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what I heard was just a rumour and not true about not hiring locals.  
 
Edited by Trevor B, 2016-01-08 17:39:02

They are just doing this to look good in the public eye. Why else would they hire them when they have been cutting back production?

kevlar said "They are just doing this to look good in the public eye. Why else would they hire them when they have been cutting back production? "

Where exactly are they cutting back production?

Is not it better for them and community to have a job when they arrive here so they live on what they earn and take care of their families? Otherwise, government/ taxpayers will take care of them and they will join to group of people who already mis-use the program.

People are posting how mad they are that the refugees are going to be on welfare and at the same time they are posting how insulted they are that a company would offer the refugees jobs.  
 
 

Who cares??? They are people just like us who probably have been through a hell we couldn't even begin to imagine. Now they are just like any other immigrant - ready to work and join our society.  
 
So what if they are "different"?  
So what if they speak a different language as a first language?  
So what if their beliefs are different from ours?  
So what if they have different dress styles and societal rituals?  
 
In the end, they probably want the same things out of life that most of us want.  
 
We don't live in the 1800's any more...  

I know that I tend to overthink things and this is why I have to disagree with you comment. The date on a calandar is just that, we could likely take dates back from the time that people began living in organized communities, and it would show that people are afraid of people who are not the same as themselves, or if things are tough they are willing to lay blame on others without looking at the society that they live in first.  
 
Back to the idea of we aren't living in the 1800's, if that were really true history would not repeat itself because we have advanced as a society, sadly this is not true, history does repeat itself, we never really seem to learn. Fear and hatred of those who are different is human nature at it's worst.

don brown said "I know that I tend to overthink things and this is why I have to disagree with you comment. The date on a calandar is just that, we could likely take dates back from the time that people began living in organized communities, and it would show that people are afraid of people who are not the same as themselves, or if things are tough they are willing to lay blame on others without looking at the society that they live in first.     Back to the idea of we aren't living in the 1800's, if that were really true history would not repeat itself because we have advanced as a society, sadly this is not true, history does repeat itself, we never really seem to learn. Fear and hatred of those who are different is human nature at it's worst. "

Is learned - not natural.  
 
Instinct says we should be wary of new things and people but our response to them is learned. We develop specific responses to stimuli based on experience.  
 
Do people raise questions when Russians, Greeks, Italians, Ukranians, Poles or Latino people settle here? Then why should it be different for Syrians (other than "someone told me Syrians are Muslims and Muslims are terrorists")????  
 
I am curious - was there a thread questioning the influx of Asians or South Americans due to Maple Leaf????  
 
I have seen more than enough xenophobia over the Syrian refugees - and most of it with no basis in foundation. I am willing to bet if you put the Syrian refugees in a crowded room with all the other local immigrants, you would not be able to pick them out.  
 
Ponder this: would WE be here today if the Native Americans had prevented Europeans from settling here? Were those people beneficial to the natives? Should they have been turned back when they landed in North America all those years ago??  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edited by Cee Jay 55, 2016-01-09 09:36:34

Trevor B said "Maple Leaf once, and all I did for 8 hours was flip pork butts that weighed over a certain weight. Standing in the same place, staring at a weigh scale screen while hunched beneath another conveyor. For the longest time that was ALL I did for weeks straight. Eventually my back was getting constantly sore and could barely walk up the 5 flights of stairs to the lockers or cafeteria. Tried getting on other duties, even going to the nurse and being put on light duties. But they all involved standing in one spot hours hours at a time. I eventually left. To this day, I cannot stand in one spot for long periods, I have to be moving.     When I worked there, that was when they were giving away vehicles and other incentives for attendance. And just started bringing in people from Central America.     Not everyone is cut out for factory jobs like that, it might be a good stop gap till you can find something else. But getting time off to go to job interviews might be a challenge. "

But working in that setting can also be mentally damaging due to the atmosphere and treatment of the employees.  
 
Doesn't take long for people who've worked there to share their experiences and word to get around.

Cee Jay 55 said "    don brown said "I know that I tend to overthink things and this is why I have to disagree with you comment. The date on a calandar is just that, we could likely take dates back from the time that people began living in organized communities, and it would show that people are afraid of people who are not the same as themselves, or if things are tough they are willing to lay blame on others without looking at the society that they live in first.     Back to the idea of we aren't living in the 1800's, if that were really true history would not repeat itself because we have advanced as a society, sadly this is not true, history does repeat itself, we never really seem to learn. Fear and hatred of those who are different is human nature at it's worst. " Is learned - not natural.     Instinct says we should be wary of new things and people but our response to them is learned. We develop specific responses to stimuli based on experience.     Do people raise questions when Russians, Greeks, Italians, Ukranians, Poles or Latino people settle here? Then why should it be different for Syrians (other than "someone told me Syrians are Muslims and Muslims are terrorists")????     I am curious - was there a thread questioning the influx of Asians or South Americans due to Maple Leaf????     I have seen more than enough xenophobia over the Syrian refugees - and most of it with no basis in foundation. I am willing to bet if you put the Syrian refugees in a crowded room with all the other local immigrants, you would not be able to pick them out.     Ponder this: would WE be here today if the Native Americans had prevented Europeans from settling here? Were those people beneficial to the natives? Should they have been turned back when they landed in North America all those years ago??                     Edited by Cee Jay 55, 2016-01-09 09:36:34"

I agree with some of your points and don't like all the propaganda that is flying around, I think you are missing some things in your points (just my opinion).  
You bring up other cultures and if there was this much turmoil over them coming to Canada....at one time there was, and to some extent there still is. If we go back a couple years ago, I am sure that Canadians were not to receptive of Germans coming over for a new life. I am sure not every Korean felt acceptance and were welcomed with open arms. The point is, the cultures you mentioned in your statement are not in the midst of a massive uprising, they are considered peaceful/allies. The reason (in my opinion) is so many people link Muslims into isis and are scared, (and to a certain extent have valid reason to be scared). This is not a new thing, at one point everyone viewed all Germans as Nazis.  
I also think due to lack of knowledge in other races/religions (myself included to a certain extent) people automatically hear Syrian and think Muslim. You hear Muslim right now and you think isis. This is not correct, but very hard when we have been over run with that propaganda so much right now.  
I don't think if this was happening 10yrs from now and Syria was a more peaceful country there would be any issues, other then the normal racist comments (not that they should be considered normal) like any other immigrant has to listen to from ignorant anti-change people. This is just my opinion and hope that ANYONE coming to Canada or are already here in Canada would just be positive productive members of society.

I mis-read the title, I thought it said "Maple Leafs". I was thinking "well it couldn't hurt..."  
 
Hahahahaha!!

JackAzz said "I mis-read the title, I thought it said "Maple Leafs". I was thinking "well it couldn't hurt..."     Hahahahaha!! "

You win

What's the big deal if Maple Leaf want to hire Syrian refugees to work at there plants to fill positions. These positions are open to anyone who wants to apply, but no one wants to apply. Right now if you go onto Maple Leaf`s website and look under careers and type in Brandon there's 9 positions open currently and quite often there's ads here on Ebrandon and in the Brandon Sun hiring everything from production workers to millwrights.  
 
And as for the whole Muslim argument that they can`t work there because of their religion, guess what there's Muslims working at Maple Leaf right now.  
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-01-09 16:00:45

AndreaD. said "    Trevor B said "I heard that Maple Leaf wasn't even hiring local people. They relied on the foreign workers because in order to come to Canada, they had to stay at the employer for 2 years I believe the length was. If they leave the job, they get sent back to their country.     So that would be one reason why employers liked the TFW program. They can lock people into a contract to work for them for guaranteed time. While with local people they can't. These TFW's can't even go and find other employment till after their TFW agreement expires. " Maple Leaf always highers local worker if there are any who apply and pass the physical test, job interview, etc. Yes, there is a physical test to see if a person is actually capable of the job. No, they do not discriminate. There are hearing impaired and physically impaired people who work there. All races, all skin colours, all religions and all body types. They have even highered women who the company knows are pregnant at the time of being highered. Many business will not higher pregnant women because in a few months they will be on maternity leave.     True, there is a two year contract with the TFW Program. Considering the company pays for the work visas, all paperwork needed, passports, airfare, accommodations prior to the workers arriving in Canada and partial furnishings of the apartments (brand new bed and a few other necessities), first month bus fair, sets them up with bank accounts and continually helps with paper work for the worker as well as their families to get permanent residency. For all Maple Leaf workers, the company also helps with filling out paperwork for maternity leave, short term or long term diability, has excellent dental coverage, vision coverage and pharmaceutical coverage that cannot be beat. They even offer coverage for quitting smoking. There is probably much more that Maple Leaf does for their workers that escapes my attention or I am forgetting about.     There are already Muslims who work at Maple Leaf. And personally, I am happy that Syrians are being welcomed by a company who will do more than just give them a job. The Syrians who do accept a job at Maple Leaf will have help they will need for their life in Canada, just like the rest of the employees are offered.     Edited by AndreaD., 2016-01-08 17:34:19"

And good job Trevor for admitting a wrong and not getting offended or defensive by being corrected. As a Maple Leaf employee I will say that Andrea is pretty much on the mark with what she said... and there are even MORE benefits not mentioned, too many to list. The TFW program is much more complex then one realizes. As for the people wondering about production and the layoffs that happened recently, the majority of those layoffs were in Ontario. The jobs being filed are Manitoba and Alberta and are production workers, the layoffs were all salaried positions not hourly, HUGE difference. Production is not being cut back, period. Yes there are muslims working there, by choice. Finally local job fairs are offered weekly, ANYONE qualified can be hired. Please people, before stating what you THINK are facts be sure they are before you make allegations that are not accurate. Every job has it's ups and downs, the beauty of it is that if you don't like your job, find another. For a company that employs literally thousands of people it can't be THAT bad, I for one love my job and communicate with many others (even on the production line too!!) that also love their job and are grateful for it. Remember, Maple Leaf employees many people that would otherwise perhaps be on the welfare line as well and supported by those working the jobs they feel are so much more superior. Be kind people, look at two sides of the coin as there is always another side to the story as well.

Maple Leaf there are good jobs and bad jobs. And everyone will have an opinion on which is which. But you will find that anywhere.  
 
My job there was easy as heck. But the continuous repetition can get to people. Along with working in a refridgerator. And as seen in this thread there are people who love working there and some who didn't. Working there isn't for everyone.  
 
And you also can't paint all Muslims with the same brush. There will be some that take religion very seriously, but you will find that in all religions.

back to full processing capacity or still scalled back with the reduction of hogs that happened.

I don't believe Maple Leaf has ever had enough hogs to run both shifts at full capacity.  
 
Manitoba Pork brings this up periodically in the media to put pressure on the NDP to recind the moratorium on new barns.  
 
The number of hog operations has dropped over the last 10 years has dropped but the number of hogs produced has remained flat. Maple Leaf needs the number of hogs produced to go up to reach capacity.

I was out of work last October 2015. I was scared by all these complaints about how hard it is to find work. I was so desperate I applied to each and every vacancy I saw doesn't matter what work I had to do. On the fourth day of applying I recieved my first call and started job the next day. Other few replied too. I am not doing the best job for my skills but atleast I have the job and am not living on hand outs.  
And for those who doubt Syrians, why should we think anyone coming from outside is always worth a Maple Leaf line work. They could be professionals or skilled people in their own country and need some years to re-qualify. As an immigrant I here a lot of wrong words, but think of this-Can you dare to learn a new language, leave your homeland and start over again in a new country? We should be supportive to each other not doubt the new comers in our community.