Would you cross a picket line?

I have always been a union member..as were both my parents when I was growing up...so I tend to not cross picket lines...

so I went to the grocery store yesterday and I saw that they were picketing (this has been a big case out here) so I decided to drive by...gave them the thumbs up and they started cheering!

but I know that many people either do not like unions or would still go into the store...


how do you feel?

I'm not at all pro-union. Besides that, I also tend to scream and yell profanities at anti-abortionists who tend to picket as well. (I flip 'em off through my sunroof too!)

Regardless of what side you take, freedom of speech is one of our rights, and it's great to live in a country where people can picket and I can curse back at them.

I totally agree...


I was just curious if there was anyone else that felt strongly about unions like me....the news says that the stores sales are down 60%...so I guess there are a lot of people that are staying away...


these particular workers are striking b/c management wants to cut their health insurance in 1/2 (the current health insurance plan is one of the best around)

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Posted by Lunatrek

Besides that, I also tend to scream and yell profanities at anti-abortionists who tend to picket as well. (I flip 'em off through my sunroof too!)

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I do that too.


I don't usually cross a picket line - it would depend on what they were picketing for.

I am not pro-union at all (to the dismay of my parents who both are) and I would cross a picket line if I had too. I beleive they have the right to picket but I'm not going to inconvience myself by not shopping in a certain store in order for them to prove a point. No one stops using the company I work for when I don't get a raise and get my medical increased by 20% every year : ). JMO though of course

karen...nothing stopping you and your coworkers from organizing....


then people (other union members) WOULD stop using your company...

I am not pro-union and I would and have crossed picket lines. Many years ago I worked for a small family owned and operated dairy company. They served only Nassau and Suffolk and were dairy distributor to local schools, hospitals, deli's etc. The company had only about 30 employees. We were non-union. When the milk drivers union went on strike our drivers were not a part of it.

The union decided that because our company kept delivering we should be subject to attacks. They stood just off company property and any vehicle that tried to turn in was blocked. We ended up having to get police and private armed guards to escort us on and off the property. I cannot tell you how terrifying that was. Our delivery trucks were followed, egged, had tires slashed etc.

Why? No reason that I could see. We were taking nothing away from them by working. The company was delivering only to existing customers even though we could have and were asked to take on others. From that point on I was a non-union supporter.

I am sure that the reason the store has lost business is that people are afraid to cross the picket lines. Intimidation works wonders!

very true but I think I might get blackballed in the investement world if I started a union . For people that are in them I think its great. My parents have been very well protected and actually recieved HUGE benefits when they retired due to their unions. I'm not knocking unions at all. They do their purpose, just not for me and I wouldn't go out of my way to support them, barring extenuating circumstances.

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Posted by Lunatrek

Besides that, I also tend to scream and yell profanities at anti-abortionists who tend to picket as well. (I flip 'em off through my sunroof too!)

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I have no sunroof, but I do my own screaming at those people.

Im not union or anything. Aint much of that in Texas thats too noticable. Frankly It depends on the issue I guess. I saw Mazda auto repaire men picketing against closing the shop in Hempstead. I so supported them. Honked my horn, yell supportive things. But that's cause I believe in the cause. I saw phone people (not here) once picketing. I thought it didnt apply to me so I moved on.

I agree that just because it's their right to picket shouldnt mean I 'have' to somehow show special attention to them. My favorite was when Hershey Park people were on strike. I stopped the car, rolled down the window and said 'Hey, Im lost how exactly do I get into the park?' FH nearly killed me. He was all like 'they're on strike why would they want us to spend money on the place that doesnt pay them' surprisingly, they did just that. Helped us out. On the way out I honked my horn and waved.

God bless America and the right to freedom of speech.

Maybe there should be a union of Insurance people! YEAH that's it. Don't mess with us, or you'll never see your claim check again!
hehe

sorry. got carried away.

Yabbobaby,
Our grocery workers are picketing out here in St Louis too. I have not been to the grocery store in over a week!
I don't want to cross the line. My FI is a union member (firefighter) and he was a shop steward. I would support it.

I would not cross a picket line. My husband works for Verizon and he is in the union. A few months ago they were ready to strike to save their jobs. Thank goodness everything worked out and nobody got laid off and they didn't lose their benefits.

Posted by Lunatrek

Besides that, I also tend to scream and yell profanities at anti-abortionists who tend to picket as well. (I flip 'em off through my sunroof too!) .........

Love it - my favorite is me cursing out the crazy poster that scares little kids- lady on 42nd and 6th, like God approves of scaring little kids.

Ok so I dont know if I would cross a union picket line - I would probably get annoyed by the crowd and not go.

The only time I can remember crossing a picket line was when the maintenance workers in my office building were on strike. I wouldn't honor someone's line that could cost me my own job.

hehe Christine - you remember that strike 7 years ago! That is what my company does! That strike was so miserable!!! We had picketers outside all the time and security guards all around our office to protect us. They may/may not have had their reasons but I still had to go to work and do my job! I am in IT and have nothing to do with their issues - all I had was the horror of figuring out how to use our system to pay the strike breakers!

I have no strong feelings either way about unions (my dad and brotheres are all union workers). I believe people have the right to picket and if I believe enough in their cause I would not cross the line...but I rarely think I believe in a cause that strongly!