Imagine that – Tony Hyatt (remember when he melted down when I suggested he was underpaid?) and several Metro Council critters are working hard to make the Butchertown-Swift mess about jobs. The Butchertown Neighborhood Association has never threatened the 1,300-1,400 jobs at the pig slaughtering plant. The BNA just wants Swift to abide by the law and eventually move to a better location within the county.
What’s that have to do with over a thousand jobs disappearing? Who in their right mind is out there demanding that more than a thousand jobs should be done away with?
At 6:52 last night Tony Hyatt sent out the following:
Metro Council resolution supports 1300 Swift jobs for Louisville’s economy
Resolution passes in bipartisan vote on Thursday night
Louisville – By a vote of 23 to 2, the Louisville Metro Council has passed a resolution in support of the JB Swift Company and its 1300 jobs and operations in Butchertown.
It is important to send a message that Louisville Metro supports the company and wants to protect the 1300 jobs at Swift’s operation in Butchertown,” said Councilman Rick Blackwell (D-12) a sponsor of the resolution. “We need to let Swift know their investment here is important to our economic vitality.”
The resolution acknowledges not only the jobs but the $40 million generated in salaries and wages which creates occupational taxes for Metro Government. Losing those jobs would be a financial hardship for the budget in tight economic times.
“Both Swift and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 227 have an excellent working relationship,” said Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13). “These are good jobs and we want to ensure that they stay right here.”
“We have stood on the sidelines for too long- It is time for this government to show support for one of our long-term local companies,” said Councilman Kelly Downard (R-16).
The resolution applauds efforts by Swift and the Union to continue to improve its Butchertown facility and make it compatible with urban living in the 21st Century by reducing odor, noise and traffic.
“It is vital that the Metro Council do everything possible to help protect these jobs, and send a message to the JB Swift Company that they are a welcome member of our business community,” said Councilman Robin Engel (R-22).
The Metro Council encourages Swift to stay, grow and thrive in Butchertown for years to come. It encourages the plant and the union to continue efforts in working with neighbors to make the area a balance between the past and the present.
“No one should see this resolution as the Metro Council taking sides in a very complex issue,” said Councilman Brent Ackerson (D-26). “Everyone has a stake in the success of Swift and keeping these jobs here.”
The resolution is on its way to the Mayor for his signature.
Click here for a copy of the resolution distributed with the release.
Unfortunately for Tony and the councilcritters quoted, this has never been about protecting jobs. It’s been about a mega corp violating the law and getting special protection form metro government and a few empty suits.
But the facts have never stopped anyone from spinning like crazy, have they?
Giving a multi-billion dollar company free reign to do whatever it wants because it threatens a labor union is apparently the new way of governing here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky under the leadership of Jerry Abramson and David Tandy.
Some thoughts: Interesting that Metro Council would leave the following in the resolution:
WHEREAS, JBS is encouraged to continue to be a good neighbor by reducing odor, noise and traffic.
Meaning Metro Council admits Swift is causing odor, noise and traffic. Despite everything a few councilcritters have said to the contrary. Guess that “odor, noise and traffic” is part of what makes Swift such a great neighbor to the residents of Butchertown.
I hear that the Council was under pressure to have an emergency vote on this resolution before a meeting of Swift and the union.
Labor union manipulation much? Was JBS Swift threatening to leave Louisville if the company had to absorb the cost of doing business? Did JBS Swift use the labor union to manipulate Metro Council?
11 responses so far ↓
1 MetroHack // Dec 4, 2009 at 10:57 am
This would all be valid if it were about JBS Swift following the law. You know as well as I do, once they meet one requirement the next move is to make it even more restrictive. This would keep up until they were run out of business and move to a new location.
Where’s the proof? When the slaughter house was started at the location it was legal. Now they have to have a condition use permit and any improvement done is now considered by the neighborhood as an expansion.
This type of zoning enforcement should not be tolerated. Now their doing something almost the same to Tattoo Charlie’s on Preston Hwy. It was legal in 19992 when they moved in, the zoning was changed and now they’ve received a cease and desist order.
2 Tony Hyatt // Dec 4, 2009 at 11:27 am
It must be a slow day in blogger world
3 jake // Dec 4, 2009 at 11:29 am
When the slaughter house was started at that location there were no restrictions and it was DECADES ago.
So you’re telling me that Swift should be allowed to operate willy nilly no matter what? With no regard to the law? While every other business out there has to comply and pay the cost of doing business?
Cause that makes TONS of sense.
4 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Dec 4, 2009 at 11:59 am
This is pure political buffoonery and a show of desperation by the Metro Council. And it’s all being led by Mr. Expedient, David Tandy.
Nobody is wanting these jobs to leave Louisville. Nobody.
Passing this resolution doesn’t do anything to keep the jobs here, and not passing it doesn’t do anything to make them leave.
I agree with Jake completely. I discuss in more detail in a LouHI topic what is troubling about this resolution.
5 KYGuy // Dec 4, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I like the way it smells.
6 Jason Puckett // Dec 4, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Just for curiosity sake, who were the two dissenters?
7 BillB // Dec 4, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I like bacon, ham too. And there’s nothing like good pulled pork BBQ
8 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Dec 4, 2009 at 3:49 pm
The two dissenters were Tina Ward-Pugh and Cheri Bryant Hamilton.
9 Vandy Fandy // Dec 4, 2009 at 4:18 pm
I propose a nonbinding resolution to keep the rubber in Rubbertown, the smoke in Smoketown, the Irish in Irish Hill, the Germans in Germantown, the Cherokees in Cherokee Park, the hippies in the Highlands and the candy in Candyland.
10 justsayin // Dec 5, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Let’s not forget the parks in Parkhill, the shivs in Shively, the saints in St. Matthews or the crescents in Crescent Hill!
11 Lepus // Dec 6, 2009 at 10:05 am
Those rogue crescents!!!
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