WTH is happening in Pittsburgh?

[JC]

Cool story, tough guy.

Thanks, scab.

 

[PaperClip529]

Thanks, scab.

That insult doesn't even make any sense. I haven't crossed a picket line. You remain an internet tough guy, though.

I belong to a unionized newsroom and am a proud supporter of the work my union does. I would vote to strike if necessary. However, I would be incensed for many reasons if our leadership approved a strike without the majority (probably even more) of the union on board.

I don't think these people are "scabs." I don't think they are pieces of shirt as you so eloquently phrased it. I mean, who the heck are you to make these judgements from afar about a situation that doesn't impact you and decisions that you don't have to make?

These are people who belong to a section of the newsroom that is almost as large as the people who wanted to strike. This isn't a case of 100 journalists striking and five crossing the picket line. This isn't a case of 105 journalists striking and 10 freelancers crossing the picket line. This is a case of 38 people voting to strike, 36 people voting against, 27 people who didn't vote (if anything, save your disdain for these people) and 30 who have since said "I don't know why I shouldn't be able to pay my bills because 37.6% of my union voted for this." So no, I don't begrudge them. To do so in this case is just absurd to me.

But I am tired of both you and this conversation. I apologize for clogging up everyone's feed tonight. Have a good night.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

That insult doesn't even make any sense. I haven't crossed a picket line. You remain an internet tough guy, though.

I belong to a unionized newsroom and am a proud supporter of the work my union does. I would vote to strike if necessary. However, I would be incensed for many reasons if our leadership approved a strike without the majority (probably even more) of the union on board.

I don't think these people are "scabs." I don't think they are pieces of shirt as you so eloquently phrased it. I mean, who the heck are you to make these judgements from afar about a situation that doesn't impact you and decisions that you don't have to make?

These are people who belong to a section of the newsroom that is almost as large as the people who wanted to strike. This isn't a case of 100 journalists striking and five crossing the picket line. This isn't a case of 105 journalists striking and 10 freelancers crossing the picket line. This is a case of 38 people voting to strike, 36 people voting against, 27 people who didn't vote (if anything, save your disdain for these people) and 30 who have since said "I don't know why I shouldn't be able to pay my bills because 37.6% of my union voted for this." So no, I don't begrudge them. To do so in this case is just absurd to me.

But I am tired of both you and this conversation. I apologize for clogging up everyone's feed tonight. Have a good night.

Kinda sounds like people who wanted the benefits of a union without any of the responsibilities or commitments of a union.

 

[Slacker]

The Pittsburgh City Paper's (alternative weekly) editor in chief resigned in protest over the publisher threatening to fire her if the CP reported its own parent company was publishing the Post-Gazette while most of the unions were on strike:

Never heard of Pittsburgh City Paper, since it's far from my home, but
Lisa Cunningham's exit statement kicks ass. That is how you speak truth to power.

 

[Regan MacNeil]

That insult doesn't even make any sense. I haven't crossed a picket line. You remain an internet tough guy, though.

I belong to a unionized newsroom and am a proud supporter of the work my union does. I would vote to strike if necessary. However, I would be incensed for many reasons if our leadership approved a strike without the majority (probably even more) of the union on board.

I don't think these people are "scabs." I don't think they are pieces of shirt as you so eloquently phrased it. I mean, who the heck are you to make these judgements from afar about a situation that doesn't impact you and decisions that you don't have to make?

These are people who belong to a section of the newsroom that is almost as large as the people who wanted to strike. This isn't a case of 100 journalists striking and five crossing the picket line. This isn't a case of 105 journalists striking and 10 freelancers crossing the picket line. This is a case of 38 people voting to strike, 36 people voting against, 27 people who didn't vote (if anything, save your disdain for these people) and 30 who have since said "I don't know why I shouldn't be able to pay my bills because 37.6% of my union voted for this." So no, I don't begrudge them. To do so in this case is just absurd to me.

But I am tired of both you and this conversation. I apologize for clogging up everyone's feed tonight. Have a good night.

So the Blocks delayed things long enough to bust the union from within. And you seem to be OK with it.

 

[PaperClip529]

So the Blocks delayed things long enough to bust the union from within. And you seem to be OK with it.

I am OK with the members of a union making the decisions for their union. And since over 60% of the union's membership did not vote to strike, I am OK with the fallout after union leadership chose to move forward with the strike.

 

[Regan MacNeil]

So, tl;dr, you're OK with it. Glad we're on the same page.

 

[PaperClip529]

So, tl;dr, you're OK with it. Glad we're on the same page.

If that was too long for you to read, you aren't grown enough to have this conversation.

 

[Regan MacNeil]

Uh huh. Pretty sure you know that's not what I meant by that. And if you don't, are you in your 60s?

 

[swingline]

I think this is the proper phrasing:

Are you a man? Are you 60?

 

[SoloFlyer]

Scabs? A number of newsroom employees are crossing the picket line. Dozens of Post-Gazette workers cross picket line as newsroom strike enters Day 2

Seems a little more complex than scab vs. not a scab.

"A group that said it represented a large portion of the Post-Gazette employees still working said the Guild "commenced a strike with fewer than 40% of its members voting in favor of the move."

"This vote was taken under the pressure of the Communications Workers of America, which threatened to unilaterally impose a strike on the local and remove its leadership if the vote did not conform to its wishes," the group said in a statement.

The Communications Workers of America is the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh's parent union."

 

[Readallover]

Post-Gazette strike lays bare union discord and could impact informed citizenry