Need picketers to goose up your protest? You can hire picketers - yes, demonstrators-for-hire that march wherever you want them to march and chant whatever you want them to chant.
That in itself may be a smart solution, but when you're a labor union protesting the hiring of non-union workers, then that's just a whole 'nother level of irony:
Billy Raye, a 51-year-old unemployed bike courier, is looking for work.
Fortunately for him, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters is seeking paid demonstrators to march and chant in its current picket line outside the McPherson Building, an office complex here where the council says work is being done with nonunion labor.
"For a lot of our members, it's really difficult to have them come out, either because of parking or something else," explains Vincente Garcia, a union representative who is supervising the picketing.
So instead, the union hires unemployed people at the minimum wage—$8.25 an hour—to walk picket lines. Mr. Raye says he's grateful for the work, even though he's not sure why he's doing it. "I could care less," he says. "I am being paid to march around and sound off."
Jennifer Levitz of the Wall Street Journal reports: Link
Is it any wonder a lot of people have a dislike for unions? If you are a union member, coming out is something you should be doing regardless of the inconvienience. I wouldn't want my union dues used to pay to a non union member because union members were to lazy to show up. Unions still have their place I just wish those in charge were smarter about some things.
If I were a rich man (and crazy...or crazier) I would hire protestors to march for some of the goofiest reasons. Heck. I might hire some to picket the union headquarters for not making the protesters part of the union. Spend a few thousand dollars, get some money into hands of people who need it, and make a crazy statement. That is how life ought to be.
why would there be a union for people who stand in protests for money? does that make sense?
WSJ article to boot.
But in the end, I certainly would rather have a union to help keep my workplace safe and fair rather than just rely on the good will of the company.
So Mr Raye does care sine 'he could care less' about what he is doing.
If anybody is out by the McPherson Building could you smack Mr Raye in the back of the head and tell him it is "I could NOT care less". Thanks
What exactly is so objectionable about unions hiring non-union picketers? Does it even make sense for picketers to unionize? Do you have any idea how unions are created, or the conditions under which unionization makes sense? Why the hell would a bunch of short term, no-skill "professional" picketers who work a few weeks out of the year need union representation?!
If Alex or the author of the WSJ article weren't reporting in bad faith, maybe they would point out that management often keeps lawyers, lobbyists, and public relation firms on retainer for the exact same reason the carpenter's union hired picketers: to manage public perception.
But somehow, when Unions do this, it's a bad thing.
This kind of shit is exactly why I will no longer visit Neatorama.
Can't you see the irony of the situation: a union protesting the hiring of non-union labor by ... hiring non-union picketers!
But that isn't what's happening.
The real story is that unions, including the carpenter's union in this case, are hiring people to protest entities that don't hire unions. Nowhere is it written that picketers must be members of a union to picket on behalf of union causes.
Again, if this were a case of unions giving preference to non-union picketers over unionized picketers, THAT would be ironic. But this isn't ironic: it's a union hiring the unemployed for PR work. That's all.
The problem I have with you and the WSJ reporter is the way you've twisted this non-story to make the carpenter's union appear hypocritical and unprincipled. You call it "irony", but an honest reading of the facts does not yield such an interpretation.
I agree with Kalel. Unions are a blessing and a curse. Sometimes companies will screw you over without the union, though. Government unions are the worst, keeping incompetent people doing nothing in well-paying jobs, and making them feel entitled, all at the expense of people who can't afford their taxes.