6py7

In the wake of Wal-Mart’s recent labor issues in Minnesota, I am wondering how this is going to play out. Basically, Petters Group Worldwide (who owns Polaroid and a large part of Sun Country Airlines) acquired Metropolitan Media Group. About 50 workers were laid off, and at the same time they were told that they were not going to get the back pay or accrued vacation that they were supposed to get. Nobody in the corporate world seems to care.

In a FAQ given to laid-off employees, one question was “What about my pay?” The response was simply “MMG does not have the resources to make any further payments.” Are you kidding me?

I have no respect for any corporation that shits on its workers like this. If you need to lay people off, fine. That is undesirable, but it is a fact of life. However, don’t fuck them out of money that they earned and deserve.

It appears that the Minnesota Department of Labor is investigating according to a comment on the article. I say good. Andrea Miller, a spokesperson for Petters, has stated that paying the back pay and vacation was just something they couldn’t do under their current business plan. So basically, screwing people out of money is something acceptable in the corporate world if you have a business plan.

From the Cornerstones and Values page at Petter’s website, they state that integrity is one of their core values.

An invitation to an open and frank dialogue based on trust, commitment and truth. We confront problems directly and with respect and we do not misrepresent ourselves for personal gain or protection.

Way to stand up to your promises.

Petters, and every company it owns (which now includes Metropolitan Media Group) has earned a spot on my newly created Bullshit Corporation List. I can only hope for a quick resolution to this so the people affected can get what they earned.