Have you ever crossed a picket line?

Question

Years ago I had to go to the UPS terminal and pick up all the packages we sent the day before because they were on strike.

i had to cross a picket line to get in the terminal. The picketers were not amused.

WhiteSteve · Answer

No. I had a standoff with my previous company I worked for about that when Stop & Shop’s union went on strike.

They didn’t like it of course, but I told my boss “Buddy, I gotta make sales deals with these guys, and some of them have already put the word out that they won’t give us an inch of space more than corporate demands for if anyone crosses that line. I don’t want to do it, but if you make me, don’t you dare ever come back around asking me why my numbers are flat.”

OlderAndWiser · Answer

I've never been forced to confront that situation.

AviatorTom · Answer

Yes, I have twice crossed a picket line.

The first time I was working at an electric utility as an engineer. The company of course had to keep operating 24/7 during the strike, so each of us non-union personnel were assigned what was typically a union job. I was a meter reader, paired with another guy who usually dealt with real estate right of way. The company planned well in advance. The headquarters building where we worked was stocked with food and cots. We all slept inside the building the first night of the strike, then crossed the picket line in the company van on the way out and back in during the day as we did our jib, reading meters and cutting off a few services for lack of payment; that wasn't fun. The strike only lasted one day, once the union realized it really didn't damage the company, and gave in to the company's last contract offer.

The second time I was working as a software engineer at a railroad supply company. I was asked to do some union jobs, which I refused to do. I continued to do my normal job, which involved creating and modifying software for computer systems for our customers; we had deadlines to meet for them. To get into the work parking lot, we had to drive across the picket line, which blocked the entrance except for a 5-minute hole every 15 minutes, enforced by local on-scene police. We patiently waited in line, and then the picketers yelled obscenities at most of the people crossing the picket line, but not me, because they knew I wasn't taking their job. That strike lasted about a month before being settled.

TrueConfection · Answer

I worked in administration for a corporation and the laborers’ union wouldn’t allow anyone to join that didn’t work on the manufacturing floor. They went on strike over a contract dispute and some of us still had to report to our offices. I brought bagels and coffee for the picketers and the laborers told the union heads to let us through. They felt sorry for us because we weren’t protected by the union and we weren’t there to do their jobs. They also knew we fully supported them. The upper management (CEO, CFO, etc.) was located in a different state and they would  not  have been able to pass.

sage2021 · Answer

No, thank goodness. I was in a union for 5 years and a single mom - so I was always worried it could happen.

Zack-Bann · Answer

No, never had to. But unless I’m the one being protested, I have no intention of not crossing one if needed. Disrupting random bystanders does nothing to urge those in charge to make changes

DishLady · Answer

Yes but not on purpose. I crossed right back when I realized what the hell was going on. (To be fair I was either finishing middle school or starting high school at the time and was a bit clueless about that sort of thing.)

Iron_Man · Answer

That’s something that would be fun. I could go with you. dumb question part two of the day That I’m asking you would you like to go together for the next one?

Anonymous · Answer

Drove through a BLM protest.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

No, but i have participated in a few.

strateguy632 · Answer

only once luckily

canamlusciouslad73 · Answer

No, thank God !!!

Have you ever crossed a picket line?

What Girls & Guys Said

Have you ever taken part in a protest before?

Have you ever crossed a picket line?

What Girls & Guys Said

Have you ever taken part in a protest before?

We're glad to see you liked this post.