B&H Got Some 'Splaining To Do

[limr]

And not for nothin', but this is not the first time B&H has been sued for mistreatment of and discrimination against their workers. They settled a massive discrimination suit in 2007 and are still in the middle of several more filed since then.

 

[JacaRanda]

I'm always interested in how much and how often undocumented workers are blamed versus employers that knowingly and willingly hire them.

 

[rexbobcat]

I mean, you work in a damn camera store after all, yet you can't manage to get one picture of the said infractions?

I imagine a lot of people who work in the warehouse can't afford the equipment, and can't afford to potentially lose their jobs. Working in the warehouse doesn't necessarily mean they can just go through the merchandise with ease.

I mean, a manual labor worker wouldn't do well to potentially cause waves, because they're on the lowest part of the totem pole within the company and could be terminated and any record of the company's infraction could be wiped away without a hitch.

And if they came forward personally to the news or whomever, then that story would be attached to their name, making it more difficult to find a new job since no company wants, for lack of a better word, a snitch for an employee.

It's weird that we've become so intimately attached to these multi-million dollar companies that we can't fathom them doing shitty things, even though the opposite has been proven time and time again.

 

[rexbobcat]

I'm always interested in how much and how often undocumented workers are blamed versus employers that knowingly and willingly hire them.

Ummmm, don't you know

 

[rexbobcat]

"The men, many of whom are undocumented..."

Well, there ya' go. If they weren't here, they wouldn't be having these problems.

I don't want to give this a political slant, but it's part of the article referenced. I've no sympathy for them if their allegations are true (and I don't necessarily believe they are).

Also, let's consider the source. Al Jazeera being critical of a Jewish owned company?

Shocking.

Something tells me you don't ever actually read Al Jazeera America, because if you did you'd realize that it's probably one of the more high quality sources of news we have in the West.

But I just knew, kneewwww that the Muslim/Jewish thing was going to pop up eventually. It was inevitable, because the Arabs are obviously compelled to sling mud at Jews in every context, even if the source has had more comprehensive, objective, and informative news than ANY European or American news outlet.

But then again, I forgot about the Arab/Muslim hivemind that makes them hate everyone who's not of the same race/religion, so how could we ever trust them? American values. Trump 2016.

 

[Braineack]

i dont like my job. i know, ill complain instead of getting a better one.

 

[rexbobcat]

i dont like my job. i know, ill complain instead of getting a better one.

Do you think people working in a warehouse have many options? Especially in a place like New York City? If the poor work environment exists, getting a new job just helps perpetuate it by letting it settle onto the next person.

 

[limr]

i dont like my job. i know, ill complain instead of getting a better one.

Do you think people working in a warehouse have many options? Especially in a place like New York City? If the poor work environment exists, getting a new job just helps perpetuate it by letting it settle onto the next person.

Exactly. This is true regardless of their legal status as well. For an unskilled worker to just get another job is not as easy as one might think, and I'm sure they have already spent years putting up with a lot of crappy work conditions. However, if these allegations turn out to be true, this would not be just a matter of workers being whiny and complaining or the job being physically demanding. It would be a matter of the company actively violating safety regulations and abusing their workers. That's not the same thing as having a rude boss or an uncomfortable chair.

 

[nycphotography]

It did say they tried to get a comment from B&H but we're denied/ignored.

I'm speculating here but I'd say all employees have been banned from talking to the media unless an authorised representative. Any job I've been in has had this as a condition of my employment. Obviously the ones fighting management don't care so much for this rule right now.

And these people don't work in a camera store. They work in a warehouse. The closest they come to handling a camera is the picture on the outside of the box.

Riiight. They checked off the "asked B&H to comment [X]" box. Therefore their responsibility for presenting balanced journalism has been met. Riiiight.

Anyone smart enough to be accepted into any journalism program should be smart enough to understand that no company is going to comment on any matter where there litigation. And anyone who graduated from one has no excuse whatsoever. Not gonna happen. So using that "no comment" as the other side of any story is either disengeneous, retarded, or just plan lazy.

Although it would be easy to go with the implied political motives of assuming disengeneous, I rather suspect it is a combination of retarded and lazy. Too retarded to realize they have been lazy in their attempt to present the complete picture required for a balanced story.

The sad part isn't what the writer produced. The sad part is that the editors let it go out as is, especially considering how desperately AlJazeera wants to be taken seriously.

Even without pursing the other side, dig deeper into the side you have. What EVIDENCE have you collected other than the story you are telling?

Again, as I said initially, this is a pathetic effort at journalism.

And I have no idea if B&H is evil as charged. None whatsoever. My only takeaway from this is that some warehouse workers are upset, but not upset enough to bother to collect evidence and documentation that can be presented to the media or the courts, and therefore, I still have NO IDEA if B&H is evil.

Oh, and that if this sad example is indicative of the kind of effort one can expect from AjJazeera, then they are hardly deserving of first world consideration.

 

[nycphotography]

Do you think people working in a warehouse have many options? Especially in a place like New York City? If the poor work environment exists, getting a new job just helps perpetuate it by letting it settle onto the next person.

I know there are many many warehouses, and other jobs are available. Does it require some effort and risk to make a change? Of course.

If you mean to imply that ALL warehouse jobs are equally horrid, then I would suggest that writer missed the point entirely, and should be dealing with warehouse jobs IN GENERAL, rather than on B&H.

I'm still stuck on the complete lack of evidence. The story is based entirely on what a few disgruntled employees ALLEGED. No effort expended on digging deeper. None.

 

[The_Traveler]

I've seen both bad employers and bad unions so I'm going to continue to buy from B&H until all the facts are in.
Otherwise I'm letting myself be influenced by rumor and one-sided allegations.

 

[Braineack]

i dont like my job. i know, ill complain instead of getting a better one.

Do you think people working in a warehouse have many options? Especially in a place like New York City? If the poor work environment exists, getting a new job just helps perpetuate it by letting it settle onto the next person.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Home

Honestly, it sounds like B&H needs to relocate to a different area with a better worker pool.

 

[nycphotography]

Something tells me you don't ever actually read Al Jazeera America, because if you did you'd realize that it's probably one of the more high quality sources of news we have in the West.

If THIS is an example of "high quality journalism" then.... I...

I....



Well...



Sorry... I can find no words suitable.

 

[waday]

Let's play a game to see how many ignorant comments can be made...

 

[limr]

Assuming that B&H is guilty based on one article is the same mistake as assuming this to be shody journalism based on one article. Not all details of a lawsuit are available to the press. Maybe there IS evidence of these abuses but we don't get to know about that yet because of the legalities of releasing information and evidence of an ongoing lawsuit. Perhaps they are still tied up in evidentiary hearings and endless motions/legal posturings. Or perhaps the evidence isn't there after all. No one knows this after reading one article. But hey, if you want assume facts and jump to conclusions, knock yourself out.