'Daily Show' Hits Unions for Hiring Non-Union Picketers

[BrentWil]

Just saw this. Both funny, sad, and hypocritical all all at the same time.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-september-20-2010/working-stiffed

[Hassin Bin Sober]

1. I don't know. I'm inclined to give them a break.

Unless they have members who are out of work, where does one get manpower for strictly temporary assignments like picketing? Is there such a thing as union Temp. agencies?

I'm assuming that particular union is only representing working store clerks ... versus ... something like a trade union has out-of-work folks at the ready for picketing at any given time.

[Winterblues]

22. If a Union strikes it should be Union workers manning the picket lines..

What else are they going to do since they can't work?

[blondeatlast]

23. There's a difference between picketing and striking. nt

[Luminous Animal]

25. The union was not on strike.

[HuckleB]

2. This was a while ago, wasn't it?

[Luminous Animal]

4. Some people like to restir shit.

[Luminous Animal]

3. I am sure if there were unionized picketers available, the union would have hired them instead.

[blondeatlast]

7. Exactly. nt

[BrentWil]

9. And the other thing is wasting union dues to pay for it. NT

[blondeatlast]

10. How is it "wasting" union dues? nt

[BrentWil]

13. This will accomplish what? NT

[blondeatlast]

15. What is any picket supposed to accomplish? nt

[BrentWil]

17. Well that would depend on the picket. Each have different aims

However, in this case, if the picket is supposed to accomplish the unionization of Walmart, it is a waste. Again, the money should be saved for the Union members and for resources if they need to strike. A bunch of hired union non-union protesters to unionize Walmart is a total waste of resources.

[blondeatlast]

18. Because, of course, you are in a perfect position to speak for all union shops, right? nt

[BrentWil]

20. I am in a perfect position to see BS and call it. If there are other facts, please give them. NT

[blondeatlast]

21. Your affiliation is? Because if you aren't union, you don't have any biz

telling union members and their shops what they can spend their money on.

[BrentWil]

28. I am not telling what to do or what not to do...

I am saying what will make me support something politically, what I see as BS, and what I see as abuse of workers.

I think there is this thing called the first amendment.

[blondeatlast]

30. Then you aren't union, I take it. Just say so. FWIW, I'm not a union member,

but I do support unions.

[BrentWil]

31. I am in the military

Therefore no. I am not anti-union or pro-union. They are needed and I would join in certain cases. However, where it is BS, it is BS. Same with some public sector unions.

[Luminous Animal]

24. The UFCW has been targeting WalMart for years. The pickets are one tactic of a unionization drive.

[BrentWil]

29. And paying unionized picketers is effective how? That makes me not want to go shop at Walmart? NT

[DFLforever]

5. Is there a union of organized picketers?

I've never heard of it. Is it AFL-CIO connected?:sarcasm:

[blondeatlast]

6. Perhaps if picketers would ask for representation from the AFLCIO or CTW,

they could organize.

Old news, first off; Stewart went for low comedy, anyway, and this is just poo-stirring.

[BrentWil]

8. You don't think there is something hypocritical about using union dues to hire non-union

poorly paid "workers". Moreover, the protest means little and will not accomplish its goals. Would be FAR better off if actual union members approached workers individually and started to organize.

[blondeatlast]

11. I think they'd hire union workers if union shops were avalaible.

Time to stir the brown stuff, BW.

[BrentWil]

14. Its called debate. There is nothing be stirred up. Are these no logical questions and positions?

[Luminous Animal]

26. Already discussed weeks ago. The low informaton snickerers lost.

[blondeatlast]

32. Another reason to love DU--the talking points are so very easily

taken apart and destroyed.

I thought I smelled something fetid in the subject matter.

[Luminous Animal]

12. It would be hypocritical if unionized picketers were available. There weren't.

[BrentWil]

16. Well, I disagree on two fronts.

The first is that Unions are supposed to be pro-workers. You are not pro-worker if you use the same practices that you are protesting.

The second is that this is a huge waste of your members dues. This protest will accomplish nothing and you are taking money from people without giving any benifit. If anything, it should be saved if the actual members need to strike.

[Luminous Animal]

19. They can't hire something that does not exist. There is no such thing as unionized picketers.

Presumably, the members voted for the picket so they are aware of how their dues are being spent.

Pickets serve a purpose. They are often public demonstrations of issues that rarely or barely make the news. I don't shop at Whole Foods because of information that I received from picketers (and yes, I did more research on the subject.)

[Hassin Bin Sober]

33. I don't think anyone faults a business, any business, for hiring temp. workers ..

... and paying them temp. worker pay and benefits.

It's the businesses like Walmart that hire full-time permanent workers and pay them and treat them like temps.

It's already been pointed out that union picketers for this union don't exist due to the nature of their model.

Otherwise, your CONCERN for their use of funds is duly noted.

[blondeatlast]

34. ...

:thumbsup:

[hughee99]

27. I hope they're at least paying them a living wage.

Can't they find any out-of-work members of other unions to hire? If you don't have enough local members of your own union, at least keep it "in the family".

[B Calm]

35. Thanks to republican policies, it's hard to find union workers anymore.