B&H Workers Claim Unsafe Standards?

[kingbuzzie]

Ouch. Apologies if this has already been posted. As someone who worked in university warehouse for a while (where they classified themselves as something other than a warehouse go get around a lot of safety rules), the work can be quite hard.

 

[gone]

Doesn't surprise me. These people have been sued repeatedly for workplace discrimination. I never, ever buy from them or Adorama.

 

[Jeff Bradford]

This is a union vs. anti-union fight. There will be nothing but hyperbole from either side.

This is also normal business practice (for both sides) in New York. I wouldn't get too excited about it.

In the interest of full disclosure, I shop at B&H and I am pro-labor.

 

[Chris Johnson]

I have two words:
KEH.......... and Freestyle

 

[BrianShaw]

I have two words:
KEH.......... and Freestyle

Isn't that 3 words?

 

[Chris Johnson]

The "and" was just a connector

 

[OptiKen]

This has definitely changed how I will shop for supplies in the future.
I'll be keeping the business in California for a change.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

"...with more than a quarter of a billion in annual revenue..."

Which is also know as $250 million in less dramatic terms.

 

[HelenOster]

..... I never, ever buy from them or Adorama.

That's a bit harsh........and as far as I can recall Adorama has never been sued for any discriminatory practices - and I don't think it's fair or reasonable to refer to us either as right wing or radical.

Actually, to refer to Adorama in that way sounds a bit discriminatory :confused:

 

[OptiKen]

I just copied the address to that article and sent it via the 'Contact Us' button on B&H's site with the comment, "Sweet"

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

That's a bit harsh........and as far as I can recall Adorama has never been sued for any discriminatory practices - and I don't think it's fair or reasonable to refer to us either as right wing or radical.

Actually, to refer to Adorama in that way sounds a bit discriminatory :confused:

I agree. Just because action is taken against B&H it doesn't automatically mean Adorama has similar practices.
And moreover, to bring politics into it is just not helping any at all.

I have shopped at B&H and Adorama both in the past, as they are a very good resource for equipment and supplies. But I will probably stop buying from B&H until I hear that they sort out this rather depressing worker feud. Some businesses can be so cruel in how they treat their employees, arguably their most valuable resource. How do you go to sleep at night doing things like that?

 

[fotch]

"...with more than a quarter of a billion in annual revenue..."

Which is also know as $250 million in less dramatic terms.

 

[drkhalsa]

Thanks for your comments Helen.

 

[swanlake1]

wow...what an ugly article. I've spent a few hundred dollars at B&H, but am now thinking I'll buy stuff elsewhere. Thanks for posting this.

 

[Hatchetman]

I wonder if Kodak was ever sued by an employee.

 

[AgX]

I wonder if Kodak was ever sued by an employee.

1986:
"A group of past and current employees of Eastman Kodak sued the company, accusing it of discriminating against black workers."

 

[DWThomas]

Disturbing indeed -- but unfortunately, hardly unique. A few years back a news article described an Am@zon warehouse in the Lehigh Valley here in eastern Pa that was apparently set up with no air conditioning and poor ventilation. On super hot summer days workers would occasionally collapse on the job. The response to complaints? Local ambulance crews were paid to hang out on standby during hot weather!

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Over the last 20-so years I've had friends and co-workers from all sides of the political and social spectrum send me articles portraying all sorts of outrageous incidents. Most were debunked. This may be completely factual or may be leaving out important facts. I'll withhold judgement until more is known from both sides.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

I'm with Theo, remembering as I do the last time I got run over here by appealing to a sense of fair play on an emotional topic. Something having to do with lions, as I recall.

Fortunately or unfortunately, a single click on an Internet link is not enough for me to form a thoughtful judgment on any issue. Even after my beat down last time I still require two sides of a story before drawing a conclusion.

Ken

 

[MattKing]

1986:
"A group of past and current employees of Eastman Kodak sued the company, accusing it of discriminating against black workers."

Seems to be a quote from a story that references a 2004 suit.

But that story is a lot more interesting than just the quote: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/24/business/24kodak.html

 

[MattKing]

So, we're talking here about an article on Al Jazeera, or whatever. Aren't they like the regular drive-by media we already have, on steroids? The usual suspects MSNBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS... aren't bad enough, to now we're citing AL Jazzera, or whatever?
I can comfortably say, in the spirit of the law of equal time given to rebuttal, that credibility is highly suspect. Further, we still have the bundle of rights associated with land ownership, a distinctive American law. Or did, anyway.

Al Jazeera America seems to be gaining credibility and respect quite rapidly in the news world. Possibly because they seem to be earning it.

You might find that a different viewpoint helps when it comes to journalism.

And it is true, American law with respect to rights associated with land ownership is quite distinctive. The law you inherited was about 90 years behind the more advanced law that Canada inherited when we started out.

 

[Truzi]

Will this thread end up in/on the soapbox? Will it be shut down altogether?? Will Ken get another beating???

"These questions, and many others, will be answered in the next episode of Soap(box)."

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Will this thread end up in/on the soapbox? Will it be shut down altogether?? Will Ken get another beating???

So is Otter really hitting on Dean Wormer's wife? And does anyone honestly know for sure if that horse was really dead??

Ken

 

[MattKrull]

I have purchased from both B&H and Adorama, received good prices and experiences from both. I had mostly settled on ordering from B&H because of their free Canadian shipping option. I am moving more of my purchases to Argentix.ca (forum supporter and local), but for some things Adorama or B&H are my only sources.
This news has definitely affected my opinion on B&H, and I will not be ordering from them until I hear how it resolves.
Helen, thank you for making that clear, I will feel better about shopping at Adorama. I was worried both had similar labour practices.
I've found Al-Jazeera English to be a surprisingly good source for international news. I would definitely not put them in the league of sensational drive by journalism. That said, they are often specifically hard on governments (western and middle eastern). This is part of their editorial practice, as they feel too many other news sources aren't holding governments sufficiently accountable (or so I recall from one of the editor's letters a few years back).

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...I'll be keeping the business in California for a change.

Yeah, because here in Orange County there's no exploitation of illegal immigrants. :confused: