1. 

   pennygirl
   

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   There has been a lot of discussion here over the past few weeks about the possible grocery strike.

   I am going to go out on a limb and ask if you would not cross the picket line if the strike happens. I know it will be inconvenient, but at the same time you will be supporting another local grocery store by shopping at Ballard/Greenwood/Central Market.

   I am also aware that there is a division here about Unions in general, but in this case the Union is trying to save the Contract - not improve it.

   This might be a non issue in a few hours, as they may come to an agreement, but I hope you can take the time to think about my request.

   (Also...crossing a picket line really isn't fun - especially if you are one of the people that has taken the really low $ temp job)

   Posted 2 years ago #
2. 

   Gackpoid
   

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   If there is to be an actual picket line, I could never live with myself if I crossed it. And you know I'm rarely ashamed.

   Posted 2 years ago #
3. 

   iPlod
   

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   My take is, if you are an hourly wage earner & you cross a picket line, you are eventually helping yourself & your bosses to lower wages & benefits in the future.

   Also, if you are a mom & pop biz or self employed & vote Republican, you are cutting your own throat & just can't see why.

   Posted 2 years ago #
4. 

   ballardgirl
   

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   I would not in this case, the workers are just trying to keep their low wage jobs from going lower. The stores are being greedy In my mind, this is not a statement on weather or not I think unions are a good thing. I just think the stores are trying to take advantage of the economic situation. I had a employer who used Sept 11 as justification to lay myself and 14 other employees off, when really they had been doing bad for 2 years. It sucked.

   Posted 2 years ago #
5. 

   Jonathan Pryce
   

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   Right on, 1dgrrl. If in doubt, just call on Joe Hill, he'll steer you in the right direction. He was killed, but never died.

   Posted 2 years ago #
6. 

   Nora Bell
   

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   Yeah, like I stated in the other thread, I won't be crossing any picket lines. They're just trying to keep what they've got, and the grocery biz isn't hurting so there's no reason for cuts other than greed.

   Posted 2 years ago #
7. 

   msballard30
   

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   Same here. Neither my husband nor I will cross a picket line. Fortunately, I have that 5% family discount at Ballard Market (I envision a lot of Top Ramen in our future ...).

   Posted 2 years ago #
8. 

   pennygirl
   

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   I talked to my Dad today. He's Union (NUT) in the UK. Or I should say 'was'. His only advice for his Grandson was to 'bundle up, hold your sign high, and prepare to be in it for the long haul'.

   Oh, and he warned me about what happens to you in the afterlife if you cross the Picket Line :-)

   Posted 2 years ago #
9. 

   Just Me
   

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   I always shop at Ballard Market or Central Market or Greenwood Market.
   I might go into the QFC on Holman Road just to mail some letters depending
   on how long the strike goes on.

   Posted 2 years ago #
10. 

    Streaker Troll
    

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    PG's father for the win! :=D

    Posted 2 years ago #
11. 

    pennygirl
    

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    My Dad actually rules the world. He just forgot to tell anyone.

    Posted 2 years ago #
12. 

    booboo
    

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    I'm the daughter of a union-man and married to a mighty Teamster so NO I couldn't/wouldn't cross a picket line. We're lucky to live in a big city with so many shopping options... it's not much of a hardship.
    I just hope the two sides can reach a decent agreement and avoid a strike. These people need their jobs 'as is' and I want to keep access to fairly cheap groceries.

    Posted 2 years ago #
13. 

    Streaker Troll
    

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    Well then he can get Streaker as many pot pies as ah can eat, and keep any kittays from stealing them. Right?

    Like this!

    Posted 2 years ago #
14. 

    Mamasings
    

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    Does anyone know how Amazon Fresh ties into this? I'll plan on avoiding them if anyone affiliated with them will be on strike. Good excuse to head to Ballard Market.

    Posted 2 years ago #
15. 

    Alonzo Neighbor
    

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    What about people who use the FM (or Safeway) pharmacy? I just got my blood pressure meds refilled so I'm good for a while, but I know that is a pretty busy place. I'm picturing an older gentleman who was there the other day, having some problems understanding the pricing on his meds. How frightening it might be for anyone needing to cross through the pickets.

    Edited to add that I don't plan on crossing any picket lines, but hope it doesn't come to that.

    Posted 2 years ago #
16. 

    pennygirl
    

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    Alonzo...

    The people working the picket line will be the actual employees of the store. They will know him. And even if they don't, a picket line will not shout at an older person. Trust me.

    Posted 2 years ago #
17. 

    Cate
    

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    I just checked both Seattle Timesand Seattle PI online and couldn't find any current information regarding the potential strike. Anyone know what the current status of negotiations is today?

    Posted 2 years ago #
18. 

    pennygirl
    

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    Cate...

    They're still negotiating.

    Posted 2 years ago #
19. 

    msballard30
    

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    Oh, crap. The pharmacy ... !

    Posted 2 years ago #
20. 

    msballard30
    

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    Actually, I don't believe the pharmacy or the pharmacists are part of the union - they're separate and are all contract employees, I believe.

    So how does one get to the pharmacists without crossing the picket line?

    Posted 2 years ago #
21. 

    Streaker Troll
    

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    There are other pharmacies. Bartell's for one. If ya don't want to cross that proverbial strike line. Not exactly convenient to use a different one than your usual, but that'd be the only way.

    Posted 2 years ago #
22. 

    pennygirl
    

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    msballard30...

    just walk past waving a prescription shouting the same thing :-)

    Posted 2 years ago #
23. 

    Mr. Crankypants
    

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    Pgirl, will your son be throwing bags of pee at line-crossers?

    Posted 2 years ago #
24. 

    jburgh
    

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    I grew up in a steel mill and oil refinery town. Crossing a picket line can and did get some people killed. It is an ugly scene. When the dh worked at a steel mill in management, he quit rather than cross the picket line to do some of the union jobs they told him he needed to help with. Luckily for us, jobs were not so scarce back then. So neither of us will be crossing the picket lines.

    Posted 2 years ago #
25. 

    great idea
    

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    only if those bags of pee contain the urine of some trippin' reindeer!

    I won't cross any picket lines, as a bike ride to the ballard mkt. is not much farther than the qfc. and if I'm really gung ho, I'll take it to my favorite store in town, the centreal mkt.

    Posted 2 years ago #
26. 

    Samkin
    

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    We will def NOT be crossing any picket line - and on the 'silver lining' side, this provided us with a nice "teachable moment" - found myself feeling like my dad as I explained *why* to my older kiddo... Doubly nice to have the labor historian gramma visiting for that conversation...

    Posted 2 years ago #
27. 

    sezdogballard
    

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    I've never been in a union. For 4 generations no one in my family has been in a union. No one in my immediate family is in a union. But *no one* in my household will be crossing a picket line. Because I have worked where there desperately needed to be a union (at the very least for our own physical safety) but people were too afraid to organize. And my father worked in mines that would have been even more deadly if not for unions. I second the request that people not cross the picket lines.

    Posted 2 years ago #
28. 

    angeline
    

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    No. I won't be shopping at those stores until any strike is over. Made sure to get into Fred Meyer today to do a return I had lying around. As for prescriptions, it isn't difficult at all to transfer to another pharmacy. The pharmacist at the new store takes care of everything for you. I like Bartells or one of our local mom'n'pop pharmacies, but the drive through pharmacy at Walgreens takes the cake for convenience.

    Posted 2 years ago #
29. 

    onederfullone
    

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    Hot off of the press

    http://www.mynw.com/category/local_news_articles/20101121/Grocery-workers-reach-tentative-agreement/

    Posted 2 years ago #
30. 

    BriarRose
    

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    I do hope they settle but if not I will cross no picket line. The teamsters not delivering will make for slim pickins for those who do.

    Posted 2 years ago #
31. 

    dsomers
    

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    Same here! Won't cross.

    Posted 2 years ago #
32. 

    enatai70
    

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    Will NOT cross!!!

    Posted 2 years ago #
33. 

    h2o_girl
    

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    As the sister of a union organizer, (who is far from a fat cat, I must say) and a daughter of a former Teamster, no way I would cross. Thanks for posting this PG, and I hope they reach an agreement.

    Solidarity.

    Posted 2 years ago #
34. 

    OwlsInsomnia2
    

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    Mamasings, Amazon Fresh is a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon and is entirely non-union, and has no union ties. So, no conflict of interest if it came to that.

    I wouldn't cross a picket line to buy groceries out of respect for my union friends who have very strong feelings about their union relationships. This is a complex issue in my view. Grocery margins are very low and it's not like there are a bunch of fat cats getting rich off the grocery business. A few at the top, but not many. And, grocery workers work very hard for little money and provide all of us with a very valuable service. Compromise is a good goal for both sides. And I'd be willing to pay a bit more for groceries if it meant better wages and benefits for these folks. That is all.

    Posted 2 years ago #
35. 

    Mamasings
    

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    Thank you, Owls! I wasn't sure how the unions fit in with their whole operation.

    If anyone is thinking about trying Amazon Fresh during the strike, I'm pretty sure that I heard on the radio that if you enter the promo code "THANKSGIVING" at checkout, it will save you 10% if you are a first-timer.

    Posted 2 years ago #
36. 

    msballard30
    

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    Now that they have a tentative settlement, I noticed that the "Scabs for hire" signs have been taken down from the entrance of Fred Meyer.

    Posted 2 years ago #
37. 

    c2
    

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    The actual workers don't even know what the offer is yet and probably won't vote on it for a couple weeks. No strike for Thanksgiving, but if the offer is bad they may strike around Christmas.

    Posted 2 years ago #
38. 

    Mr. Pyramid Burr
    

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    I'm for the workers, but do hope they reach an agreement: no strike is better.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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