Workers feel duped by Hertz; airport job moves rule out living wage

[Newsjock]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/13819012.htm

By Deborah Lohse
Mercury News

Rental-car company Hertz has angered more than 150 of its unionized airport drivers with plans to move them off Mineta San Jose International Airport property to avoid paying them an extra $1.50 to $4 per hour as required under San Jose's ``living wage'' policy.

A Hertz spokesman on Tuesday said it was necessary to reduce the airport-based headcount from 187 to 30 drivers for financial reasons. He also said the move was designed to save jobs and was approved by the union in the last round of contract negotiations.

... The move means that more than 150 workers who thought they were slated to receive $11.61 an hour or more plus health benefits as San Jose airport-based workers instead will be treated as Santa Clara workers, receiving only a 45-cent pay raise with no health benefits, Andrew said.

... Hertz spokesman Richard Broome said Hertz is willing to work with the union to address some of its concerns in mediation. But he said the Park Ridge, N.J.-based company can't afford to keep all airport drivers if they must be paid the living wage dictated by San Jose.

"We can't run the business into the ground because of living wage,'' he said.

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[UpInArms]

1. Changing *Co's quote: "Who cares what you think?" to

Hertz:

"Who cares if you eat?"

[Lerkfish]

2. Grapes of Wrath

[Nite Owl]

3. If they can't afford to pay workers

then there is something wrong with their business model. Maybe they shouldn't be in business at all. Their profits can't come off the workers backs.

[napi21]

4. Hmmm, How come my rental rate keeps going up every time

I rent a car from Hertz? I thought that was to cover costs? Must be just to increase the exec. bonuses or something, huh?

[mike_c]

5. employees lives mean nothing....

"We can't run the business into the ground because of living wage." There you have the business ethics of corporatism, in a nutshell. Profits first, wage slaves last. Let them eat cake. Or dirt. Or whatever.

[BR_Parkway]

6. And we find The Carlyle Group once again in the middle of it

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/47129/000110465905062913/a05-22461_18k.htm

On December 21, 2005 (the “Closing Date”), all of the outstanding common stock of The Hertz Corporation (“Hertz” and, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company”) was acquired (the “Acquisition”) by an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of CCMG Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2005 (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), among Ford Motor Company (“ Ford”), Ford Holdings LLC (“Ford Holdings”) and Holdings. Holdings was formed by investment funds associated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. (“CD&R”), The Carlyle Group and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity (together, the “Sponsors”).

[sarcasmo]

7. We can't pay them living wage let them live in poverty.

Welcome to the new AMERIKA. Makes me sick to my stomach. Kick and Nom. If $11.61
is to much to pay an employee get ready to live on $8.00 an hour folks.