Are they joking??

[rgminer]

Crab Houses Turning To Maryland Prisoners For Help - WBAL Radio - wbal.com (http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=25353&zoneid=3)


Who is going to take a chance on litigation? All that has to happen is on of these cons hurt someone and the picking house will be sued out of existence. They will use prisoners but won't take the unemployed? And now they will have to pay the salary of not only the pickers, but the guards, the drivers and pay for their transportation to and from the prison. So watermen will get less money and crab meat will be top dollar.

Yeah I see this working out really well..

[Capt. Dale]

I personally don’t have a problem if prisoners do the picking.
Why not they pick up trash.
I’m not talking about harden criminals, I’m sure some inmates would
Be delighted to have an opportunity to do it.
I don’t care who picks them as long as they get picked.
Not worth much, just my 2 cents

[rgminer]

I personally don’t have a problem if prisoners do the picking.
Why not they pick up trash.
I’m not talking about harden criminals, I’m sure some inmates would
Be delighted to have an opportunity to do it.
I don’t care who picks them as long as they get picked.
Not worth much, just my 2 cents

the day the story about lack of pickers was released (a couple weeks ago) there was a story reported on the Salisbury Fox affiliate where they interviewed one of the picking house owners. He was asked why he didn't hire several of the unemployed people from town...His answer? Because they don't have the skill or small fingers required to effectively pick crabs...he said that the hispanics they hire are use to sewing and have nimble, smaller fingers....

So are they saying that prisoners have smaller more nimble fingers than the average unemployed person? This is political BS. They need to hire the unemployed.

[bcw1]

Taking a guess but they'd likely need to double the wage to interest anyone but immigrant labor. Sad but that is the state of affairs. And of course that would come out of the operators bottom line and or be passed to the consumer. I feel we and the operators have been spoiled by cheap labor for too long. I'll pay more for seafood if it means the USA can do without migrant labor and employ US citizens. I work in Cambridge, plenty of people looking for or should be looking for work.

[Crabpot Man]

Did you even read the article?

Hint; the headline is opposite what the article states....


Corrections officials approached processors


Meanwhile, the Dorchester County Seafood Packers Association is sponsoring a job fair on Hoopers Island on Thursday, seeking more than 300 locals to pick crabs.

[27 sailfish]

I read they pay abot $7.00 an hour - up to $10.00 if you pick fast.

Trouble is that is $280.00 to $400.00 a week - gross.

Unemployment pays somewhere around $300.00 - welfare is not much less.

So , you sit on your lazy a$$ and wait for a check or go out and WORK HARD for about the same. Gee , I bet most find the "government work " much easier. I say cut off assistance checks if there are jobs open in the area. Crab picking is not to tough to learn.

It may come down to the crab houses having to pay a better wage. Yes this will raise crab meat prices but if people can shell out $200.00 for a bushel - I bet they will pay more for a pound of lump. Most restuarants charge " market price " as it is for crab dishes.

I'd apply but end up owing money at weeks end - no way I could pick and not eat :D.

[rgminer]

Maximum unemployment is $360 minus 10% federal and 7% state tax. But it's not really about the money. Why should prisoners get those "jobs" when there are unemployed people out there who can do the work. When a person applies for unemployment they state that they are either fit for work or not. If they are fit for work and they are offered employment and don't take it for any reason, they are required to report it and give a reason why. Because I can make more money sitting on my ass is not a valid reason.

[OMAR]

I say cut off assistance checks if there are jobs open in the area.


AGREED! :clapping2:

[JALOPY]

It sounds like a good summer job for students. I would also think there would be Overtime possibilities.

[rock n crab]

used to always see a table set aside for a few pickers in the local crab houses when I was a kid.... Any crab left on a table quickly became lump meat for crab dishes..... I remember watching these folks pick the crab; I learned a lot standing there watching them..... Man they were fast.
I'd do it for free if they would let me drink beer for free :) I would only be good for a few hours a week :(

[lance644]

Maximum unemployment is $360 minus 10% federal and 7% state tax. But it's not really about the money. Why should prisoners get those "jobs" when there are unemployed people out there who can do the work. When a person applies for unemployment they state that they are either fit for work or not. If they are fit for work and they are offered employment and don't take it for any reason, they are required to report it and give a reason why. Because I can make more money sitting on my ass is not a valid reason.

Actually the way unemployment works is that you do not need to take a job that is open for say $7.00-$10,00 per hour if it is for less money than what you made while working. That way if you were laid off at $20.00 a hour, your not forced to take a job at $7.00 a hour.
Lance