Common Labor Problems in Commercial Printers
In the past, many of those big-scale commercial printing companies have closed down because of labor problems. These companies have been in existence for decades and are usually owned by affluent families. But about two decades ago, many of these kinds of printing companies have encountered difficult labor issues that eventually forced the owners to close down.
While you may think that a commercial printing company has no reason to lose because of the so many printing jobs out there, labor problems can be the start of a string of difficult issues that can lead to the demise of even a big printing company.
Pilferage
One of the biggest labor problems is pilferage. This happens when employees and their direct supervisor, who are supposed to be looking after the management’s side, team up with the workers in order to steal materials from the company. They could steal anything from paper, office supplies, film, and ink. Then they would resell these materials for a lower price to some other smaller commercial printer businesses. They do not mind the low cost, after all, they did not pay for the capital of these materials. The other companies know that these are hot items but they also want more profit so they buy these stolen materials. Additionally, they would just be too happy if the bigger company loses and closes so that they could also jump in on the displaced clients.
Bad Attitude
Many employees of printing presses are paid daily with a minimum wage. But instead of diligently going to work every day so that they will receive salary for that day, there are many people who would rather be absent especially if they have a squabble against their officemate or their supervisor. When their bosses need them because of a pressing deadline, they do not report for work so that their supervisors will panic. It is their form of revenge. While most of these employees do not prosper in their professional and personal life because of their bad attitude, they exist in many printing presses where there bad attitudes are felt badly because of the tight deadlines that presses face. They really think that it is in their honor that their company has not met the deadline set by a client.
Labor Unions
Many printing companies have closed down because their workers have joined the union. As a group they demand higher wages and better benefits, even if the owners could not afford to give everything to them. They go on a strike and they refuse to work. Their existing clients who needed to meet printing deadlines had to find other printers who can accommodate their rush jobs. As a result of these strikes, the printers lost many clients. Sometimes, the labor issue gets resolved in day, when the company offers a compromise and the workers agree. But there were instances when the strikes continued for months. When the talks have reached a gridlock, companies have no choice but to close down the plant and declare bankruptcy. After a few months, they will re-open and hire new employees while their old employees are displaced.
Sometimes, these labor unions are good for the employees but sometimes they can be too much in their demands that many commercial printing companies have closed and subsequently many people have lost their jobs. They threaten the owner of the commercial printer but in the end, they lose the battle because the owner can just go and start another business.
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