Every once in awhile, someone will stumble onto one of my posts here from weeks or even months ago and feel compelled to leave a comment. Which is fine, although it may go unread by me or anyone else. Sometimes, though, I am alerted to a belated comment by seeing it in the “Five most recent comments” section of the Movable Type web page.
Such was the case with a comment received today responding to my August 30, 2003, post about workers at Sterling Laundry in Washington, DC, asking for an increase in pay from $6.15 to $8 an hour. (They are still on strike, as fas as I know.) The commenter, named Al, writes:
Thank you for informing me about the Sterling’s Laundry situation – I recognize greed when I see it, and it’s disgusting. Those workers are holding their boss hostage, and demanding extra money – on what basis??? because they want it???? have they done anything to deserve a raise???
If they succeed, and get their $8 an hour, then laundry prices will go up. Who will ultimately pay for their raises???? You and me – the public. We all want more money in this life – should we all just stand up and demand it, or should we go out and earn it – better ourselves, learn a new skill or trade, get a degree, work longer hours, etc. And to go to the guy’s house to harass him??? What kind of scum are these people???
Ask any level-headed, halfway intelligent person to read that article, and his sympathies will lie with the laundromat [sic] owner. Mine sure do . . .
I’d like to believe this is some kind of satire, but I doubt it. I only wish the owner of Sterling Laundry was as generous with his paychecks as Al is with his question marks.
Meanwhile I’m sure Al will be pleased to learn that the Bush administration struck a blow against greedy employees by advising employers how to avoid paying overtime to some of the 1.3 million low-income workers who would become eligible under new rules.
