Tag Archives: Labor Day

Blumbers, Commentary

Sep. 4, 2016 Blumbers

The answer to more money in politics is putting in more voters. Vote.

And now a Labor Day story.

A few weeks ago I was waiting in the checkout line of a San Francisco department store. I walked up to the counter and saw a cashier in agony. I asked if she was okay. She explained that she had osteoarthritis and her job required her to stand. She was leaning against the counter but that did not help. She said her boss would not allow her to sit down.

I had a temporary solution. I asked her when unsold merchandise was put back on the racks. She said cashiers took it back at the end of their shifts. I walked back to housewares and brought back a barstool.  I told her I considered buying the barstool but decided not to buy it.

She could now sit down as she worked. If her boss gave her any trouble she could say it was a reasonable accommodation for disability. I cannot believe an employer who knew an employee was clearly disabled would allow them to suffer.

Her story is not unusual. She is sixty years old and works thirty hours a week for minimum wage. She drives all over Northern California to the store chain’s other locations. She is too young for Medicare and not paid enough to afford surgery. She supports expanding Medicare and will be voting in November.

Copyright 2016 DJ Cline All rights reserved.

 

Blumbers, Commentary

Sep. 1, 2013 Blumbers

djcblumbers

Labor Day

Tomorrow is Labor Day. Last week there was a walkout by fast food workers in the San Francisco Bay Area. They want fifteen dollars an hour. Many years ago I was negotiating a deal with a tough customer. At one point she said “I have to make a profit.” I responded “So do I.” If a system is going to work, everybody should benefit. If companies have to make a profit, so do their employees. If you want to fight poverty, pay people a living wage.

Copyright 2013 DJ Cline All rights reserved.

 

Blumbers, Commentary

Sep. 4, 2011 Blumbers

Blood Money

I’m not laboring this Labor Day, which I think is the point.

Unfortunately there are millions of people out of work. This current economic collapse is not their fault. This collapse started years ago. Now Warren Buffett and other more responsible wealthy people are finally talking about paying their taxes. They figured out that money is like blood, it works best when it circulates.

In theory, companies exist to solve problems and make money, but they cannot seem to figure out that creating a society with fewer employees means fewer customers. This is creating more problems than it can solve without our help.

If you can’t work, you can vote. Do your research, get active, volunteer.

Copyright 2011 DJ Cline All rights reserved.