I wonder what it would take to unionize Hobby Lobby, Conestoga Wood Specialties and Autocam.

[drm604]

As I understand it, those are the three companies that brought the related suits against the ACA's contraceptive rules.

I wonder what it would take to unionize their employees? Would their employees be interested?

Just a thought.

[SheilaT]

1. And what makes you think that

unionizing would make any difference, since the health care is still going to be provided by a company that won't cover birth control.

[drm604]

2. In theory they could go on strike and demand the coverage.

It probably wouldn't happen, but it's an interesting thought.

In any case, the threat of unionization might set an example for other companies and they might think twice about trying to fight the ACA.

Probably just a pipe dream, but we need some creative thinking on this.

[SheilaT]

3. It's rather impractical.

In today's heavily anti-union climate it is nearly impossible to form a union. At best it would take a couple of years to do so. Then, you'd wait for the first contract to be up, demand the birth control coverage in the health care plan in the new one, and eventually go on strike if they refuse. I'd say at least five years before that could happen.

The more creative thinking is to somehow get other people, not employees, to picket the stores. And persuade current employees to get jobs elsewhere. Of course, those employees would probably be replaced pretty quickly, so it may not hurt the bottom line very much.

I stopped shopping at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago, and wasn't crazy about going in there the little I did starting a decade or so ago when I realized that they were run by some sort of overtly Christian owners. I'm just one person. But I do my small part.

[drm604]

4. They don't sell anything that I'd be interested in so I don't think I've ever been in one.

I'm not even sure if they have any stores in my area.

[SheilaT]

5. If you live in any decent sized city

there's likely to be a Hobby Lobby there. Just as, outside of NYC, there's likely to be a WalMart.

But lots of people would never go to a HL. If you don't do certain kinds of crafts, if you don't care to buy Chinese made holiday decorations at discount, if you're not interested in very cheap home decor items. you'd never have need to notice they are around.

I like to embroider and crochet. I can buy those supplies more cheaply at Michael's to begin with. And I stopped buying anything from them -- I never did like the cheap decorative crap -- a couple of years ago when I realized the company was very overtly Christian, long before the birth control thing.

[drm604]

6. Am I right in thinking that they're customers are mostly female?

If so, then this whole thing is pretty ironic.

[SheilaT]

7. Probably.

Although thinking back to times I've been there, I'd say a good 40% of the customers seem to be men.

Not that the gender balance matters, really.