So, we’re sitting at a stop light in Amherst, where there is a Rite-Aid on the corner. Now, I never shop at Rite-Aid, not even the one in my town. This time, however, there were two picketers on the sidewalk with signs. They were urging people not to shop at Rite-Aid because, *gasp*, their employees weren’t members of the UFCW Union (United Food and Commercial Workers). Apparently, according to the signs, Rite-Aid was somehow being unfair to its workers.
So, since the union members were asking us not to shop there, I naturally pulled into their parking lot when the light turned green. As we drove in, I rolled down the window and politely informed the picketer that I never shop here, but I decided to stop and buy something when I saw his sign. I got a kick out of it, but he didn’t seem to share my feelings on the matter.
I asked two of the employees in the store what those guys were doing outside. One was stocking shelves and the other checked us out. Both ladies said that the union wanted in the store. I asked them if they wanted to join the UFCW. Both said no. I asked if the other employees in the store were trying to unionize the store. They said no.
Interesting. The employees in the store are not interested in joining the UFCW, yet the union was picketing the store anyway, and falsely proclaiming to passers-by that the store was treating its employees unfairly.
Now, I realize that the UFCW is not a public employee union, and is not directly affected by Senate Bill 5. But its this kind of honesty from labor unions that people need to keep in mind when they see all the coming ads urging them to vote against Issue 2. Don’t be fooled. Our state and local governments should be run according to the will of the taxpayers, not the union bosses.
Anywho, on our way out, we held up our 2 full grocery bags full of items we had just purchased, so that the picketers could see that their signs had actually gained a sale for the store instead of discouraging one.
They still didn’t seem to appreciate the irony.
Vote YES on Issue 2.
