More questions than answers
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 01:20 p.m., February 12, 2008
Updated 01:20 p.m., February 12, 2008
About 350 displaced Tyson workers and their families heard answers to some of their questions Monday evening at an informational meeting sponsored by the Friends in Faith group.
Answers to many of their other questions, however, should come on Feb. 16th at a Job/Community Fair at which many agencies, schools, financial institutions and businesses needing workers will set up booths to help people work their way through the aftermath of jobs lost on short notice. Translators will be available.
The information and the questions Monday night were translated into Spanish or English, depending on the speaker. Some Somalis and Vietnamese also attended the meeting, and most of the Somalis left soon after the meeting started.
Debbie O’Dell, representing the Workforce Center, said that the Job/Community Fair will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Flint Hills Technical College. Similar sessions, with representatives of the unemployment office, Social and Rehabilitation Services and the Kansas Department of Labor, will be on Feb. 18 through 20 at the Anderson Fairgrounds. Sign-ups are needed to attend.
On Monday, Feb. 18, the schedule is: 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., English and Vietnamese; 1:30 to 3 p.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m., Spanish. On Tuesday, Spanish-speaking workers will be accepted on the same morning schedule, and English and Somali will go to the same afternoon schedule.
On Feb. 20, English and Somali speakers will attend on the morning schedule and Spanish speakers will go in the afternoon.
Sign up at the Workforce Center or at Tyson.
Capt. Jeremiah Burris of the Salvation Army told the audience that his agency was committed to help the families affected by Tyson Foods’ decision to shut down its slaughter operation, as well as the second shift on its processing side.
“We do not have unlimited resources, but I can assure you that we’re doing everything we can to raise as much money as we can to help you,” Burris said.
He told the audience that funds available for paying rent and utilities are likely to be limited, because of the sheer numbers of people involved.
Burris cautioned them it would be better not to apply for financial help now. Those who wait until employment ends to apply for funds would be processed before those who apply for and receive assistance now, he said.
If people receive help now to pay high utility bills, for example, “it is possible that later, when you have no money, no paycheck, we will be out of funding,” Burris said.
The agency already has helped about 15 contract workers who lost their jobs when their employers no longer were needed at Tyson.
Salvation Army is attempting to raise more money; however, with up to 1,800 workers and their families needing help, it will be quite difficult, if not impossible, to meet all those needs, he said.
He estimated later that the cost of providing help could range between $300,000 and $400,000. The Salvation Army has revised its budget and is getting some help from agency headquarters, but he expects the total money available to be only a small percentage of the total that may be needed.
Burris said he does not anticipate any problems supplying food for the Tyson workers.
A warehouse will be set up for them at a location to be announced later.
City Manager Matt Zimmerman emphasized that Tyson workers need to take advantage of the opportunities for retraining that will be available as a result of Tyson Fresh Meat’s downsizing.
“The thing I want to tell you is … help us help you by giving us information,” Zimmerman said. “Fill out the intake form, take advantage of the programs. This is a great opportunity for you to recast, to change what you do in your lives. … We are working with a lot of agencies to have these things available.”
He told them to begin by taking English as a Second Language classes and earning a GED to make themselves more valuable as employees.
FHTC will waive the tuition for those classes, he said. The Learning Education Center for the school district also provides such classes, and officials are trying to have tuition waived there, as well. Help also is available at the Adult Education Center and the Talent Search office at Emporia State University.
Zimmerman said that FHTC offers several short-term classes in careers such as truck driving, certified nurses’ aide, culinary arts, and cleaning programs.
“You could be trained for a new job by March 25,” he said. “… We want you to stay, so don’t leave unless you have to, OK?”
Eswin Rios, director of Friends in Faith, has made arrangements for the workers to receive free rides to the meetings on L-Cat buses.
“So there’s no reason not to go,” Zimmerman said. “Let us help you by helping us to do this.”
Questions from audience members kept returning to topics like unemployment benefits, property taxes on now-devalued properties, health insurance, home mortgages and vehicle loans. Representatives from those fields did not attend the Monday night meeting, but will be available at the meetings later this month.
“On Feb. 16, we will have banks and real estate people who can answer questions about options,” Zimmerman said. “Bring information about your loans so they can help you, tell you what you can and cannot do.”
Audience members also wanted authorities to speak with Tyson officials to see if they would be willing to pay higher severance packages to long-term employees, or if Tyson would be willing to sell or lease its building to another firm.
“They don’t sell their buildings to other competitors and they will still be operating … and they’re not willing to share the building,” Zimmerman said.
A displaced worker asked if Tyson could be made to pay him and others for the vacation pay lost by the downsizing. Zimmerman said they would need to talk with Tyson or to the KDOL representative who will be here next week.
Several audience members talked of their frustration in trying to get help or answers from Tyson, and questioned why the company did not take part in the meeting Monday night.
Rios said that Tyson had been invited to send a representative.
“I don’t blame you (for being frustrated), but we can’t make Tyson come,” Zimmerman added. “That’s why we have to rally together as a community and help each other. … We’re having the same trouble getting information that you are.
“We tried to talk to Tyson, but they’re so busy they haven’t returned our phone calls.”
Members of the small panel repeatedly reminded the workers that experts from various entities would provide specifics to them at the Job/Community Fair and subsequent official meetings.
One member of the audience pointed out that many of the workers and their families already had left the meeting because of the number of questions that could not be answered.
“Basically, all these meetings are a waste of time because you don’t have the answers we are needing,” she said. “Who is going to help all these people if Tyson won’t help them?”
ks1dolfan (anonymous) says...
Complaining about Tyson shutting down,wanting answers or more money from Tyson. Like that is going to happen. Tyson is BIG business, not some small or local company. They don't care about their workers, just like all BIG businesses. They care about the bottom line, profit, and how much can they make for their shareholders. There's too many workers in todays job force, so they can "downsize" now, and if the economy picks up, they'll just hire new ones. Caring costs too much!
February 12, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hickory (anonymous) says...
I think this would be a perfect time for the Salvation Army to put out their red buckets. I think they would get more money now than at christmas time. Emporians have always helped other people in the community when they're in need.
February 12, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporialifer (anonymous) says...
C'mon - generalizations don't get us anywhere. Yes it sucks that so many people have lost their jobs and will be affected by Tyson's actions, but when it comes down to it - all businesses (big or small) have to be as efficient as possible and profitable to stay in business and continue to provide jobs. Would it have been more "caring" for Tyson to continue running this plant and just run the entire corporation into the ground closing down all facilities across the US and forcing all employees out of a job?
It's unfortunate, but I know a LOT of people who apparently do not care about the business they work for because they waste time, steal, etc. simply because they can or they think something is "owed" to them, so does that mean they don't CARE about their employer? Perhaps they don't care about their reputation or perhaps they don't care about integrity. Is it really about "caring"?
Much like I can't understand why certain people do what they do (steal, lie, etc.), there are reasons, beyond what anyone of us on this site knows, why Tyson made their decision, so perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to judge.
February 12, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
emporia, you will get bombarded for such a (correct) statement.
February 12, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AreYouHappyNow (anonymous) says...
I couldn't agree with you more emporialifer.
February 12, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
morethenenough (anonymous) says...
@emporialifer
RIGHT on~!~
February 12, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gogreen (anonymous) says...
What about all the people out at Menu that got laid off........are they going to help them also?
February 13, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dick (anonymous) says...
Emporialifer you are right on target. With all the ads in the Gazette with businesses in and around the state of Kansas looking for employees in the slaughter industries there is no reason for anyone being unemployed. Sure it is going to be difficult to make the choices necessary to move on, but most of us at some point in time have done the same thing. For this community to step forth and doing what has been done at this point is fantastic. Then in the Gazette 2-12-08 they are having four separate meetings in four different languages so that everyone is sure to understand what alternatives there are out there. To begin with those that do not understand English is your fault, but Emporia is stepping up to the plate to make sure they do understand. Again if there is failure to obtain employement who's fault is that. Get real. Step up and be responsible for you and yours.
February 13, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gabby (anonymous) says...
@ emporialifer and @dick- Hooray! I agree with you and everyone else that agrees with you.
I'm proud of what our community is doing for those that have lost Tyson jobs. We have to remember there are other people in Emporia, and the county that are unemployed, and want to work - so lets keep the job fairs going for everyone - not just former tyson employees.
February 13, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
olddog (anonymous) says...
Posted by dick --- Again if there is failure to obtain employement who's fault is that. Get real. Step up and be responsible for you and yours.
Have you ever thought about the employees that were stuck working at Tyson because they were on restrictions due to injuries on the job and some ended up with permanent restrictions etc?
Do you really think any of these other meat plants or anyone else will be excited to hire them or provide a job within their restrictions?
For some it might be a little harder to find a job then others right away. I know of many people laid off that are on on restrictions so if they fail to find someone to hire them its their fault?
Get Real!
February 14, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )