Look for the Union Label

[Blitz]

I thought that this was a very thought provoking article. Your thoughts?


On strike with Ralphs in California.
by Larry Miller
11/03/2003 12:00:00 AM


I WALKED A PICKET LINE THE OTHER DAY. I'm not a member of the union that was on strike, and it's not my line of work, anyway. I don't believe I've ever walked a picket line before, although I think I drink enough so that maybe I have and can't remember. (Just kidding. Sort of.) No, I never did. I walked this one, though. It seemed like the right thing to do. So I went there and walked. I'm going to do it again.

I know some of you are checking to see if you accidentally logged onto the Mother Jones Newsletter. You haven't. I'm as big a capitalist as ever, which is to say I think it would be dandy to have a printing press in my game room shooting out sheets of uncut twenties. (Come to think of it, I don't have a game room, although I guess I could build one with all that new dough.)

. . .

Each fight between management and labor must be taken on its own merits. I think this one is right, so the strikers have my support. Unfortunately, I'm afraid it's going to be a long and bruising battle the workers will ultimately lose. So.


ABOUT A MONTH AGO the company that owns Ralphs, Albertson's, and Vons--three large supermarket chains here in California--told the union they were taking back something they had already given, health care. They said they'd still pay for the bulk of it, but that costs were so high the workers would have to chip in part of the money, five dollars and change per week for a single employee, fifteen dollars and change per week for a family.

. . .

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT


Please read the whole thing (it's not that long):

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/332mubcv.asp

[Upfront]

1. Great story.

We should all do this.

[mmonk]

2. People tend to gravitate

to the cheapest prices. Therefore, it seems a never ending story that the labor market continues concessions and more and more people lose their jobs. That's why I'd really like to see healthcare reform where the costs are not all employer based or a combination of employer/employee based, but a system where help comes from government. The costs to government would be recouped by more employment of the workforce and the increase in tax revenues due to increased employment.

[bleedingheart]

3. bump - good article

unfortunately people don't care until it happens to them. but we should all remember that whatever setbacks the unions face... we will face them even more so.

[Blitz]

4. kick

An interesting piece made more interesting by who wrote it and who published it.