Well, they're at it again. A union is unhappy with a business, so they're expressing their dissent in the traditional fashion. But they're not quite upset enough to do the picketing themselves, so they've hired people to do the actual marching.
At minimum wage, of course. And with no benefits.
This isn't the first time they've done this. Previously, union organizers were unhappy at Wal-Mart (well, they still are), so they picketed a store in Las Vegas. But since it was Vegas, it was too beastly hot for actual union members to do the walking. So they hired a bunch of people at minimum wage to walk the picket line, with no water, no breaks, no benefits, nothing.
At that time, I suggested Wal-Mart could have scored a PR coup by inviting the picketers to come inside the air-conditioned store and fill out applications for jobs -- at above minimum wage.
That reflects the danger of "crowds for hire." Their loyalty isn't to the cause or the group, but to the paycheck. And it wouldn't take much to sway that loyalty -- say, imagine what would happen if one of those targeted groups offered the protesters a buck an hour more to do things like sweep the parking lot, unload trucks, and the like.
Or -- even more fun -- to move on over to the union headquarters and hold signs in favor of right-to-work laws and investigations into union corruption.
The unions have already established that this would be a fair tactic. It'd be fun to see them utterly lose it when it's turned back on them.
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Comments (10)
OMG! Just by em' a happy me... (Below threshold)1. Posted by 914 | July 17, 2010 11:19 AM | Score: 0 (8 votes cast)
OMG! Just by em' a happy meal Barry. Were all comfortable with your kinda day's in the white house. How long until you take offense at 'white house'? BTW?
1. Posted by 914 | July 17, 2010 11:19 AM |
Score: 0 (8 votes cast)
Posted on July 17, 2010 11:19
2. Posted by mpw280 | July 17, 2010 11:30 AM | Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
I love the idea and think that Wal-mart did drop the ball by not asking in the enemy, so to speak. The idea of paying a buck an hour more probably wouldn't get the switch done, but 2.50 an hour would buy them off. Sending them back to the union office to picket the union's unfair labor practices is just what the Dr ordered for sure. mpw
2. Posted by mpw280 | July 17, 2010 11:30 AM |
Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
Posted on July 17, 2010 11:30
3. Posted by Rich Fader | July 17, 2010 1:33 PM | Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
Memo to the Carpenters and the UFCW...when the companies do it, even at better than minimum wage, you call it scab labor. How's it any different when you guys do it?
3. Posted by Rich Fader | July 17, 2010 1:33 PM |
Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on July 17, 2010 13:33
4. Posted by Offshore Ally | July 17, 2010 3:27 PM | Score: -1 (7 votes cast)
Hi Jay ! The post is hilarious ! Though outsourcing is a delicate issue at present, let us also not forget one basic truth - God/ Nature did not create borders, languages, religions, cultures etc - and, most importantly, money/ currency; all of these man(un)kind did. And thus was born outsourcing - another devil. Maybe we need to revisit our inner-self. It's not unions like Wal(mart)- but the walls we have built to differentiate amongst ourselves.
4. Posted by Offshore Ally | July 17, 2010 3:27 PM |
Score: -1 (7 votes cast)
Posted on July 17, 2010 15:27
5. Posted by daniel noe | July 17, 2010 4:58 PM | Score: 0 (6 votes cast)
Alas, the few of us with common sense lack the creativity to do such a thing (with few exceptions).
This reminds me of when then-governor Mike Huckabee responded to calls for more spending on things the state didn't really need by creating a "tax me more" fund, wherein those citizens that wanted to could donate, essentially, to those projects Huckabee didn't think were important.
I think the fund only had something like three donors, or something.
5. Posted by daniel noe | July 17, 2010 4:58 PM |
Score: 0 (6 votes cast)
Posted on July 17, 2010 16:58
6. Posted by James Cloninger | July 17, 2010 5:49 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
At that time, I suggested Wal-Mart could have scored a PR coup by inviting the picketers to come inside the air-conditioned store and fill out applications for jobs -- at above minimum wage.
"I'm Gonna Git You Sucka": Kalinga (the leader of a Black-Panther type organisation bemoans the outcome of a riot/march:
Kalinga: Yes, we marched on the Federal building. Five hundred of us young brothers, full of outrage.
[sighs]
They were hiring that day. The brothers came with guns; they left with jobs. Oh, yes, whitey is very tricky.
6. Posted by James Cloninger | July 17, 2010 5:49 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 17, 2010 17:49
7. Posted by LiberalNitemare | July 17, 2010 7:41 PM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
I suggest that all picket walkers unionize - don't let the man hold you down!
7. Posted by LiberalNitemare | July 17, 2010 7:41 PM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on July 17, 2010 19:41
8. Posted by rich K | July 18, 2010 3:20 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
So who is the A.F.P.W.U President anyway?
Answer below for those with no imagination.
American Federated Picket Workers United
8. Posted by rich K | July 18, 2010 3:20 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 18, 2010 03:20
9. Posted by GarandFan | July 18, 2010 10:44 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Union bosses today are like politicians. They just want to keep their nest feathered.
Same situation locally. A group of veterinarians had a new hospital built (nice place BTW). They put it out to bid. Local unions got upset. Well, they got upset AFTER the place was built with mostly non-union labor. Now there are pickets out front protesting. Local paper did a story on the "protesters". Don't know how it got by the editors, but it seems the "protesters" are mostly illegal aliens. Go figure.
9. Posted by GarandFan | July 18, 2010 10:44 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 18, 2010 10:44
10. Posted by DavidD | July 18, 2010 6:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"It'd be fun to see them utterly lose it when it's turned back on them" except that they'd just send their thugs out to beat up on the protesters.
10. Posted by DavidD | July 18, 2010 6:03 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 18, 2010 18:03