A few big grocery stores here in California are preparing for potential strikes from their unionized workers. The Democratic party has long been propped up by organized labor funds but I wonder- will every Democrat drive an extra mile or go out of their way to shop at a different store or will they cross that picket line? Will convenience and habit win out over supporting other Americans? Unions in general were one reason we Americans enjoy many of the higher standards of living we have today. They increased wages, made workplaces more safe and helped get workers better healthcare. Unfortunately, too many unions now seem only to be in the business of getting union-friendly politicians elected first; taking care of their members second.
Understandably, very few union workers want to take a pay cut or reduce their benefits. How many pensioned and current State and Federal employees will actually say, "Yes, my agency or position is redundant" or admit that perhaps they shouldn't be collecting $150k a year in pension from the Department of Corrections? I'm not trying to single out any one group- the problem is endemic in Union and Public employee sectors. Many of them know that they are making too much money; bleeding city, state and Federal Government's dry, but very few are willing to sacrifice anything. By the same token, we non-Public Sector, non-unionized workers hop up and down and point to these people and demand cuts while staunchly refusing to make sacrifices ourselves. We are all very selfish and so eager to point fingers and blame the problems on everyone else, demanding that "they" need to give up more than most of us are willing to do. Where do we draw the line? How much is too much money? How good a healthcare plan is "too good?"
I remember when my dad (a railroad worker) went on strike and Burlington Northern hired "scabs". The BN union workers had not had a contract in over two years. The strike didn't last long, Regan declared that the railroads were vital to the United States' economy and declared it illegal for railroad workers to strike. My dad also contributed to social security for 50 plus years but can't "double dip"- he can't draw his railroad retirement pension and collect social security. How many Federal, State and local workers are collecting pensions or retirement AND social security? Too bad he didn't work for GM or Uncle Sam, he and mom probably wouldn't be living in a two-bedroom apartment. Back when the railroad workers attempted to strike, Americans in general were unsupportive of the workers: they wanted the goods that were shipped daily via railways. Has anything changed thirty years later?
When we don't support union or public sector workers, oftentimes the unsaid and unsavory little fact is we are jealous. We don't have their salary, pension, job security and four breaks and a well-stocked cafeteria so we don't want anyone else to have it either. Why doesn't anyone in the mainstream media ever discuss or admit this? Because the truth hurts and no one wants to admit that we are selfish and still suffer petty jealousies that continue to divide our communities and our countries.
Like anyone else that is engaged in politics or that may be affected by the potential strikes, I will be following the grocery store crisis in California closely. I have decided that I won't be a hypocrite- Albertson's is right down the road but I will not cross a picket line. Why? Because while I personally would like to enjoy some of the benefits "those" people have and I personally think that many (not all) union and public workers have it made in the shade compared to their non-unionized and private sector workers- I just can't be that selfish- I can't walk by my favorite Albertson's clerk while she is not earning money to pay her bills. Perhaps that means I'm not a hypocrite or selfish- or maybe it just makes me a coward; and that may be just as pathetic.
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