The CEOs of America are banding together to ensure that the voters feel their wrath for rejecting their preferred presidential candidate Mitt Romney with the billions accrued from tax cuts and corporate government handouts.
Having failed to buy a president to ensure that their special perks continue, the wealthy 'job creators' have decided to train their guns on their employees. They will be ratcheting up their attacks on all workers. This appears to be phase two of an unprecedented attempt by Republican governors to outlaw the rights of union members.
Many business owners are threatening to cut workers' hours to avoid paying for their health care costs. John Metz, CEO of Denny's said he will add a 5 percent surcharge to customers' bills to offset increased costs he anticipates from Obamacare. He will also be reducing his employees' hours. This follows on a statement by Papa John’s founder and CEO John Schnatter who promises to raise pizza prices and reduce the working hours of the pizza chain’s stores.
Aetna Inc. Chief Executive Mark Bertolini, who, along with several chief executives will be meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama later this week, is also sounding off that companies are "preparing backup plans that include layoffs if the White House and congressional leaders are unable to reach a deal to avoid the combination of tax increases and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff."
"The American people are going to suffer because we'll lay them off--because we know how to respond to these kinds of situations," Mr. Bertolini spewed at a Wall Street Journal CEO Council event.
The makers of the iconic Twinkies, Hostess Brands Inc. are also threatening to liquidate the entire company if enough striking union workers don't return to work by Thursday evening.
Thousands of members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union went on strike Nov. 9 to protest cuts to wages and benefits under a new contract offer, which the union rejected in September. Union officials say the company stopped contributing to workers' pensions last year.
Hostess filed for bankruptcy in January. It is the second time since 2004 the company filed. Hostess cited increasing pension and medical costs for employees as one of the drivers behind its latest filing.
Members of the union are not happy with proposed salary cuts, or the company's plans to reduce their contribution to employee's pension plans and health care plans.
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These companies are clearly trying to use their economic influence over fiscal cliff negotiations as their political power wanes. "Raise our taxes and see what happens!" is the clear message they are sending.
It is time for consumers to wield their power by supporting companies that create American jobs and support workers' rights. These CEOs need to understand that they are not mini gods because they are 'job creators.' The consumers of their products do not serve in their kingdoms and we can take our money to other providers of the same goods and services who are prepared to consider the welfare of their workers as part of their business ethos. Papa Johns, Aetna and others will collapse and other companies will step in to take their place. So what if there are no more Twinkies? The world will go on without them!