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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rick Julian who wrote (67391)	12/19/1999 12:17:00 PM
From: epicure	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

That's a toughy. Do you know the financial situation fo the AB? Are they in danger of going under? Several companies out here are not doing well financially. If they are cash strapped, it is hard to blame them for reducing costs. If (on the other hand) they could really afford to pay musicians more- then I guess your stand would make sense- but only BEFORE you buy the ticket. I mean the AB has your money after you've bought the ticket- your not going in won't make any difference if they have your cash. I am all for making stands- but only when they make sense.

To: Rick Julian who wrote (67391)	12/19/1999 12:44:00 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

I think you probably would not have crossed the picket line if you had known in advance that it was there, and what the issues were. Coincidentally, I was discussing trade unions with my kids last night. Although there are some abuses in the unions, on the whole the trade union movement has been a tremendously useful force for working people. We got off on the discussion driving back from DC because we passed a building that has "Right To Work" on it in big red letters. They wanted to know what that means. I gave them the example of a lady who consulted with me on Friday. She works in a unionized business, but doesn't belong to the union. Yet, because Virginia is a Right-to-Work state, she is entitled to all the benefits and working conditions and wages that the union negotiated, without having to pay union dues. Good for her, bad for the union, and if everyone did that, there would be no union. If scabs are willing to take union jobs, and everyone is willing to cross picket lines, there will be no union. If you think the union is a good thing, don't cross picket lines in the future. Donate $150 to the union and you'll feel better.

To: Rick Julian who wrote (67391)	12/19/1999 7:48:00 PM
From: nihil	Respond to of 108807

I am a withdrawn member of AFM Local 148 myself and a member of a professor's union now. I also teach business ethics and labor problems. I sympathize with your position. You did nothing wrong. You already had the tickets and I doubt that anyone thinks the worse of you for using them. You must have a good reputation with the union if you act the way you say you do (which I don't doubt at all). I am sure the musicians understand that it was sprung on you. I have crossed a lot of picket lines in my life, although I have always inquired about the beef and never crossed what I consider a legit and legal union picket line. I believe absolutely in workers carrying out their union contracts. The right to strike is the only thing workers have to bargain with, and if they do not strictly observe their contracts they are not only acting dishonorably but weaken labor everywhere in its attempts to get fair treatment. If the wages in the contract are inadequate (aren't they nearly always) the time to fix it is the next negotiation. The AB did nothing wrong, in my opinion, to hire replacements if the workers were covered by a contract with no strike clause. It could sue them or file LMRA charges against them. I just hope they don't. I appreciate your feeling bad. You must be one of the good capitalists.