Hershey's

[a2j]

http://youtu.be/8-h8EBP0JSs

I personally know one guy that appears in this video a few times. Video, obviously, does not tell everything...

[stealthify]

Maybe I'm just feeling a bit callous today, but is this video basically about people that decided to come to America in order to partake in unskilled labor, and they're upset because they're getting paid unskilled labor wages and having to work in the conditions usually associated with that?

To give them the benefit of a doubt, were they tricked into working at Hershey's? Were they promised a managerial position or something other than packing boxes? Did any of them do any actual research on the likely tasks they would be doing?

[a2j]

let me fill in some background...
some of those workers, paid all of their money (and then some) to come and work at US (Hershey's). This is some kind of summer exchange student program, or whatever. Because of this, Hershey's don't have to pay taxes (or some of them). They came legally. Average weekly pay is little over $100. after all of "mandatory" deductions (like housing, transportation, etc) that you can not opt out of, ~$8/hour. They were told that if they will strike, they will be deported without any chance to get back in US at all, ever. Hershey's and organizers of this exchange program make money on these students. New students come and go every 4 months. This was going on for ever.
Like I said, video does not say enough, and I just unable to tell everything right now.

[stealthify]

Still doesn't quite add up.

I'm not sure what the living conditions are like where most of these exchange students are from (they do state third-world a few times), but if Hersey's is paying room and board here in America, transportation, etc, and paying them $100/week on top of that, they're basically getting paid the same as our domestic minimum wage workers.

The video doesn't specifically state where the 3-4 grand per student goes in order for them to join the student exchange program. I'd imagine a lot of this goes towards round-trip international airfare, temporary moving expenses, government paperwork, etc. This needs to be clarified.

[UTRacerX9]

The video doesn't specifically state where the 3-4 grand per student goes in order for them to join the student exchange program. I'd imagine a lot of this goes towards round-trip international airfare, temporary moving expenses, government paperwork, etc. This needs to be clarified.

Bingo. Friend of mine from Brazil came over and did this same type of thing, working at Disney in Orlando. He and a bunch of other students basically lived in a dorm type building, not too far from Disney. (If you look into how much a hotel room costs anywhere near Disney, you'll see it's VERY expensive.) A bus/shuttle came and picked them up for their shift, and the rest of the time when they weren't working, they could do whatever they wanted. He had a great time.

EDIT: A quick search shows that a round trip flight from RIO to Miami is about $2000. That obviously doesn't include Visa fees, passport fees, etc.

[AgentOblivious]

J-1 visa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They were there on J-1 visas, and were there as university students, expecting a placement/travel...its bad when they're coming from China and saying that your work conditions suck...also, old news.

[a2j]

iirc, there ware deducted $400 per month for a room/apartment. 4 people per apartment. $1600, imho a "little" too much. you could move out, but they would still deduct those $400...

[stealthify]

iirc, there ware deducted $400 per month for a room/apartment. 4 people per apartment. $1600, imho a "little" too much. you could move out, but they would still deduct those $400...

What are the living conditions like in these condos/apartments? 4 bedroom? Utilities included? Good location?

Around here, in the middle of nowhere, a 4 bedroom apartment with utilities, worry-free and included transportation, etc for four individuals could easily cost over $1200-$1600/mo. A one bedroom apartment alone costs around $600-$750.

If this is an issue over making these deductions mandatory, I don't think Hershey's is to blame for this. This is more likely about government regulations made to ensure non-immigrant workers live healthily and safely while they complete their exchange program.

Thank me if I'm right, grill me if I'm wrong.

[vr4chick]

What are the living conditions like in these condos/apartments? 4 bedroom? Utilities included? Good location?

Around here, in the middle of nowhere, a 4 bedroom apartment with utilities, worry-free and included transportation, etc for four individuals could easily cost over $1200-$1600/mo. A one bedroom apartment alone costs around $600-$750.

If this is an issue over making these deductions mandatory, I don't think Hershey's is to blame for this. This is more likely about government regulations made to ensure non-immigrant workers live healthily and safely while they complete their exchange program.

Thank me if I'm right, grill me if I'm wrong.

Hershey is a nice, clean and pretty city. They should stop complaining. Look at the homeless in this country.

[AgentOblivious]

Hershey is a nice, clean and pretty city. They should stop complaining. Look at the homeless in this country.

I bet you'd be pissed too if you paid $4000 for what you thought would be a learning opportunity related to your field of study, with a chance to see the sights, and ended up being Hershey's discount factory worker...it doesn't matter what the apartments were like.