steeeeeeeerike!
I've always been interested in the tactic of "strikes." The strike is the ace up the sleeve of any labor movement. One thing I've noticed that many strikers slogans tend to start their signs with the wording, "Shame on..."
Shame... really?. Is that the best you can come up with? I mean, shame is a bad thing, but I can think of a lot worse things. In Japan I'm aware that shame and honor are big deal, so perhaps these signs would do really well there. But here... bleh... shame me till the cows come home, if I'm better off at the end of the day then shame is pretty palatable.
On the flip side of strikes, I've always thought it'd be fun to be a "scab." You know, someone who crosses the picket line and works while the the workers are striking. How did scabs get their names? Is it because they are integral to the healing process of a wound? I doubt it. They are total enemies. They should be called, "Wounds" not "Scabs." Am I right?
I took the liberty of assembling some "shame on signs" and then through the miracle of sloppy photo-shopping, have given their message a little more zest. To use a culinary metaphor, we're going from mayo to miracle whip. What started this whole thing was I saw a picture of Uncle Jesse striking for the screen writers, and I thought... his message needs more oomph. Without further adieu [click to enlarge pictures]:
I don't know what Woodfin is, but it sounds pharmaceutical. Probably fascists, right?
Here we've got some country-specific angst. Canada - our biggest trade partner. Who knew there was more to them then maple syrup and mounties, eh?
I thought going with a tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic tone would work with Japan. Isn't Irony in fact, not English, the international language?
Even cell phone companies can't avoid the shame. I find eating "poop" to be an effective metaphor concerning your ill feelings toward someone.
And sometimes you need to speak their language.
Do you guys have any experiences with labor disputes and strategies for striking? Have you ever been a scab? Tell me all about it.
12 comments:
Hilarious. Thanks for making me chuckle today. 'T-mobile' is my favorite for snideness.
My closest experience with strikes is thinking Mel Gibson - pre-anti-semetic antics - was a very hot looking scab in 'The River.' There are currently some folks striking about something outside of IBM in Boulder, but I couldn't even read the sign, so I think they could use some coaching.
Have mercy Dave you are too funny. The T-mobil one was my favorite.
My only experience with striking was the time I tried to go on a laundry strike, (I was tired and cranky). But I got paid off by Forrest with a Butterfinger Blizzard. The man is a master negotiator.
wow, not all at once you guys.
Is that an Eat Poop You Cat reference I spy?
Love the signs! My personal fave is Uncle Jesse. Maybe another one could say, "Lay off the hair, heh!"
I have had some experience with strikers. In my previous job at Deloitte & Touche (aka the sweatshop) we had our offices remodeled. During the remodel we moved across the street to a temporary office space. The problem is, apparently D&T chose non-union construction workers, which had some people all fired up. So 1 to 2 days a week for a couple months, we had picketers walking around the building.
They certainly were a mangy group. And they screamed a lot, although I was never really able to make out the words. I think they were just trying to be as loud as possible. It really didn't affect me at all. I saw them across the way as I entered the building, but their screams were silenced by my 14 story elevator trip.
The strikers later realized that they weren't doing any damage. Things got ugly when they decided to walk back and forth in front of the parking garage. The only way anyone could enter the parking garage was if they slowed to 1 mile/hour so as to not hit any angry, mangy protester.
It was a dumb move by angry mob, as 95% of the people using the parking garage worked for places other than Deloitte. They finally got busted when one of them used a sign to bust off someone's rear view mirror. Then they got kicked off the grounds permanently.
All in all, I was pretty indifferent to the situation. At least it gave me something to talk about for a couple months. Sometimes it even helped me forget that I was a tax accountant.
dave, it is not. but i just read about the game and am now obsessed with wanting to try it out. there are even online places to play.
i spy a new way to kill time at work!
liz... your sad tale as a tax accountant has further inspired me to move away from anything resembling taxes or money. i'm all for bringing back a barter economy, who's with me?
i'm all for bringing back a barter economy, who's with me?
You know I am!
I've never been close to being a scab, but a friend's mom was one during a teachers' strike. The striking teachers keyed her car.
Not sure how the barter economy would work in the modern world. I'll sell you this t-shirt if you give me your...goat? And then I get paid in goats?
Three things:
1) I have to admit it's been a little while since I laughed out loud (or LOL as they say) at one of your posts. THis one did it. this is the wit that made me fall for Dave P.
2) #1 wasn't an insult, but a very loving compliment AND I wanted to say that I'm glad to see that the "Labor Dispute SHAME ON ______ " franchise is in California as well. They are everywhere in Utah, esp. Salt Lake City. What's funny is that the people that hold the signs don't actually work for the company receiving the dreaded shame. They are hired out for some ridiculously low wage. I was thinking of doing a Shame on, the shame on signs and standing right next to them. An expensive joke, I feel.
3) I'm coming down there from Nov. 25th to the 30th.... did Ashley tell you? Are you stoked?
Craig, I would be happy to give a few bucks to support your "SHAME ON 'Shame on ____' SIGNS" Campaign. I very rarely support things financially unless I feel strongly about them.
David, interesting that your inspiration for this post was John Stamos. He's been my inspiration for years.
mike, i could tell uncle jesse was an inspiration to you... i mean, bumming off your dead sister's family for a place to stay is pretty admirable. ie, uncle jesse
craig - the word of you coming is like the sound of a sparrows morning call.. as soon as we heard the good news, we cracked open a bottle of our finest champagne and toasted to you and to good health
David--I haven't check the blog out for a while--what a great one to come back to. Very funny.
When I was in fifth grade my "club" tried to strike against our teacher because she wouldn't let us hold a pretend wedding at recess. We were all scabs. Saved by the bell.
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