A lot of what if's on possible strike here at Buster Brown.
Just got off well I was done 03:00 ran district the Brooklyn tour having coffee with my mother in law she is doing her crossword. Getting a lot of questions and what if’s from younger members and that’s great in their desire to want to know.
In that some of the younger brothers and sisters are nervous. They know I walked in 94 under Carey some of us old dudes left from that time then I worked for another union carrier that is now out business and for 24 days we were on strike same fears then as now and I get it.
The questions from them then my answers to these fine young members.
How long do you think it will last if we walk -who knows my crystal ball is in the shop for repair.
Man that strike pay isn’t much I have wife and kids to take care of- I understand yet you’re not the only one with family and the strike pay is something.
Can I sign up for unemployment - no you can’t.
Will it get violent - I doubt it I sure as shit hope there is no violence tempers do rise from my only experience when on strike.
Telling them memories from 94 when I watched dudes cross to work their reasons to cross ,cuz they had families to take care of the strike pay was not enough. A hammer tossed through window of scab truck driver who actually argued with us that we were greedy bastards.
Oh here is a memory a hammer took out the windshield of his old cab over freight shaker he was gonna get a load of freight he never got that freight he turned around. Some fists were thrown both ways nothing major just business I don’t condone violence yet we stand together.
I tell them these young men and women back then in 94 we still had a lot of Hoffa senior members and they were solid guys in fuck around and find out types.
And after we all went back to work the 4 guys who scabbed on us in 94 were all gone within a year cuz those old members just made their lives at work hard nothings physical just a life of shit in which they deserved .
I miss those old guys when I started in 87 as Dock man they took care of you if you were ok ,Kid just do your job give no shit take no shit. My attitude was yea sure ok I’m just doing this temporarily until the industrial electrician or Boiler makers open up their books to take on new apprentices at the steel mills.
By the way I’m still waiting thirty six years later at 57 to get in one of those two union apprenticeships sarcasm it was the late 80’s times for trades and steel industries were tough.
So if it goes down and we find ourselves picketing outside the fence and you encounter anyone crossing to go scab do not confront them may not end well , and you do not need any charges from local D.A.
Relax people do not get nervous we’re still working and in negotiations. Nobody wants to do this yet we may have to do it. As for this new president O’Brien he see he seems to be a fighter unlike Hoffa junior who just screwed us for twenty three years.
Here is hoping for the best.
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I stand with you in union solidarity. I hope all goes well for you and your fellow union members.
