Acknowledging that most of us are workers and workers can withhold their labor is a stark challenge to the status quo. It also doesn't happen all that often.
I agree media should have done more to clarify strikes vs. boycotts (as the LA Times did) but the players were calling it a boycott in nearly all of their statements (the Bucks players statement, LeBron's Instagram post). That's probably because of their collective bargaining agreement that bans strikes. Writers should have pointed out the difference between what was happening and the terminology being used, but I understand why the Times was repeating the terminology the players themselves were using to describe their protests.
My brother's first labor union meeting was spent phone banking for a billionaire's gubernatorial campaign (Pritzker) and the closest they get to strikes is blowing up a giant rat at a construction site so that's pretty embarrassing.
Laborers in my area also get super tribal with the way they base their self-worth on the number of hours 'worked' at any job and not the labor itself. Then they'll turn on a dime and brag about how they wrapped up a utility's corporately owned maintenance outage in record time. I'm starting to believe that bragging about their 'work' and thinking everyone is lazy is actually an alternative method for how these poor bastards cry or show any emotional pain, but more evidence is required.
For now I shall continue my observations like a hillbilly Jane Goodall and pray they don't find me out for the giant inflatable rat is sure to follow.
I agree media should have done more to clarify strikes vs. boycotts (as the LA Times did) but the players were calling it a boycott in nearly all of their statements (the Bucks players statement, LeBron's Instagram post). That's probably because of their collective bargaining agreement that bans strikes. Writers should have pointed out the difference between what was happening and the terminology being used, but I understand why the Times was repeating the terminology the players themselves were using to describe their protests.
Thank you for this smart perspective. Eat the rich.
Good Take
My brother's first labor union meeting was spent phone banking for a billionaire's gubernatorial campaign (Pritzker) and the closest they get to strikes is blowing up a giant rat at a construction site so that's pretty embarrassing.
Laborers in my area also get super tribal with the way they base their self-worth on the number of hours 'worked' at any job and not the labor itself. Then they'll turn on a dime and brag about how they wrapped up a utility's corporately owned maintenance outage in record time. I'm starting to believe that bragging about their 'work' and thinking everyone is lazy is actually an alternative method for how these poor bastards cry or show any emotional pain, but more evidence is required.
For now I shall continue my observations like a hillbilly Jane Goodall and pray they don't find me out for the giant inflatable rat is sure to follow.
Been waiting for someone to explain this. Thank you.