I'm surprised nobody here has posted about the Houston cops that trampled janitors protesting downtown for better wages (they're making $5/hour) with their horses. The protesters were jailed and were pretty blatantly mistreated there (in order, according to witness accounts, to teach them not to protest) and their bail was set at over $800,000 a piece before being reduced to $1K. It's a national story and there's nothing about it on a Houston forum dedicated to politics? Anyway, I just thought I'd get it going since Jorge is back these days. Surely he'd like the opportunity to tell us again how disgusting the working class is. Siding with sadistic cops against poor working folks might take his mind off being in the extreme lunatic fringe that continues to support the failed war in Iraq. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061117/nyf130.html?.v=5
You know what. Okay, You can protest, and stuff. I don't mind. But, these people don't have to act like jack asses, and punching your cars when you drive by. What pisses me off about these people are that they are hired scab protestors. Profesional protestors from other cities. I think that's what the news said. I wasn't paying attention to this stuff. It's one thing when it's the actual janitors protesting, but when you hire protestors, that's another thing.
They will sit in the street and block traffic. Also IMHO I don't see anyone taking these folks serious when they chant in Spanish.
I was at home all day on Thursday, getting some home repair done, when a rep from the Janitor's union called me on the phone. He asked if he could patch me through to Chevron's front desk so I could tell them I support the union in their struggle. I was so intrigued by this new tactic I said "sure patch me through". The receptionist answered "Chevron How may I direct your call" and I said "you can direct my call by directing Chevron management to pay their janitors a living wage and giving them health insurance. Have a nice day". I thought that was a cool and unique way to get their point across, even if it was a small gesture.
I hadn't heard about this situation but it sounds terrible. A hugely disproportionate application of justice to set bail so high versus the severity of the actions. Some of you may be upset with blocking traffic and chanting in Spanish but does any of that justify setting an $800K bail when people charged with manslaughter have $30K bail?
Unskilled labor has no negotiating position in a wage dispute. Did they not accept the job at that wage level? Yes, of course they did. If their employer can not replace them at the same wage, then they are of value. Otherwise, they are wasting their time and our local economy's resources by resorting to these disruptive tactics. Attempting to artificially raise their wage by distorting the labor market for their services is an anti-competitive practice that should be punished. I would fire any janitor who participates in these events. The janitors time is better served looking for higher paying jobs, or heaven-forbid learning a skill to take them out of their poverty cycle.
While I'm sympathetic to the unions' demands, the tactics they've chosen to employ make me less sympathetic. They put themselves in opposition to the general populace instead of just the cleaning companies and landlords. And, if they are going to be protesting against me, they won't be getting much sympathy. Also, I'd point out the the thread title is a little unfair and inflammatory. Houston cops used horses in their crowd control measures, and 4 people were injured, according to the article linked. The thread title makes it sound like willful injury, which doesn't seem to be the case. As for the bail, speaking as someone who hasn't passed the bar or anything, is it possible they wanted to set the bail high because there was a high likelihood that the people arrested would re-offend while out on bail? Is that a consideration that warrants an increase in bail? Anyway, I hope they win their fight and get better wages and especially better hours (though I suppose that would mean half of them losing their jobs).
I don't understand why their plight has to have me sit in traffic on two occasions because they chain themselves together in the middle of the intersection of Post Oak and Westheimer. If they are moving from place to place causing disturbances, then arrest them. If they wish to quit or leave their jobs, then so be it. If they wish to do it in large numbers, then so be it. If their services are not replacable then their employer will meet their demands, if they are replacable, then good bye.
Nobody is saying they shouldn't be arrested if they break the law. But your inconvenience is not justification for trampling peaceful protesters with horses, harassing them while they're incarcerated or setting their bail considerably higher than accused murderers.
What justifies our city having to devote police resources and financial resources to dealing with the problem the janitors have given us? What justifies the economic losses to the city of gridlocked traffic in the Galleria area for hours? Your accepted justification for these selfish acts is a group of unskilled workers clamoring for more money? That just doesn't hold water, Batman. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that I have a janitor come and clean my trash can in my office every night. Sometimes I even look up from my desk and acknowledge their presence.
If they had been obeying the law in the first place the horses would not have been called in.There bail issues well that i can agree with you on.
Ah, TJ reminds us once again why Economics is called "The Dismal Science," as if human beings can be reduced to economic terms.
I can't believe Management caved. Democrats in charge and the country is already going to hell...Right TJ (Bigtexxx)?
The Constitution does protect the right to free assembly. It doesn't protect the right to free flow of traffic.
