If a union's demands were not based on reason, there would not be a strike. It takes guts and tons of support within the union to get to that point. All strikes are necessarily justified imho.
The stupid bureaucratic process combined with the missed paychecks, yeah it's not an easy decision to go on strike, good for them to be willing to pull the trigger when it got to that point.
"Don’t be mad when union workers make a good living. Instead, get a union of your own, and join them."
I lived in Flint, Michigan, for about 25 years from the late 70s to the early 2000s, and the amount of resentment towards UAW wages that I heard from non-auto workers was stunning. All I could say was "How do you think this works? What do you think happens if all of these people don't get paid this well?" Well, ultimately, and sadly, Flint found out.
For a country that celebrates *some* people making a lot of money, we sure seem to get upset when regular working people scratch out something decent for themselves.
After reading about Matewan, Sid Hatfield, and Blair Mountain a couple days ago (and then digging in); I sorely needed to see and read this piece. Thank you so much.
It's funny that a fair price is what someone will pay, until the price is on labour. In the story someone said "We deserve this" but that's not the rule when it's a luxury brand. Or fuel.
If a union's demands were not based on reason, there would not be a strike. It takes guts and tons of support within the union to get to that point. All strikes are necessarily justified imho.
The stupid bureaucratic process combined with the missed paychecks, yeah it's not an easy decision to go on strike, good for them to be willing to pull the trigger when it got to that point.
"Don’t be mad when union workers make a good living. Instead, get a union of your own, and join them."
I lived in Flint, Michigan, for about 25 years from the late 70s to the early 2000s, and the amount of resentment towards UAW wages that I heard from non-auto workers was stunning. All I could say was "How do you think this works? What do you think happens if all of these people don't get paid this well?" Well, ultimately, and sadly, Flint found out.
For a country that celebrates *some* people making a lot of money, we sure seem to get upset when regular working people scratch out something decent for themselves.
After reading about Matewan, Sid Hatfield, and Blair Mountain a couple days ago (and then digging in); I sorely needed to see and read this piece. Thank you so much.
It's funny that a fair price is what someone will pay, until the price is on labour. In the story someone said "We deserve this" but that's not the rule when it's a luxury brand. Or fuel.
Another piece of good writing/reportage!
And great last two sentences!
Should be a slogan for some new union organizing org.
well said -- I'll be sharing this with some railroader friends...