Here's a question... Federal employees are not getting paid. Many are being made to go to work without getting paid. Why are they not striking!? I can think of no better reason on Earth to strike than being made to work without pay. I can think of no easier way to get your coworkers to agree on a proposal to strike than not getting paid. Black people spent 200+ years trying to escape slavery and here these people are VOLUNTEERING for it!
You want the shutdown to stop? You want those who are responsible for it (whomever you decide to blame) to actually feel some of your pain? Do something about it. What better motivation? What circumstance more cut and dry?
Make me understand. Particularly, if you're one of these essential employees who are working for free right now.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE and keep on STRIKING! (Yeah, blue flu is acceptable)
Lop-Eared-Mule
Level 7
Jan 24, 2019
0
I have w friend working without pay. He days he loves his job and he knows that once this is over he will get his back pay. He's living off credit cards. He feels a huge sense of responsibility. He hates Trump. Those were his reasons not to strike. But he says many of his colleagues are republican and they back Trump and would never strike. If they don't all strike it would do nothing. If this continues, perhaps they will change their minds. We shall see.
confidentrealm
Level 7
Jan 22, 2019
4
Contract workers have already been told they won't get back pay so they've already been robbed of their labor. As for permanent workers, back pay still isn't automatic; a bill still needs to be passed for that back pay to come meaning there's no guarantee.
Those furloughed and unpaid workers who stand in solidarity with Trump are the perfect example of turkeys that vote for Thanksgiving. What clearer case of actively working (literally working in this case) against y your own best interest could there be?
As for your friend, I understand his sense of responsibility, but there is more than responsibility at play here. We have a responsibility to demand our leadership -elected or appointed- act, in good faith, in the best interest of the American people. Now I couldn't tell your friend that he's doing the wrong thing, buti would offer him that thought to chew on.
@ghettophilosopher I agree with you. That was the first thing I asked him. Why don't you just walk away. He is not a Trump fan. I don't understand all the dynamics but I do understand that he very loyal to his job. He is however making plans to retire and get away from it.
Some employees are starting to call in sick but not as a group... I certainly wouldn't work for free if I were dependant on a paycheck.... I've wondered why a strike hasn't occurred myself.. It might still happen...
Cutiebeauty
Level 9
Jan 22, 2019
2
I really hope that they do.
they definitely should.
Mofo1953
Level 9
Jan 22, 2019
3
I wish they would. Furthermore, I hope we that we as Americans have the moral decency to support them (although as I type the words, o begin to have my doubts).
@ghettophilosopher the majority of us will, only the deplorables won't, but they will eventually realize how stupid they were
No end in sight. I wonder how the guys that are showing up are filling their gas tanks to get to work. If all the ATC and TSA did call in sick on the same day I don't think they could be fired for one very good reason. Who would work for free to replace them?
Anonbene
Level 8
Jan 22, 2019
3
They're literally paying for the privilege of donating their labor. I'll be god-damned if I'm gonna PAY so I can be your slave labor. Capitalism already steals value out of your labor, but at least they haven't yet developed the balls to demand you work for free...
@Biptu No actually. As I stated, I was speaking about capitalism. But that's funny. You must be thinking of all the infrastructure and government service that you're entitled to without having to contribute towards.
If this keeps on, they will eventually be forced to find other jobs just to live indoors.
GeorgeRocheleau
Level 8
Jan 22, 2019
2
My thoughts exactly.
I was told that anyone that strikes gets fired.
BlackDove
Level 7
Jan 22, 2019
2
Fired from the job that isn't paying you? Hard to see the downside...
Furthermore, they're ESSENTIAL workers. Are they going to fire them en masse?
@ghettophilosopher Hard to see them being able o fill positions that aren't bring paid.
@Mortal I hadn't forgotten about Reagan. I just don't think that that scenario is repeatable. As @bufftonbeotch points out, would YOU cross a picket line for the promise of working without a paycheck? I don't think anyone would, regardless of how many MAGA hats they have in their closet.
@Mortal, @Jk1960 Regardless of what anyone's contract says about striking, they should do it, as I'm sure those contacts also say something about being paid for work rendered.
@Mortal Weren't there a lot of terrible accidents after Reagan pulled that stunt?
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