the bums go on strike... from other people's jobs

i first encountered this phenomenon when, in a truly surreal moment, i watched dick butkus
stand in front of walgreens and lead a black chorus in a negro spiritual.

well, it wasn’t a negro spiritual, per se. but i had the definite sense that someone was capitalizing on a struggle in which he played no part. (or, at least, no constructive part.)

our worst fears have been realized, and the vicious subcontracting cycle has finally reached the bottom rung of the economic ladder. it is now common practice for labor organizers to hire homeless people to do their protesting for them.

“…the union carpenters couldn't afford to put aside their work and join the protest.”

however, it seems that they can afford to 1) hire organizers who 2) pay protesters to march around and sing in front of 3) giant, inflatable rats.

i’m not saying there’s anything wrong with asking for a raise. i’m just saying that there’s got to be a better way to go about it than hiring one of bill swerski’s superfans to give out money so a bunch of addicts can get back on the nod a.s.a.p.

let firms hire mediators, arbitrators, counselors. almost anything would be better than the n.l.r.b. and their political driveling.