?

By: berg1119

berg1119 — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:29:55 +0000

CLARIFICATION

IMHO Rubashkin is right