American Jobs Are Not Created Equal
James Dugan
Irish Philadelphia Photo EssaysThe back to school shopping must get done and the deals are all around. Though I think August 2nd is intolerably too early to think about crisp Fall mornings or soggy tuna fish sandwiches, my wife and I decided to conquer the list of school supplies. I prolonged the trip until after lunch, and that offered my wife time to develop a longer agenda with multiple stops. The Internet has done great things for world peace, but it has done even more for occupying the mind of frugal shoppers. Without any hope of accomplishing anything more of the day, I placed my ball cap on and slumped out the door to the sounds of cheers waiting for me in the car.
I was not looking for the working person’s struggle or even to make a buy American statement on this trip. In fact, after Congress had decided that not taxing the wealthy to balance the budget or close the deficit gap was a fair idea, I was pretty dishearten in government and decided to give myself a week before I celebrated our AAA credit status. As I turned into Khols parking lot, two men greeted me with a pamphlet stating that Khols was using out of state electricians to work in the local store. The full message is below:
Hit the Target – Boycott Kohls
Just because Khols missed the target in our community does not mean you have to. Khols is allowing the destruction of our community standards by importing out of state workers to perform electrical work at their Baltimore Pike store. In an effort to reap greater profits Khols has hired Sun Edison from Beltsville Maryland. Sun Edison does not pay their employees the wages or provide the benefits that Federal and State authorities say are standard for our area. Khols is way off target disrespecting local tradesmen by allowing cheap out of state labor. Please call Kevin Mansell President and CEO of Kohls at 262-703-7000 and tell him you are on target when it comes to the well being of the community and will continue to be on target by boycotting Kohls.
Please Support Businesses that Support the Community
Boycott Kohls
Distributed by IBEW LU 98. This message is intended for the general public. Please do not litter, stop work or deliveries.
I was just looking for school bags and pencils, but what I found was a moral dilemma. Should I shop at a place where they import out of state workers with lower living standards? It is easy to profess that I support American workers and jobs over foreign competitors and their lack of standards, but what if the choice is between choosing different Americans for the jobs. Are our standards of work and living here in Delaware county different than in Beltsville, Maryland? Are there so few employment opportunities that Americans must compete against Americans?
Sun Edison seems to be a reputable company invested in new forms of energy and producing green jobs for Americans. Khols is using American workers to do the job and they do hire local to fulfill their in store duties. While unions do protect a living wage and good benefits for its collective, I do not believe Maryland has such a different life style that Khols is committing an atrocity against local workers. The balance between Khols’ bottom line and its reputation in the area is precarious and Kevin Mansell has rolled the dice. For my part, I chose not to buy anything at Khols because I want my money to stay here in Delaware County and I respected the men who were bearing the August heat for their beliefs. I guess I have to be careful when I say I support American workers, because not all American life styles are equal, and the people must decide, not corporations.
A little bit later in the day, I was at Target. My son was choosing a lunch bag for the coming year. All he cared about was that it had Star Wars on the cover. I found one that said “Made in America” and coerced him into buying it. I should have been proud at our patriotic decision but all I kept wondering if it was made in Beltsville, Maryland.
Reader Comments (3)
Did you have to put up a picture of John Dougherty? It is like an arrow through my heart. Seriously, I got the the pamphlet this morning, and I face the same problem that you do. I shop at Kohl's all of the time. Now that I can't, I don't know what to do. I would never cross a picket line or shop where I am not supposed to, but this time it is going to be really difficult. I will comply with the boycott but I know that I am going to get a 30% discount coupon in the mail soon and my morality will be tested.
April Mae,
I can't say I didn't have you in mind a little bit when I chose the picture. But my Irish overwhlemed my sensitivities. I hope you will forgive me.
The picture reminded me of my Irish heritage too - the part of me that can hold a grudge for a very long time. (Not against you, of course.) I guess I can more easily accept this boycott because Khol's hiring of out of state workers has a direct impact on my family. Previously, Khol's hired 98 electricians - my brother worked at that very store. Now, many of my family members are out of work, including him. Some of these electricians have been out of work for close to two years. The boycott is not about trying to deny work to another American - it is about trying to ensure that corporations do not try to increase their profits by undermining prevailing wage standards. I will support the boycott because I truly believe that right now only Unions are fighting this battle.