:
: How many McDonald's workers were there ? Or was it mostly bandwagon hoppers out for a day of rent-a-protest ?McDonalds' workers expressed interest in every city that participated so far as I know. In Louisville, off of the clock workers wanted to join the picket but were told by management that if they did they would be fired.
: On the grand scale of thing, how much impact did you make ? 13000+ stores worldwide, and you picketed, what, eight, ten ?
Sure, but we DID make an impact by getting media attention on this subject, and by getting people to think about worker's rights to organize. Were you out there on the line?
: We're sure that the majority of customers were too hungry to turn back at the sight of the pickets, and probably couldn't give a shit whether the person selling them their Big Mac Meal is in a union or not.
Are you a multiple split personality or what? Many carloads of customers turned around and honored the picket rather than eating
at the McDonald's. And anyway why should you be so sure - youre in Ireland for crying out loud.
: If you want unions in, don't hassle the customers ! SELL the idea to the crew. It's not the public you have to convince after all.
I am not trying to convince anyone to do anything personally. I am only trying to stand up for workers right to organize without being fired. This is as much for me as it is for anyone else!
: It wouldn't, by any chance, have been shameless self publicity for the IWW ? If you want to work for workers rights do something constructive. Getting the attention of a few people who don't give a toss for a nano second isn't going to help the poor downtrodden workers is it ? We don't see the outraged public queuing up to stick their necks out on behalf of the crew.
Please, what motive do we have for self publicity? We are a non-profit union. Out of our entire membership we only have ONE person who is paid anything (and its a modest wage at that).
You're also pretty wrong about people sticking their necks out on behalf of the crew. Many of the people on the picket lines were not IWW members, but people who came out to show their support.
: Get in touch with the crew who work in the stores. Convince them why it's right for them. Help them to unionise instead of riding on the tail end of a protest. Be proactive, even if it is a bit too low profile for all you glory seeking champions of workers rights. Stop waving your flags and banners and work a bit smarter. Then you might see some results.
We have gotten in touch with them, and those that are interested are continuing speaking with us. Thanks for the advice at the end of your post, but please know what you are talking about before you insult an entire group of people in the future.
Solidarity,
Jason Adams
