So I go into my local big chain grocery store today. Yeah, I know it's a local big chain grocery store. It is in walking distance from my house, and the checkers are unionized and they make a decent wage. Anyway, I walk into the store, and see that they have removed all the old checkout lanes and put in new lanes. There are two extra lanes added now, which require extra clerks. And there are four new self checkout lanes.
I'm sorta feeling like Pastor Niemöller here, "First they came for the help desk jobs, then they came for the clerk jobs..."
I told the clerk that I was mad to see the self check lanes and she said she was feeling insecure about it. This is a near 50 year old woman, who went back to clerking after her divorce and is able to support herself with this job. I wonder what kind of job she will be able to get after this one is sacrificed to maximize profits.
I talked to the manager, of course, because that is what I do. He told me that they are trying to cut down line lengths and noted that they have two extra lanes for human clerks. "Ok", I said with a smile on my face, "can you say to me that there is no long term plan to maximize profits by depending more heavily on the self checkout kiosks?" "Of course", he beams.
"Can you write that down for me?"
"Sure. Well, actually let me give you the number of my boss."
I know someone who is lower management who was used by upper management to sell hourly employees on not signing up with the union. I understand very clearly the lobster and cold water in a pot scenario. And I have watched for over 20 years as good jobs evaporate to somewhere else in the world where corporations can get away with paying less for labor costs.
These jobs in my neighborhood are not going down without a fight from me.
And that is where I could use some help, fellow Kosians. How does one go about organizing a demonstration? I'm planning to talk to neighbors. I'm going to look up any information I can find on bank teller wages and job availability in the face of ATMs. I'm going to talk to the boss of this guy, and ask him to commit to me that these self checkout lanes will not threaten the jobs of clerks. Unless someone here has a better idea, that is the main thrust of my demonstration. Tell me these self checkout lanes will not threaten the jobs of hardworking clerks who are able to earn a living wage doing and important job being the face of the grocery store to your community. I'm going to ask supporters to call corporate offices and ask them this simple question. And if the answer is yes, then we will need to have people on record saying that.
I think this could play out in the larger political field too, because middle class independent voters are freaking about watching the decent jobs go away. One of these times, a protest like this will light a fire under the butts of people who right now feel vaguely scared. And they will suddenly decide to take a stand against corporate profits at the expense of fellow citizen's jobs.
Maybe it will be this time.