I had to go to the grocery store today.
cadolphin was out of her diet soda, so I had to go.
I crossed a picket line to get into the store. There was one man at each of the three driveways and three women in front of the store with picket signs.
On my way out, I was spoken to one of the three women picketing the Ralph’s store.
They asked why I didn’t go to the Wal-Mart down the road to shop.
My answer: "Number one, why would you want me to go shop at Wal-Mart? It’s a non-union shop. And aren’t you afraid that if you tell people to go shop at Wal-Mart, that customers are going to want to shop there all the time? That would bankrupt your company here, and you’d lose your jobs, union or not.
"Secondly, what is it you’re picketing for? The right to not have to pay $20 per week in health care insurance costs for you and your families? In my job I pay $55 per week for me and my wife. And I make less than $15 per hour, your average wage.
"Personally, I think you have it pretty good, even if you have to pay $20 per week for medical coverage. And you guys have dental and vision, right? I don’t.
“Sorry, I can’t sympathize with you on this one.”
I wished them well, and while I was leaving, I heard one of them say to the others:
“Where is everyone else that’s scheduled to be here? I know they scheduled at least 25 here today. Where is everyone?”
Taking a union-subsidized vacation, apparently…