[Diana in Wisconsin]

Any PA Freepers effected by this?

[Retired Chemist]

I remember visiting Hershey years ago when they actually allowed tours of the plant. They cut those tours out because of safety considerations.

[Chode]

$15.20 to push a broom... and they wonder why they are losing their jobs!!!

[floozy22]

“Pennsylvania manufacturers need the state government to wise up,” Taylor said. “Fiscal discipline is the first and most necessary step.”... That means limiting government spending, which has increased 28 percent during Gov. Ed Rendell’s tenure, he said, adding that limits on lawsuit abuse are also needed.... Forbes magazine recently ranked Pennsylvania as the 43rd most business-friendly state.

And of course, all of the blockheads who voted for the clown have themselves to thank. Yes, I'd bet even many of those union workers voted for the crook. Too bad the US loses jobs, but union members usually vote democratic. Our governor's performance in office has been beyond dismal, he's a complete failure.

[Lancey Howard]

Taylor said Pennsylvania’s overall business climate is “not good.” While a national manufacturing recession began in 2000 and ended in July 2003, Pennsylvania’s slump has continued, with a net loss of more than 200,000 jobs since July 2000. “Pennsylvania manufacturers need the state government to wise up,” Taylor said. “Fiscal discipline is the first and most necessary step.” That means limiting government spending, which has increased 28 percent during Gov. Ed Rendell’s tenure, he said, adding that limits on lawsuit abuse are also needed. Forbes magazine recently ranked Pennsylvania as the 43rd most business-friendly state.
_________________________________________________

Democrat Governor Ed Rendell is in the pocket of the "jackpot justice" trial lawyers, so tort reform ain't happening. And he's begging for tax increases, so rule out a better business climate or an improving economy. But hey, killing the economy is a major part of the Democrat game plan anyway.

When the economy tanks and people lose their jobs, homes, and savings, they become dependent on government handouts and eventually become addicted to government. And, like drug addicts keep going back to their dealers for a fix, government addicts will likewise keep going back to THEIR dealers. That would be Democrat politicians.

Sabotaging the economy is not suicidal for the Democrats - - it's what they strive for. It's job security.
This ain't rocket surgery.....

[kcvl]

How do sugar makers get away with charging that much for sugar? They make sure the government keeps the world’s sugar out of the United States. The U.S. government allows each country’s sugar growers to sell only a certain amount of sugar into the United States. These quotas artificially limit the supply of sugar Americans can buy. This drives up not only the price of a bag of sugar but also of candy bars, soda, and any other food that contains sugar. From 1998 until 2004, American consumers have paid an average of about $1.8 billion more for food annually because of these import quotas. The General Accounting Office (GAO) also estimated that almost half that money goes to large sugar growers, such as the Fanjuls.


The family, through its company Flo-Sun, Inc., and many related companies such as Florida Crystals, controls about one-third of Florida’s sugar production. The Fanjuls, together with their elder in the sugar industry, U.S. Sugar, own a majority of the cane fields in south Florida. These massive corporations might not exist–indeed there might be no sugar cane industry in Florida at all–were it not for corporate welfare.


Enter the next government program from which the Fanjul’s benefit: the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA loans all sugar growers 18 cents for every pound of cane sugar they grow, and beet sugar farmers get about 23 cents a pound. In recent years, these loans have averaged more than $8 billion annually, with the Fanjuls’ receiving an estimated $65 million.


http://tinyurl.com/2mg3ja

[kcvl]

Mary Landrieu:


As it is currently written, this trade agreement
would have a serious and harmful affect on sugar producers in my state.

The sugar industry of Louisiana is not only the economic life blood of
many communities, it is a way of life and a part of who we are.

Mr. Chairman, many of my concerns over this proposed trade
agreement were summed up in a recent letter from Louisiana Governor
Kathleen Blanco to President Bush. Governor Blanco urged the
President to withdraw the trade deal for one simple reason:

CAFTA will
equal job loss and financial despair for 27,000 Louisiana sugar workers
and farmers.

“The economic impact of CAFTA and other bi-lateral trade
agreements on the state will be disastrous. Louisiana stands to lose $750
million in direct sugar sales, as well as $2 billion in industry-related
revenue each year.”

[freekitty]

Welcome to the real corporate world. Like the profits for these companies don't already do well. I believe it to be discrimination beyond belief. It is also destroying the middle class. I have heard some of the companies will pay managers bonuses per person they get rid of. That's insane.

[UnklGene]

[<1/1,000,000th%]

While a national manufacturing recession began in 2000 and ended in July 2003, Pennsylvania’s slump has continued, with a net loss of more than 200,000 jobs since July 2000.

Everyone's giving away Clinton's secrets.

[Domandred]

By shifting production to Mexico, Hershey can buy sugar at the world price, which in turn can make its product pricing more competitive

I'm sorry but I don't believe for a minute pricing is going to be "more competitive". Companies that go for cheap labor are only going for greater profit margins, not so they can lower prices.

[lowbridge]

And when employees for a new plant to be built in Monterrey, Mexico, are factored in, the actual number of job losses at the company’s U.S. and Canadian plants could total 3,000.

And yet the Mexicans are coming here?

I can see the gringo americans illegally invading mexico, chasing after this factory.

[TomSmedley]

We visited the Hershey museum in 1990 with our oldest two kids, and really enjoyed the experience. Hope we can do so with the younger two.

Is the museum still in operation?

[TomSmedley]

The reason for the workers’ lack of information is simple, Hummel said. Hershey’s administration “is out for the stockholders.”

Yet the majority stockholder is an orphanage.

[rabidralph]

You better stock up on chocolate, just in case :-)

[dforest]

The whole Hershey operation should be moved to the Chocolate City. What an advertising campaign and a boost to the Chocolate city economy.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Consumer: "As long as the chocolate is made to the same standards who cares if it comes from Mexico, China, or Timbuktu? All the better if it's cheaper!"

Hershey Employee: "But I don't want to move and live where global warming melts chocolate faster than terrorists can blow a New Orleans dyke."

[bannie]

Does anyone else remember the Smothers Brothers' song, "I Fell Into a Vat of Chocolate"?

[RobRoy]

Geeze. Could these guys whine any worse. I've been in a company that was bought and we were all let go - eventually.

I put out my resume as soon as it was even REMOTELY apparent that an axe was going to fall.