Locked Out

[catinthedark]

Has anyone else ever been locked out by their employer? It's not the same as going on strike. Our union wanted to keep negotiating in good faith towards a new contract; we all wanted to keep working. But late last Sunday night, management locked us all out. Now 5500 of us across the country are on the picket lines, feeling betrayed by a corporation we love and have felt great loyalty towards. The main issue is that our employer wants to be able to contract out more jobs and hire more people on a temporary basis (meaning no benefits, no seniority, no security). How's that for loyalty?

There's talk the conflict could go on for months, at which point many of us will have to start considering just how strong their own loyalties really are. Mortgages have to be paid. Kids have to be fed. It's not a nice place to be right now.