"I wish they would learn and embrace the importance of being in a union, especially when you work in journalism. Most newspaper owners aren’t journalists, they’re business people. They will make decisions that benefit them but not necessarily ones that benefit their employees."
My wife is a travel nurse. She's been travel nursing for the last 6 years. In that time, she's been offered exorbitant contracts at hospitals whose nurses are on strike. But she won't take them because she refuses to be a scab. And this -
" When you cross a picket line, not only are you showing how much you don’t respect the strikers and their work, you’re also showing how you don’t respect yourself or your work."
Is why. She refuses to take the side of management against members of her own profession.
"From what I understand, the NLRB is very understaffed and very busy, so we’re still waiting to hear back on that…"
Given that the NLRB is so understaffed it can't manage the labor situation in a country with ~10% union membership, and given that the stated goal is 100% union membership, given that this is the case under ol lunchbucket photo op joe, given that under any later republican administration & probably democratic ones it will be even more underfunded and feckless where not jammed full of actively hostile stooges, seems like people are gonna have to get themselves used to wildcat strikes, and whatever else it might take to force the bosses to the bargaining table.
And speaking from experience, 'whatever else it takes to force the bosses to the bargaining table' is always on the table. And this was at a job overseas where not only did we have no rights but getting fired for cause == instant deportation. Beat that fucker like a pinata and got serious concessions, even if it was just getting back money he'd already stole.
"the workers on strike continue to hold their line—starting their own strike paper in response, the Pittsburgh Union Progress." I would like to know more about how well the PUP is doing financially. Is it possible to start a commercially successful newspaper like this? Or is the newspaper market (who is not doing well anyway according what ones hear) too difficult to enter for startups?
"once the strike started, scabs started to get raises and the starting salaries for some of the new scabs were higher than what some of us were making before the strike."
Maybe some fine enterprising journalist or blogger or essayist or other creator could start turning a carbon-arc spotlight on these Blocks and Newhouse Brats and hedge fund vultures. Seems like they want to control the "seeing" bc they don't want to be "seen".
The link is missing from the here in "You can also donate to the Pittsburgh Striker Fund, which helps us and our families with unexpected financial needs during the strike, here"
"I wish they would learn and embrace the importance of being in a union, especially when you work in journalism. Most newspaper owners aren’t journalists, they’re business people. They will make decisions that benefit them but not necessarily ones that benefit their employees."
My wife is a travel nurse. She's been travel nursing for the last 6 years. In that time, she's been offered exorbitant contracts at hospitals whose nurses are on strike. But she won't take them because she refuses to be a scab. And this -
" When you cross a picket line, not only are you showing how much you don’t respect the strikers and their work, you’re also showing how you don’t respect yourself or your work."
Is why. She refuses to take the side of management against members of her own profession.
Thank you for bringing us this interview.
"From what I understand, the NLRB is very understaffed and very busy, so we’re still waiting to hear back on that…"
Given that the NLRB is so understaffed it can't manage the labor situation in a country with ~10% union membership, and given that the stated goal is 100% union membership, given that this is the case under ol lunchbucket photo op joe, given that under any later republican administration & probably democratic ones it will be even more underfunded and feckless where not jammed full of actively hostile stooges, seems like people are gonna have to get themselves used to wildcat strikes, and whatever else it might take to force the bosses to the bargaining table.
Correct. Although doesn't help these particular workers who are already on strike.
Just making a connection I hadn't made before.
And speaking from experience, 'whatever else it takes to force the bosses to the bargaining table' is always on the table. And this was at a job overseas where not only did we have no rights but getting fired for cause == instant deportation. Beat that fucker like a pinata and got serious concessions, even if it was just getting back money he'd already stole.
"the workers on strike continue to hold their line—starting their own strike paper in response, the Pittsburgh Union Progress." I would like to know more about how well the PUP is doing financially. Is it possible to start a commercially successful newspaper like this? Or is the newspaper market (who is not doing well anyway according what ones hear) too difficult to enter for startups?
"once the strike started, scabs started to get raises and the starting salaries for some of the new scabs were higher than what some of us were making before the strike."
Stand strong my dear brothers and sisters! Praying for a positive agreement in your favor! May the strikers be happy!
~ thebrownmachine ~
Great interview, Hamilton.
Subscribed and donated.
In solidarity!
Great article, thanks!
Maybe some fine enterprising journalist or blogger or essayist or other creator could start turning a carbon-arc spotlight on these Blocks and Newhouse Brats and hedge fund vultures. Seems like they want to control the "seeing" bc they don't want to be "seen".
The link is missing from the here in "You can also donate to the Pittsburgh Striker Fund, which helps us and our families with unexpected financial needs during the strike, here"
Fixed thanks.