I walk down the street from Chinatown and notice these guys picketing in front of Macy’s. I walk up to one of them and ask them why they are on strike. He handed me an orange piece of paper that reads:
WHY ARE WE ON STRIKE?
We ask for your support!
Call Macy’s at (415) 954-6090
Tell them you will not shop at Macy’s
Until they give their employees a fair contract!
- Because of your patronage and their employees hard work and efficiency, Macy’s is one of the most financially profitable department stores in the U.S.
- Macy’s (Federated Department Stores) sales are currently $17.813 BILLION! This is a 39% increase over last year!
- Macy’s chief contract negotiator has admitted that Macy’s is “capable” of giving their employees a fair salary increase. They choose not to.
- Macy’s last contract offer to the Union was less than half of the current cost of living as published by the U.S. Department of Labor
We ask for your support!
Call Macy’s at (415) 954-6090
Tell them you will not shop at Macy’s
Until they give their employees a fair contract!
This message comes from the International Union of Operating Engineers. I felt a little guilty walking into Macy’s, so instead I took this picture and kept on walking....It doesn’t make for a good shopping experience, ya’ know?
Maria,
Good for you! I don't know your intent, but walking past a store where workers are picketing is the right thing to do. I grew up in a working class family when strikes were not seen by so many as greed.
I find that both interesting and troubling, as workers make hundreds times less than CEOs and other high-paid executives, yet so many Americans criticize workers for wanting a fair wage.
In retail, the average hourly worker is at the poverty level in wages, as defined by the federal government. Wanting to raise our standards of living is nothing less than striving for the American dream. What can be bad about that?
Posted by: Lewis Green | November 28, 2006 6:50 AM | Permalink to Comment