Georgia Pacific Test Ruled Discriminatory

forbes.com ^ | 08/09/07 | AP

[muawiyah]

The "clean house" approach to paper/pulp mill operations is rather traditional. It cleans out the deadwood ~ and boy do those places pile up deadwood. At the same time it eliminates everyone who knows how to run the plants to the requirements of the paper standards they're supposed to manufacture.

The consequence is bad paper, and bad paper results in bad mail, and bad mail results in mailers having to pay higher postage rates because the USPS is well equipped to detect those deviations from standard.

So, yeah, the investment firm earns more than 30% on its investment while screwing their customers.

Even the Russians can make stuff to those standards.

I'd sell my GA Pac stock now if I had any.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Too late. Koch owns it all.
I was at a big mill south of here, calling on the power plant manager and was waiting to get through the security gate. There was a guy in safety glasses, hard hat and ear plugs, holding a garden hose, washing down the sidewalk.
Ten feet away, another guy, hardhat, safety glasses, etc., was watching the guy with the hose. He was the supervisor.

[Teacher317]

Bullseye

[visualops]

I said “protected from what? learning to read?” I was being sarcastic :)

[gcruse]

“often promotes rather than hiring upper-level workers from outside - and literacy is important for higher level jobs.”

I have to admit that’s pretty weak tea. Just don’t make poor readers vice presidents.

[festus]

To win the suit they had to claim blacks are illiterate.

So then is it ok to repeat that claim or will one get reeducated if one does ?

[TheBattman]

So, now the list of things you cannot “discriminate” against in hiring is being illiterate? What’s next?

[eyedigress]

A Paper Mill seems like it could be dangerous. Especially if your illiterate or can’t comprehend what your reading. I guess Motorola will be next. OSHA should have some say in this to the DOL.

[Snoitan5]

At GP, utility workers have varied job requirements,many of which involve using caustic chemicals. After a specified time in that position, employees are eligible to apply for any other position in the mill. The paper making process is one that employs a lot of technology and a lot of potentially deadly chemicals. Functional literacy is vital. Training can’t cover every possible exposure, despite what OSHA and the government try to regulate. GP also promotes from within from hourly to salary. I am employed at a GP mill that makes similar products to Port Hudson. Over 50% of our salary force was promoted from the hourly work force. Our current owner, Koch, strives for compliance with all regulatory issues. That may be why Port Hudson didn’t pursue the lawsuit. Just my educated $0.02.

(Snoitan5’s wife)

[muawiyah]

Probably why ~ at the same time all mills are not the same. Just guessing they don't make humidity sensitive product there.

I'd just bet that none of the utility workers at that paper/pulp mill in LA are going to end up as President of Koch/GP.

[muawiyah]

Regarding your question of "when we turned over to government", blah, blah, blah ~ that happened when Koch/GP made a contract with the federal government.

Just like Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot and other major buyers of goods and services, the government has its standards. If you want the contract you meet the standards.

Remember, the reason for the audit was because of the contract with the company ~ this didn't just come out of the blue.