How many DU'ers have walked a picket line? I have, although

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

it was something I didn't plan for.

I'm an RN, and I was in a union (SEIU). We walked a picket line for three weeks. A few weeks after the strike ended,I left my company because I was disenchanted (by management AND the union). I never considered crossing the line, and was angry at those who did. I've always felt one can not go wrong siding with "the people."

Well, I came back and now I'm a manager. The fact that I "walked the walk" seems to give me some credibility with my union employees.

That's not my reason for this thread, though. I'd love to hear the stories of others who have walked the picket lines and their experiences. MKJ

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. My mother got me started

She worked in a dress factory, and belonged to the ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers' Union), who helped send me to college and law school, thank you very much.

They went out on strike pretty regularly back in the early sixties, and I always went with my Mom. I still know all the lyrics to "Look For The Union Label."

That, and having a grandfather who was an anarchist and Eugene V. Debs admirer, allowed me to grow up proudly to be OldLeftieLawyer.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

2. My daughter walked the picket line with me a couple of times

It was five years ago, she was 12, and she still talks about the sense of unity we had. MKJ

[demosincebirth]

3. Many times as a Teamster for 40+ years.

[senseandsensibility]

4. Yes

I walked a picket line as a teacher. It took us fouteen months to become strike legal, and exactly one and half days of actually striking to win! We won everything we were asking for, and had the support of the community.

[Dr.Phool]

5. I've walked both legal and wildcat strikes

On the railroad. I will never, ever cross a picket line.

[OnionPatch]

6. I did!

We walked the picket line at the steel mill I worked for in Ohio. It was somewhere around 1979 or 80, I think. I was only about 20 and one of the few women laborers at the time, so it was a big deal experience for me. It was a big strike. We had thousands of workers in our local. It was winter and cold as hell so we burned coal in barrels on the line to warm up. There was a real camaraderie there between the workers and the town people too. The whole town supported us and brought us pizza, coffee, donuts and good stuff regularly. It got a little crazy near the end...we stuffed some clothes with paper and burned the company president in effigy! :evilgrin: There was a report of someone taking a shot at a scab.....

Wow, that was so long ago, it seems almost more like a movie I watched than my real life.

[mitchtv]

7. Many times with CWA/TIU

and many with Gay liberation front, now I start with Move On

[davsand]

8. Been there, done that--got a shirt to prove it!!

Yep, I've been on a picket line more than once. A couple of times it was actually picketing the County government that I hold office in. Technically, I could have been removed from office for refusing to cross picket lines. I didn't worry too much about it however, I really DON'T think they want to do that...

One time it was a real hoot--AFSCME had a grill and coolers out there and they did a lunchtime picketers' special. They gave free hot dogs and chips and drinks to anyone who came and walked the line. That time was an informational picket and it was a whole lotta fun to see people's response to it.

I realize I am in a strange position. My husband is a local Labor leader and as a result, I am involved in a lot of stuff that is Labor related that I might not have been usually. There have been actions down on Campus that I most certainly went to because I support my husband.

One campus outing was a picket for that AFSCME local that was pretty big. There were several different locals there in support and I'd say it had about a 100 folks at the biggest point. That one got loud, but nobody messed with us. I actually went to that one so I could see my husband speak, but I ended up carrying a sign because the County AFSCME Local members handed me one.

One time the local Steward at the County was looking for stuff to decorate the AFSCME bulletin board with. I ran out to my car and brought her in some buttons and a UNION YES! bumper sticker. She still laughs at me for that one. I got lucky on that--hubby had left them in there after a meeting. I just snagged them for her...

I march in the really big local 4th of July parade in the labor contingent and have met a lot of folks that way too. Last year I borrowed a truck and drove it in the parade with a set of huge signs on it. I was condemning a local public health district for union busting. That earned me a few stripes as an agitator, I think. It sure did raise a few eyebrows.

There is a return on that time and energy spent supporting unions and my husband. I have always enjoyed a lot of union support when I needed it most. I actually have it lined up to get a dozen brawny Laborers to carry a huge American flag in the parades while wearing my campaign T-shirts the next time I need it. When I needed some cash when I was not working the unions were there for me and gave me a job doing artwork for them. My artwork hangs in the local airport because of those same unions...

I am former card carrying union member, and would pick up a card again in a heartbeat. I support unionization fully and I REALLY wish more people understood WHY the labor movement is so terribly important to this nation.


Laura

[Blue Diadem]

9. I haven't but Hubby has

although it's been 25 yrs ago. It was a feeling of solidarity. I think when hubby became a supervisor, he too was respected due to his union involvement..and he always followed the union rules.

Somewhere in the mid 80's they couldn't get authorization to strike. The UAW encouraged them to give in to pay cuts and longer hours because the company always threatened to close it's doors. It became sad at that point, like they were being held hostage just to have a job. They went to a work schedule of 21 days in a row before they got a weekend off and if they had a sick day, the 21 days began all over again. It took nearly 10 years before they ever made up the pay concessions they had given to the company..then the company closed it's doors.

I get chills seeing people walking the line, the sense of unity and standing united is so strong. They're doing it at a construction site I drive by occasionally. We give them the nod and love their big inflatable rat. When it happened at the grocery store, I refused to shop there until it was settled. I won't cross a line and neither will anyone in my family.

[bobthedrummer]

10. I ran an informational picket line for UFCW Local 73 for 14 months

and I've never crossed one when I was working in union shops.
The informational picket line I ran helped to organize a grocery chain in Wisconsin:hi:

[Cleita]

11. I did when I worked for Ma Bell and we went on strike.n/t

[jojo54]

12. I did about 15 years ago

Worked for a factory that made electronic relays for the military. Walked every other day for about 2 weeks, then finally had to quit the job. Wanna know why??? My husband was a salaried worker there too. He was a planner/scheduler. It made for some very nasty scenes at our house, but the last straw came when I realized our marriage was in jeopardy over this. I wasn't about to risk splitting up our family because of a job. Yes, there was principal involved, and also my personal values of working for the union. But my principles versus my marriage...........eh, the balance just wasn't there.