December 18, 2019

Meet Hong Kong's grannies forced to collect cardboard

This short piece is well worth watching and one appreciating what we have along with noting that if it were not for FDR & the Democrats this is where many of us would be.


Granny Orchid cleans the streets of Hong Kong seven days a week.

Despite being one of the richest cities in the world, many elderly people live in poverty.

So Granny Orchid earns extra money collecting boxes for recycling.

Video produced by Daniel South, Yashan Zhao, Meiqing Guan and Zhejun Wang

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-50784231/meet-hong-kong-s-grannies-forced-to-collect-cardboard

December 3, 2019

Skilled union 'Squirrels' restore bicycles for Christmas

Bruce LeCroix, a retired member of Meatcutters Local 88, and a group of other retired members from other skilled trade unions make up the Royal Order of the Squirrels, a group that admittedly garners laughs for its name, but when it comes to their organization, there is nothing funny about it.

For more than two decades, the Christian service organization has been doing good deeds in the community and playing Santa’s elves when the Christmas season hits. LeCroix’s brother Kevin, a union carpenter, and Eric, a union laborer, are usually helping side by side with other union brothers and sisters to restore bicycles for kids at Christmas. Meeting space is donated by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1 signatory contractor Grasser Electric.

Long before Christmastime, months in advance, the Squirrels start collecting forgotten bicycles found stashed in the corners of basements, taking them to their shop and refurbishing them.

“It’s not just new bicycle chains, air in the tires or a new seat,” Bruce LeCroix said. “We completely bring the bikes back to like new. The bikes are then given to the children after we finish — down to painting and polishing scrapes on the paint.”

https://labortribune.com/skilled-union-squirrels-restore-bicycles-for-christmas/

December 2, 2019

Acosta says consumer behavior, industry trends led to Chapter 11 bankruptcy

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/acosta-says-consumer-behavior-industry-trends-led-to-chapter-11-bankruptcy

Acosta Inc. and affiliated companies filed their prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions Sunday, saying in court documents changes in consumer behavior and industry trends have hurt its business in recent years.

The Jacksonville-based sales and marketing company announced last month it would file a prepackaged reorganization plan to convert about $3 billion of debt to equity, with the approval of a majority of its creditors.

Acosta filed its petitions in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

The court documents do not give specific financial details for Acosta but its disclosure statement said the company has lost $631 million in revenue since 2015, without giving a figure for total revenue. Florida Trend magazine estimated Acosta’s 2018 revenue at $2.3 billion.