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10 Foolish Things You Never Do Near a Picket Line

Updated on April 14, 2016
Stand for your rights.
Stand for your rights. | Source
Jia Lee, teacher  in New York City's  Earth School protests  monies given to testing  corporations not schools.
Jia Lee, teacher in New York City's Earth School protests monies given to testing corporations not schools. | Source

Looks are deceiving.

It may look safe. It may look harmless. And sure, it can be both, safe and harmless if governed in a civil manner. I am referring to disgruntled employees in our country going on strike (for whatever reason), and begin walking a picket line.

I have seen both the safe and violent scenes pertaining to a picket line. A former manufacturer in my hometown was formed in 1989 without a union. So in came the union rep's one day all the while complying with the law and suddenly, this plant was unionized. But not long after this strategic move, the employees voted to not ratify the current offer made by the company and wham, bam! Up went the barricades and out came the "Labor Unfair!" signs on the shoulders of employees who did at first, walk in a civil manner, but when the company did not give in to their demands, "some" employees started dropping small, sharp pieces of steel so that delivery trucks and "scabs," non-union members who crossed the picket lines to work, would have a flat on their vehicles.

Seattle educators strike against school system.
Seattle educators strike against school system. | Source

Have you ever walked a picket line?

See results

Picket line history.

Picketing is a form of protest in which employees (called picketers) congregate outside a place of work or location to protest something that their company has done that the picketers think is unfair. Picketing is done to dissuade others from going in ("crossing the picket line"), but it can also be done to draw public attention to a cause. Picketers normally endeavor to be non-violent. It can have a number of aims, but is generally to put pressure on the party targeted to meet particular demands and/or cease operations.

Teamster Nation  2015 strike against  economic factions.
Teamster Nation 2015 strike against economic factions. | Source

Now that you are up to speed.

I am not an expert on labor, unions, picket lines or picketers, but there are some things that you need to know if your travels carry you near a factory where you see a group of people with "sometimes" vulgar signs in their hands chanting equally-vulgar things about their company, then you will know that there are . . .

10 Foolish Things You Never Do Near a Picket Line

Junior doctors on  picket line at  Tunbridge Wells Hospital.
Junior doctors on picket line at Tunbridge Wells Hospital. | Source
Striking truck drivers demand lower fuel costs in order to make a profit.
Striking truck drivers demand lower fuel costs in order to make a profit. | Source
Miss Georgia Price,  chorus girl striker on  picket line Aug. 18, 1919.
Miss Georgia Price, chorus girl striker on picket line Aug. 18, 1919. | Source
Railroad Union members strike against a powerful steel firm in Pittsburgh for selling high-priced steel making their jobs unsure.
Railroad Union members strike against a powerful steel firm in Pittsburgh for selling high-priced steel making their jobs unsure. | Source
Civil Rights Workers protest against a Woolworth's store for not hiring African- American's to work along with whites.
Civil Rights Workers protest against a Woolworth's store for not hiring African- American's to work along with whites. | Source

10.) Make Funny Faces - - at the people walking the picket line. This may seem (to you), a way to lift the spirits of these unhappy employees, but you are the one headed for a very unhappy time when they get hold of you and place your funny face into the ground.

9.) Most Picketers - - are in great physical shape, so standing near them and issuing foolish challenges to them to go five rounds with you in a good old-fashioned street fight, might get you injured quickly.

8.) Tossing Rocks - - or coconuts at these angry picketers is so foolish and dangerous, I cannot put it into proper phrasings to get you to understand that these people are to be left to their own devices.

7.) Charging Into - - the picket line like a crazed rhino is not recommended by me or a rank stranger. Ask anyone. Even Christy or Matt, editors at HubPages. They both will agree with me about this and all of my advice.

6.) Making Inappropriate - - sexually-based remarks at the female picketers will get you two things: one, sued by the female picketers and you will lose big and two, whipped beyond description by these females' other female friends who are also picketing. I am telling you that picketers are not to be taken lightly.

5.) Taking Coffee - - and fresh danish to people walking a picket line and then charging them two prices for the refreshments will not be a wise move. You may walk home with two swollen eyes, plenty of bruises, and no coffee or danish. Both are now being enjoyed by the picketers.

4.) Being So Foolish - - as to "moon" picketers is beyond foolish. It really has no adjective to describe someone who would be so stupid as to do this. Actually I am sorry for a person with such a mind as to show their naked butt to people who are striking for fair treatment or a decent wage from their company.

3.) Using Digital - - camera to film these upset employees and to make things worse, narrate from an unknowing "outsider's" point of view as you upload the film to YouTube.

2.) Releasing - - a few trained guard dogs to charge at the picketers biting them on the shins causing them to run in fear is one of the dumbest thing one mortal adult can do while drawing breath.

1.) Telling The Picketers - - a few good lies about "you" being a company rep with great news. The company has decided to meet all of their demands. Then as the union steward meets with the company rep's to sign the new contract (after the union ratifies the contract by voting on it) boy, will they look surprised when they learn that the company had no intention to honor the union's demands.

And that's how it's written. Good night.

The "real thing."

working

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