Would you cross a picket line?

[friend of pooh]

Yes I would, and I come from a long line of union workers.

I think they served their purpose, but they are no longer necessary. Now all I ever see are some workers abusing the system, much in the way some people on welfare learned to abuse it later on.

While I am sure there are some who abuse it, that doesn't mean they aren't necessary. I am a member of a union and thankful for them all the time. They fight for our contract, help when a power hungry administrator targets the little guys, and the legal counsel can't be forgotten.

 

[Piecey]

I would cross... if I felt safe.

Ridiculous, I know.. but when I was little my dad worked for a plant that went on strike. He was an hour from home, it was a bit isolated (as most plants are it seems).
The Union workers put spikes in the road, that slashed his tires. He didn't even feel safe enough to get out of his car- he sat there with his blinkers on until someone else came and drove in to town to call a tow truck and get him.
I can remember him walking through the door that night- hours late.
The car had pretty much been beaten to crap by the picket line signs, etc. It was ridiculous.
My dad wasn't even a "high-up" at the time. He worked for them right out of college as an electrical engineer.

Two years ago, he worked for a different plant, but he's the second-in-command here. He took my mom's car to get in the plant- in an attempt to not be recognized and also not to get his Jeep destroyed- and he didn't leave for almost a month.
I remember him calling me to go get his prescriptions and to mail them to him.
(This strike NEVER got violent or did any of the ridiculous things the others had, but you could tell my Dad remembered and wasn't taking chances..)

I'm sorry, but I think it's a bit ridiculous.

 

[golfgal]

Union employees don't pay anything at all monthly for healthcare. Period. Right now they only pay doctor co-pays. Everything else is covered 100%.

You said you pay $400/month for premiums and had $12,000+ out of pocket, which is it?? The employees have free insurance and then have to pay extra for family coverage? Again, even with our plan you still pay thousands LESS. The company can still pay the employee portion and you pick up the family tab and it still costs less. Even if you have to pay the entire premium, no union match, no company match, etc it STILL costs you LESS then you are paying now.

 

[phorsenuf]

My goodness, I certainly didn't mean for it to turn into a health care debate. Please tread lightly.

I was just curious. years ago it was such a huge no-no but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

 

[disneyjunkie]

No way no how- I wouldn't cross a picket line and I would not be a scab!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My goodness, I certainly didn't mean for it to turn into a health care debate. Please tread lightly.

I was just curious. years ago it was such a huge no-no but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

What do you mean "no-no"? If my dh does not replace these workers he is fired.

That is more than a no-no.

As an FYI, management has had to do strike training on top of their own jobs for months now.

 

[phorsenuf]

What do you mean "no-no"? If my dh does not replace these workers he is fired.

That is more than a no-no.

As an FYI, management has had to do strike training on top of their own jobs for months now.

I should have clarified. I meant being a scab. (I hate that word. LOL)

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Absolutely not.

I remember walking the picket lines with my mother in the 70s - she was a teacher in the Chicago Public School system.

Did she want to strike - no, but as the majority voted to do so - she marched with the rest of them.

 

[npmommie]

No i would not cross the line.

a few years back, we had a nurse's strike at the hospital where I worked, it was over mandatory overtime........
they called in agency nurses, but some staff ( not many) did cross, and the relationships after were strained,
we got our contract the way we wanted though

 

[Binnie]

Yes I would, and I come from a long line of union workers.

I think they served their purpose, but they are no longer necessary. Now all I ever see are some workers abusing the system, much in the way some people on welfare learned to abuse it later on.

Ditto. And as point of reference, I have crossed a picket line.

 

[S. C.]

NOPE! But I have a UNION family, we stick together!

No way no how- I wouldn't cross a picket line and I would not be a scab!

I agree!

 

[SAHDad]

I'd cross a picket line. But then again, the UAW nearly killed the town I lived in when I was growing up. My dad was a member at the time, and he remembers going to one of the meetings - the union took a secret ballot regarding the strike, and when the results came back "Don't strike", the bosses claimed that all the non-present members wanted to strike, and ordered a strike anyway.

(He also laughs at the UAW members complaining about scabs, and then spending their time away from the picket line doing freelance electrical and plumbing work.)

 

[disney1990]

NOPE! But I have a UNION family, we stick together!

Absolutely.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

There's talk that AT&T may go on strike tomorrow. I believe it's over health benefits. If it happens then (non-union) subs will be called in. If it were you being called in would you go?

Yes I would go.

Your husband's loyalty should be for the company he works for, not for greedy employees who only care about themselves.

The employees who want to strike should be thankful they have jobs, especially in today's economy.

 

[MushyMushy]

Yes I would go.

Your husband's loyalty should be for the company he works for, not for greedy employees who only care about themselves.

The employees who want to strike should be thankful they have jobs, especially in today's economy.

Exactly! I'm finding there is less and less support for striking workers than ever before. Why should they have so much more job protection than any other employee?

 

[Nancy]

I would cross a picket line if it meant I could feed my family.

 

[Lib E]

Yes. Without blinking an eye. If you aren't happy with your employer, do what most other people do and start looking for a new one. If an employer can't keep good workers, their treatment of employees with eventually have to change.

 

[chobie]

Exactly! I'm finding there is less and less support for striking workers than ever before. Why should they have so much more job protection than any other employee?

I would prefer it if everyone had more job protection.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Yes I would go.

Your husband's loyalty should be for the company he works for, not for greedy employees who only care about themselves.

The employees who want to strike should be thankful they have jobs, especially in today's economy.

Why should he be loyal to the company? The company is going to do what's in its best interest. Why shouldn't/wouldn't employees do the same?

 

[birdiesunshine]

To answer op's question, no! I would not cross a picket line.


To those posters above hatin' on the union workers, why not focus your disgust to the CEO's of AT&T that make billions?