To strike or not to strike

You have probably seen the full page ads for Fry's and Safeway. Seems the grocery union is talking strike. They are unhappy with a deal that makes them pay a little towards health insurance. According to the paper, the stores want the employees to pay $5.00 a week for individual coverage and $15.00 a for the entire family. When we had to cover our family through CUSD it was almost $325.00 a pay check. When Ron went to work for Brothers we switched our family to his policy. It was $60.00 a pay check. So we just don't see the problem with paying $15.00 a week to cover your entire family.

So in support of the stores Ron has applied at both Fry's and Safeway. He says if they strike he will support the stores. He said he will go in nights and Saturdays and happily stock shelves.

Well today I found out from a co-worker (her daughter-in-law works at Fry's) that the Fry's workers are willing to pay for the insurance. They really don't want to strike. The Safeway workers are opposed to paying. The Fry's workers have asked for a vote. But the union won't even let them vote. The Fry's workers think if they can force a vote that Safeway will have to go along with the offer and the won't have to strike. My co-worker said there are employees in tears because they don't want to strike, but they are afraid they won't have any choice.

Makes you wonder what unions are good for, doesn't it.