A bumpersticker I saw today

[eauclaireliberal]

I was walking over to Luther ("Loo-terr") hospital earlier today when I saw in the parking lot a bumpersticker "UNIONIZED LABOR:The folks that brought you the WEEKEND!"

It was on the back of a Ford Explorer-My guess is that it is a freetard.

Of course, I could be wrong about that, but it sounds like the yawn-inspiring stupidity of RW-rhetoric.

[SharonAnn]

1. Well, several of the union members I know have on their car

Because it's true and they're proud of it.

Also, union negotiations brought us

40 hr work week
Paid overtime
Paid vacations
Paid medical insurance
Pensions
etc.

[eauclaireliberal]

3. RE: Well, several of the union members I know have on their car

It sounded like a freeper crying. That was the impression I got. I keep hearing from them how "unfair" it is that those evil unions keep effecting their bottom line. Losers.

[Maddy McCall]

6. Exactly...to gain these things is the whole reason disparate workers ...

organized. The power of one worker was easily subdued; the power of all was not.

[rucky]

7. and Labor Day!

If Freetards want to go back to the old ways, I say let 'em.

[Maddy McCall]

8. Yup...see my post #2 below on "Blue Mondays"

[Maddy McCall]

2. It is true...

Read any labor history and you will see this is true. They fought and struggled for a 40-hour work week, and won.


And they brought you Labor Day, too. In worker tradition, men would not show up on Mondays, because they would get drunk on Sunday and have hangovers Monday, much to the frustration of their managers. Labor Day (always on a Monday) emerged as a compromise holiday for workers.

[Noordam]

4. Saturday used to be a normal

work day.

The two day weekend has not always been that.

[nini]

5. my guess it's a pro union guy.. not a freeper

unions fought for decent hours etc.. the weekend being one of them.

weekends are a good thing :-)

[fleetus]

11. I agree, he's not a wingnut.

I mean, come on. EVERYBODY likes weekends. E*V*E*R*Y*B*O*D*Y. That's why the bumpersticker is trying to say don't give unions a bad rap... they are responsible for cool stuff, like weekends!

Although, I thought the American Socialist Party was the one that lobbied for weekends. But I never confirmed that. It's just something somebody told me one time.

[MaineDem]

9. Definitely pro-labor

Not a freeper!

[Capn Sunshine]

10. Something else unions fought for...

the right for a kid to be a kid. Used to be if you were poor, you went to work ASAP. before the 20's , five year olds in factories or in agriculture was not uncommon.

Now we have that darned "public education" which is under fire again from the right......

[joefree1]

12. And thank you very much for the weekend Union Folk!!!

I work a lot in Asia where they still work a six day work week. After a couple of months it seems like I'm working everyday. The six day work week really start to grind on ya. Course the Asian workers retaliate by doubling every holiday so management never is quite sure when they're coming back.

[catzies]

13. Here in California UFCW workers strike this weekend.

I for one am grateful for the many social advances we all enjoy thanks to our foreparents in the labor struggles.

In solidarity with my union friends I will not shop at Vons, Ralph's or Albertson's for the duration.

Solidarity, and vive la resistance!

[MoonGod]

14. I went to Vons tonight...

... I knew that a strike might be coming up, but didn't realize it was actually on. So when I saw them picketing out front, I walked up to them, got one of their flyers, asked where they suggested I shop, and left.

For those in the L.A. area, some suggestions: Vallarta, Gelsons, Whole Foods Market, or Trader Joe's. Of course, your local corner grocer (if you still have one) is always a good idea, too. Do not shop at Vons, Ralphs, Albertsons, Pavilions, or Food 4 Less.

As far as the bumper sticker goes, it's definitely pro-Union. Just because somebody drives an Explorer (or any SUV) doesn't mean they're a complete freeper. Actually, sometimes unions and environmentalists find themselves in opposition (although they're also often on the same side, as with farm workers and pesticides).

And, finally, about socialists/unions... I don't know exactly how the weekend came about, but I can say that many of the early labor organizers were socialists, so it may have been one-in-the-same in that case. Both of my grandparents on my dad's side were socialists and active labor organizers in Chicago (grandmother with seamstresses and grandfather with fur workers). Shame I never really got to know either of them.