Who remembers the above catch phrase ? it was an advert for Bernard Mathews turkey products, everyone was saying it and it was the owner of the firm Bernard himself who did the advert, quite a long time ago. He came across as a good natured hayseed farmer, a real salt of the earth type of man.
Some years after that advert he was in the news again as a ruthless union busting boss who sacked and intimidated his workforce and scared them off from forming a union, I relate this now because today's turkey cull reminded me of him and also why not one of his products has been seen in our house since, we boycotted him, he wasn't alone and still isn't, we have our own blacklist and my memory is very good, this is some of them.
Tunnocks Uddingston - anti union, Yuill N Dodds - coal dispute scabs, compaq computers - anti union, Silent Night Beds - anti union, Nestle - exploiters of 3Rd. world nursing mothers, British Airways Heathrow - exploiting workers in catering - you can make your own list.
Among the bigger players were South Africa under Apartheid, Pinochet's Chile and today we have Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, add in Mothercare, Gap, Matalan and H&M who have all been named as companies who have an appalling record of exploiting 3Rd. world workers, pregnant women small children it's all there in our wonderful Capitalist Casino Society.
The more people who join in the more impact it will have, even if the impact is minor you will feel better - read every label do your homework find out who you are dealing with, do your little bit to help and stop the abuse and exploitation, that cheap shirt is costing someone less well off than us plenty.
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57 comments:
but if you are using market forces to attempt to change how a company behaves is that not proof of the power of the market?
Add to that the banks for selling off offices and outsourcing to India, plus Cadbury for shutting up shop and shipping its work to Poland.
Now did I hear something from Gordon about British jobs for British workers?
(Anonymous) 16:12 -
That's clever, rat like cunning.
But no I see it as proof that working people when they are organised can win.
(Anonymous) 16:16 -
Capitalism does this all over the world but Gordon is clearly to blame in your world.
Terry are you still posting at 4.21pm from a council laptop in the council building? is that not an abuse of council facilities? Tsk Tsk
Should you not be out hammering some Nats or sumfing or going on a hunger strike in support of the low paid in Cuba.
Terry:
Will you be boycotting the Labour Party then for perpetuating this sort of society?
Judging by your picture you don't boycott KFC, Burger King or MacDonalds - all of whom engage in nefarious emplyment practices. No wonder your shirts look a bit tatty.
If you had to boycott every single company on the basis that they "treated an employee a little bit unfairly" you'd starve to death.
Come to think of it - start your hunger strike now Terry. I'm sure you won't be missed.
When was the last time you left the comfort of your sofa to visit a third world country and see what the alternatives are for those being "exploited"? Poverty and starvation? Child prostitution perhaps?
How very "white" of you to assume that people in other countries and cultures want the same things you do.
Your boycott over the last 20 (?) years has clearly had a huge impact on the multi-million pound enterprise that is Bernard Matthews.
You should just admit your boycott (as all boycotts are) is about your selfish motive of showing as publicly as you can how "worthy" you are and not about actually doing anything.
I doubt able to create so many jobs and put real pounds in as many pockets over the years if the place had been crawling with 70s throwback unionists. Luckily, many people can remember the Winter of Discontent and unlike you they view it as a never-to-be-repeated disaster, not a triumph of Union power.
Thank god Socialists will never be in power again.
'our wonderful capitalist Casino society?'
You're likely to lose the whip for that one Cllr - Tessa 'I'm just a silly little woman with no head for figures' Jowett, together with John 'I did not discuss Casinoes with that man at his ranch' Prescott were the movers and shakers behind the gambling initiative.
but they will win by using market forces
(Anonymous) 13/11/07 - I'm communicating with my constituents who enjoy reading my opinions.
(Hawker Harrier) 13/11/07 -
This line of abuse fits in well with your alias. But none of it is worthy of comment.
'Hawker Harrier' wow ! are you a 'batman' sort of guy ?
(The Admiral) 13/11/07 - What world do you live in ? Are you doing OK ?
(Rabbie) 14:08 - I think you've missed the point here.
(Anonymous) 14:58 - Some will, and some won't, that's why Capitalism will eventually fail.
"'Hawker Harrier' wow ! are you a 'batman' sort of guy ?"
Nunununununununu nunununununununu nunununununununu Batman!
but you are using capitalism right now to try to get businesses to change their minds no?
Anon: "Terry are you still posting at 4.21pm from a council laptop in the council building? is that not an abuse of council facilities? Tsk Tsk"
He has to Anon, the libraries take none too kindly to drunks and vagrants wandering in to surf the net.
Edgar) 13/11/07 - It's unused because it was shut to be assessed. - If we can find millions for Ralston, Erskine etc. Then why not Ferguslie which is about &600,000 ? - Labour has transformed Ferguslie. - We don't have the best facilities - why do we need it @ it's in doors it is a multi sports hall it caters for many other projects.
Labour's level of Council tax compares favourably with our family of councils. By saying that the area has money thrown at it and the facilities are unused and abused you show us what you are, a bigot reeking of prejudice.
anon - just daft
(Hawker Harrier) 16:52 I'm amazed at how inadequate some of you people are.
"I'm amazed at how inadequate some of you people are."
Not so, it is the "inadequate" that put themselves forward for election.
And if you ask their partners it is usually because they can no longer maintain one.
(Hawker Siddely) 17:02
Is this what you call debate ? You really are that inadequate aren't you.
Hawker, Harrier, Siddeley - a pattern here perhaps which would explain why you have descended so far.
I wish enjoybody would cut Terry a bit of slack- he has a hard enough time of it already thanks to his lack of opposable thumbs.
I know you will dissagree with this analysis Terry but bear with me:
Companies go to the third world because it is cheaper to get things done there. If it were not they would not bother investing.
Those that work for these companies have a choice of whether to do so or not. It may be low wages but it is better than their other options.
If you make companies pay over the odds they will simply stop investing and these options, (which as above are the best option available to these people), will no longer be available. This would make the poor get poorer.
Therefore, go out and get some new shirts from gap and support the poor in the third world.
"Capitalism will eventually fail."
And Democracy, if your like get their way.
Rumbold - You have given up then ?
(Falco) 10:00 -
The above analysis is only acceptable to a certain kind of person, one who puts personal greed before everything else, one who can justify any amount of exploitation as long as he/she benefits - try joining the human race.
(Anonymous) 13:41 -
Yes it will fail and 'us lot' will bring about a more honest and decent society, one where democracy is not a sham.
If you weren't so thick you'd be dangerous.
What on earth are you talking about 'us lot will bring a more honest, decent society where democracy isn't a sham.'
Cllr, among your heroes we have Castro, Stalin, Honecker, any Black African despot who's taken his country into bankruptcy, Arafat,Ho chi Min, Mao and the Nth Korean lunatic.
For heavens sake, the only ones missing from that lot are Pol Pot and Idi Amin.
Gordon and Wendy are interested in grass roots opinion, so will you confirm that you think the above (except perhaps Pol and Idi) made a better fist of democracy than Labour has over the last ten years?
Terry, I like the 'we' are finding millions for the likes of Ralston and Erskine. Newsflash!! Your not, the SNP admin is.
You lost, remember? The socialist nirvana you dwelled in, has gone. Everyone is now going to get a fair slice of the cake whether you like it or not.
Terry:
No, I have not given up yet. Do you boycott Cuban cigars because of Castro's appalling treatment of pro-democracy protestors?
(Rabbie) 15/11/07 -
You forgot 'jack the ripper' and the guy who shot 'Bambi's mother' is there any chance of you saying anything sensible ?
(Anonymous) 15/11/07 -
I take it that you don't have access to news papers, radio or television then.
You couldn't win without that staunch nationalist Cllr. Mc Cartin could you ?
Rumbold - When are you ever going to get out from underneath that CIA bunnet and think for yourself ?
Terry:
"Rumbold - When are you ever going to get out from underneath that CIA bunnet and think for yourself?"
Perhaps one day, unless Mossad accept my application form. The CIA is a bit left-wing for me these days (heh).
On a serious note, though you are right to boycott organisations you find offensive, the problem surely then becomes that there are so many organisations with issues that you have to boycott all of them as well.
"The above analysis is only acceptable to a certain kind of person, one who puts personal greed before everything else, one who can justify any amount of exploitation as long as he/she benefits - try joining the human race."
I have been a member of the human race for many years. I suggest that you try to gain a basic understanding of economics.
Unless people are being forced to work for these corporations, (i.e. slavery), then why is it immoral to buy the fruits of their labour? These people choose to work for the "evil corporations" because it is the best option available to them. If you forced companies to give them western pay and conditions to operate there then the jobs would vanish. Simply put the work that they do is not as valuable as that done by workers in the west, (better education, logistical considerations, etc).
I am not saying that it makes sense to buy from them because I would benefit, (although that is a perfectly good reason since I am not purchasing the product of slavery), but because the people making the goods benefit. The only way to help these people rise out of poverty, (real not "relative" poverty), is to trade with them.
Standards, (pay and conditions), will gradually rise as they get richer. If you have a better way please let us know but boycotting them will only do them harm.
(Falco) 13:21 - If I say to Mr. Azda I'm not shopping with you until you pay people properly and treat them properly and you and everyone else does the same then Mr. Azda would have no choice.
Your analysis of what is free choice rather gives the game away.
Then Mr. Azda will no longer employ people in poor countries because it will no longer be economical to do so and the people in those countries will be poorer than otherwise.
Is that what you want to happen? If not how do you get around this problem?
Hi again, Terry.
I have never ever smoked, indeed i have never bought a pack of cigarettes for anyone, but in support of your principled stand I'm going to buy a Cuban cigar and flush it down the toilet, so that some poor deluded soul cannot exhale support for these terrible people.
(Falco) 20/11/07 -
Mr. Azda with his already obscene profits will make less but will still be economical.
Mr. Azda and his like will not do this voluntarily, that's why we need Socialism
(Scunnered, O'Aberdein) 20/11/07
- Surely you meant 'scrounge' a cigar ?
Terry, the problem is not that Mr. Azda will make less but that their employees in poor countries will lose their jobs. I know you are enthusiastic for the authoritarian / compulsion side of socialism but how are you going to force Mr. Azda to employ people in a foreign country?
(Falco) 22/11/2007 ..
laws
So, let's get this right Terry...
You are advocating a legal system which forces UK companies to employ people in other countries? In effect you are arguing that our business should be made to send jobs overseas?!?
You plan to legislate for the whole world Terry? Perhaps this post:
http://tinyurl.com/2l4j5z
might help you grasp that the way to end poverty is to buy things made by poor people in poor countries.
(Political Athesist aka Mutt aka ?) 28/11/07 - Silly comment - I’m advocating that we treat people properly and do not exploit them. ‘Our business’ in the capitalist world has been sending jobs abroad throughout history you should try to catch up.
If it can be done by exploiting people somewhere else in the world then our capitalist business leaders are on to it like a rat down a drain.
(Falco) 08:57 Pathetic - we in the West have been exploiting people less powerful than ourselves throughout history, I advocate stopping that, you are an apologist for it.
Terry, that really doesn't make sense. In trading with people who are poorer we are exploiting them no more than they exploit us. We are both of use to each other and it is, therefore, a mutually beneficial relationship. Trade is not a zero sum game, we get cheaper goods and they get money, (and hence a better living standard), that they would otherwise lack.
Why should I apologise for making their and our lives better?
Do go and have a look at this:
http://tinyurl.com/2l4j5z
(Falco) 04/12/07 - are you trying to convince me or yourself. Shameful.
Futile as it may be I am trying to convince you of the fact, (and it is a fact), that your policies will only harm those you profess to be trying to help.
How is it that you are unable to see the downside of your policy? If you can infact see the downside but wish to continue doing it then how can you justify your behavior?
(Falco) 18:03 - Are you trying to tire me out ? I believe in putting an end to exploitation by legislation if we have to, you clearly don’t, the market will sort it out right.
Terry, I am trying to get the fact that by ending the "exploitation" of these people you are condemning them to remain in terrible poverty, through your apparently neutronium skull.
The trade that these people are making are to their advantage or they would be doing something else. Your attempts to regulate this will simply deprive the poor you say you want to help of an opportunity.
(Falco) 10:50 - end their exploitation and condemn them to poverty wow !
Make employers provide proper wages and conditions and they will be better off, yes, there is a certain logic to that.
Terry, if you make their employers bring pay and conditions up to the levels you're after then the companies will have no incitive to give these people jobs. It would be wonderful if we could magicaly give them a western standard of living immediately but then it would also be great if I found a million quid down the back of the sofa.
The only way for them to generate more wealth is to trade and multinationals are a very effective tool to do that. As they generate more wealth, standards will rise but it is inevitably a long process. While I agree with your aims, (presumably to give them a better standard of living), your methods are counterproductive. The people that work for these "evil internationals" are doing so by free choice because the other options are not as good. So I askyou for the last time, why do you want to take something that is of value to these people away from them?
(Falco) 20/12/07 - You are correct about one thing, this is the last time.
Women and children working long hours in dangerous places with no health care and for starvation wages, sacked for being ill, no rights and no power to fight back, accidents ignorance and deaths while those who employ them get richer and richer.
It’s not right is it ? Well that was Britain at one time, then came the unions and workers learned to fight for their rights.
Today the world has the resources to abolish this kind of exploitation we don’t need an industrial revolution to do it, we need the political will, we need the courage to redistribute wealth and get rid of disease and ignorance, by force if necessary. Stop apologising for greed.
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