I will not appologize for supporting workers

I am not Anti-Business, I am pro worker.

It is sad that a few narrow minded people have complained about my Facebook Posts concerning my support of the striking Teamsters 117 members at United Natural Foods Incorporated (UNFI).  All I am going to say is I will never apologize for standing up for a working person, nor will I be intimidated by you saying you are going to unfriend me.  I am proud of the fact that because of my moderate views and the fact I look pragmatically at issues I have many friends who are, let’s say, more conservative than many.  I am proud of the fact that I have always tried to look at issues from all sides and yes, when a business is right on an issue I support them as well.  Labor is not going to always be right.

I am not going to go into the battle between UNFI and Teamsters 117.  All I am going to say is ALL workers deserve to be treated with respect unless they prove they do not deserve it.  Standing up for your rights to withhold labor as the UNFI workers did does not give you the right to attempt to permanently replace anyone.  I have no doubt how the Unfair Labor Practice charges will turn out in this case and UNFI will lose even more than they have already by not being willing to follow the law.

I recognize that not all of my Facebook Friends or even all of the people who read this blog are pro-union.  Unions will not always be right and I have seen situations where the union demands were not reasonable for the times or the situation.  I do not expect everyone to share my opinion on issues; I even support your right to have opinions opposite of mine.  As such I do ask that you respect my right to believe as I do.  I am proud of being a member of labor and I am proud that I am willing to stand with someone who is only asking to be treated fairly and with respect. That is why I spent a few hours Christmas Morning on the line (to allow UNFI employees time to spend with their families) and why I have been down walking the line 5 times over this past two weeks. 

I am proud to stand up for what I believe in and if that causes you to unfriend me then that is not my problem but yours. I recognize that businesses must do what they think necessary to stay in business and I respect that; but I also believe that you will find that if you work to build a partnership based on mutual respect with your workers you will find it much more effective.