I just started a job today. I need it. I can't strike tomorrow.

[panader0]

Jeannie can't strike either. She's a business manager for three radio stations and tomorrow is billing day.
I might get fired if I don't show for my job. Jeannie wouldn't miss a day of work ever.
I'm sure there are many other DUers that must work tomorrow.
Land taxes are coming due.........

[MichiganVote]

1. Hey, that's ok. I can't lay off work 2morrow either. But someday....

[Fumesucker]

2. They have us just where they want us..

No reflection on you, congratulations on finding employment in this economic climate.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. I hereby grant you and all those compelled by harsh realities to work tomorrow

a special dispensation.

As for me, I'll be holed up in my home office trying to complete a report.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

4. I'm recouping from surgery.

I'll be on my sofa sleeping. I don't return until Wednesday. Don't feel bad. People understand. And if they don't, screw them. You take care of your family!

[MrSlayer]

5. Don't feel bad.

Take care of yourself. This is going to be a massive fail anyway. A general strike only works when everyone does it. I don't know anyone who even knows about this, let alone participating in it. When a third of the country sides with those being struck and another third is completely indifferent or oblivious, the tiny amount that do participate will be inconsequential.

Ugly truths and all that.

[quinnox]

6. thats is ok, fortunately you are not responsible single-handedly

for whether all people can strike or not. Lets face it, most people probably can't because of how this economy is so bad and many are struggling to just pay the bills. Ironically, it shows how important the movement for economic justice really is at this time.

[got root]

7. thats what the masters of the universe are counting on

[handmade34]

8. understood

I will refuse to work tommorrow ... just for you you MUST take care of yourself and those of us that can strike will... I trust someday, when I must take care of myself; someone will fill in for me

[marasinghe]

9. me neither, dude.

no need to sweat it.

[2pooped2pop]

10. we understand that

we will stand for you and sometimes when we cant make it, u can stand for us.

Congrats on the job

[lonestarnot]

11. Everyone understands that "yer own yer own" bidness. Don't worry about it!

[rustydog]

12. Be there in spirit

[leveymg]

13. There's always a reason not to go out on strike or to cross a picket line.

[AmazingSchnitzel]

14. Like food... or a home... or keeping things that you have earned...

or providing for a family...

[bluestate10]

15. Go to your job. Your wife should go to her jobs.

Vote out republicans in November and any time that chance comes around. The hotheads calling for a strike aren't going to feed your family or pay your bills.

[musical_soul]

20. Exactly.

[Robb]

16. Apparently all you need to do is have a cookout.

[pasto76]

17. lemme tell you all about "strikes"; they are for a past time

speaking as a second generation UNION ironworker - the most dangerous trade in construction - I know a thing or two about workers rights, needing a safe work place and job security. My dad was the President of his very large, east coast ironworkers local. So I know a thing or two about regional and national labor politics.

Worst thing a union workforce can do these days is strike. period. There is almost never positive media coverage, and so few people see any benefit to a union workforce we get no sympathy.

I could call in sick tomorrow, but my foreman, who is actually a good man and boss, would have to explain to the company owner where I am. The company owner is not a good man. Im not putting him in a position for OWS, which has lost all cohesion and direction from it's inception. Can anyone even tell me, definitively, what they are protesting these days?

From my perspective, its just another misstep from anything OWS. They botched the first round, and are looking to roll a bunch of zeroes again. Dont feel bad about going to work tomorrow, if you are like me, you have a ton of bills and are struggling right now. And you need your pay. Vote democrat for the rest of your life.

[Posteritatis]

23. The media smackdown in strikes these days is pretty ridiculous, yeah

There was a six-week transit strike in my city this winter, which was of course exactly as fun as it sounds.

It was difficult to watch (speaking as a transit rider who absolutely supported the union); the city and management completely owned the narrative from day one right through to the end of the process. It was weeks before even a single statement came out from the union trying to rebut the opposition's arguments or put forth some of their own, and at that point they were mostly a few tepid statements on an obscure website that I had to spend some time searching to track down.

In the end the strike was decided mostly in their favor after several rounds of negotiations, but because of the city's being left to spin it completely unchallenged most of the population was acting as though they were directly mugged by the settlement. Things were tense to the point that the transit system offered free rides for a month out of concern for the bus drivers' safety, and even some of the riders (myself included) were treated like crap for awhile by not Owning A Car Like A Real Citizen So We Can Get Rid Of The Deadweight. (Because my employer just drowns me in cash, you see. Or something.)

I've gotten similar vibes following a few other strike actions in and around places I've been, with the slight exception of university academic unions which tend to fight back at least. My own personal union experience is fairly limited - a brief, stable stint with CUPE that I'd really like to get back into should I manage to haul myself back into my chosen career - so I haven't gotten to see much of the process on that side of things.

Is that whole communications problem during disputes a problem with the ones you've been in or seen as well? It feels like a pattern from where I've been sitting, but I don't know if it's union culture being different up here, me seeing patterns where none exist, or if there's some general longstanding issue with the media in labour disputes that I'm unaware of. It just feels like such an incredibly counterproductive thing if a union's going to go down the sort of road where the other side's got no problem with those kinds of tactics, and I suppose I'm baffled as to why.

[musical_soul]

18. Nothing wrong with having to work for a living....

We campaign, vote, and get the word out whenever we can. Unless you're a politician, you're unfortunately not getting paid for this stuff.

They'll write me up at my work place if I stay out of work. In theory, they're understanding if there's a good reason, but there's still official documentation. Have to come in.

[Texasgal]

19. I have patients depending on me.

I'll be up and running at 5:00 a.m.

[RebelOne]

21. OK, call me ignorant.

But strike against what?

[panader0]

22. My OP was 8 or 9 days ago when a general strike was called for May 1st.

Very surprised to see it revived. My job continues---sheetrocking an old Baptist Church In Bisbee, Az. Circa 1920. Hard work.