General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy One Local Grocery Store’s Revolt Is Exactly What America Needs Right Now
This may be the catalyst people need to find their voice and power. I believe the success of this movement may be due to the frustration and helplessness we the people feel against the Goliath of greed all around us. This is something we CAN do.
http://thoughtcatalog.com/abby-rosmarin/2014/08/why-one-local-grocery-stores-revolt-is-exactly-what-america-needs-right-now/
"To the naked eye, this seems like just another local fiasco that would and should never make it past the regional news. But this is exactly the type of news story that America needs to hear.
As a society, we have become incredibly jaded. We look at the behavior of businesses and feel disheartened. Weve given up hope on there ever being change. It feels like those in charge will do whatever they want, and with little accountability. As of late, it seems like those in the boardroom hear even the mention of mandatory health insurance or wage increase and react by firing off entire teams or slashing benefits. We live in a post-Occupy Wall St world, where we feel like there is genuinely nothing we can do. We are at the mercy of those in charge because they sign our paychecks. We fear addressing unfair situations because we could be met with, Well if you dont want to work in these conditions, someone else will!...
Its absolutely heartbreaking to be in the twenty-first century and have people regard the job world as if we were back at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. People shrugging their shoulders and crossing their arms like theyre nineteenth century factory owners, rolling their eyes at the idea of installing safety bars in the machinery, telling the employees that they could always just leave and be replaced, reminding the employees that they should just be happy they have a job.
The Market Basket protests are a reminder that there is still power in the people: that if we are passionate, if we are organized and keep our goals clear, and if we are not willing to give up, then change is a possibility. We dont have to be at the mercy of an out-of-touch consultant who doesnt see a community of people so much as he sees a set of cogs for the machine."
sendero
(28,552 posts)... for this.
bigtonka
(28 posts)99Forever
(14,524 posts)... We the People will stand as one and have a General Strike that holds until the field has once again been leveled.
Unlikely, but it's my dream.
MissDeeds
(7,499 posts)It needs more national exposure.
K&R
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)mikekohr
(2,312 posts)We have more power than we realize. We have less courage than we like to think.
Years ago, on opening day of a local Walmart that was built with out of state non-union labor, I walked up to pick up some items. An informational picket from local labor was there handing out pamphlets listing labor concerns and worker violations at the site. I took one. Read it and turned to walk back to my car. I heard the footsteps from one of the picketers running after me. Surprized I whirled around not knowing what to expect. He ran up to mme and stuck out his hand to shake mine and said, "We've been here for 6 hours. You are the first person to turn away"
While I am proud of that I am far more mortified at the utter lack of support for our fellow neighbors, for our collective dignity and for workers rights that was on display there that day. And we live in a Labor "freindly" area.
aggiesal
(8,863 posts)but have you seen this story on any national news source?
I haven't seen this story anywhere but DU.
I'm not saying it hasn't, I just haven't seen it anywhere.
canoeist52
(2,282 posts)aggiesal
(8,863 posts)BBC is main stream media in the US.
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,760 posts)Populist_Prole
(5,364 posts)If only more would realize that no matter how good they think they have it, or how much success they think their choices create; that even those people are just one whimsical decision of their bosses away from the slippery slope of hardship.
canoeist52
(2,282 posts)Prof. Richard Wolff mentioned the same thing, about the Market Basket phenomenon, in his latest economic update.
audio; http://rdwolff.com/content/economic-update-private-profit-vs-social-benefit
No company of employees' job situation should be based entirely on the moods and whims of a single owner.