November 14, 2007
 

On The Line
In The Golden State

Aah California.  This past week was spent wandering the Golden State’s Central Coast while spending time with the Jan clan.  My wife’s brother and family, following a well-known Midwestern tradition, moved west many years ago to live along the West Coast. 

In spite of fires, earthquakes, gridlock and a Governor who has great difficulty pronouncing the name of the state where he’s in charge, “Caleeforneeya” is a cool place. 

We were guests for the week in San Luis Obispo, which, according to rumor, is Spanish for “75 and sunny.” Between the Pacific Ocean, rolling hills covered with vineyards and one of our nations great downtowns, SLO is a great place to hang out.

It’s also true, to state the obvious, being a Californian is to experience problems so unique, we who reside in the union’s other 49 states, have nary a clue as to what gets Golden Staters panties in such a wad. 

Example A. Right now, Southern California is in the grip of a writers strike.  The past seven days the L A Times has been chock full of reports from the picket lines located in front of the various network headquarters. But this was anything but a normal labor dispute.  Not when it’s the mildly rich striking against the extremely rich. 

The Writers Guild seems to have created a super villain in Fox Network President Peter Chernin.  And he does indeed make an obscene 34 million dollars a year.  However on the picket line showing their support were folks like Jay Leno and Ray Romano, people who could be a network president if they so desired, but would have to take a pay cut. 

To the rest of the country, pro or anti-union, it’s difficult to become emotionally involved when the bourgeois goes on strike.  It’s reminiscent of a Red Sox-Yankees game where one team will win and you’re incapable of rooting for either. 

It’s also true a work stoppage, where the major effect on the public would be the TV show Law and Order Criminal Intent having to go into re-runs six weeks early, doesn’t exactly strike a sympathy chord with we citizens in the flyover states. 

The history of American labor is filled with larger than life personalities like George Meany, John L. Lewis and Caeser Chavez leading workers in the demand for “an honest days pay for an honest days work”.  Somehow the Writers Guild stated desire of “our fair share of downstream revenue and future ancillary benefits” doesn’t seem reason enough to give up a Bentleys and Botox lifestyle for a cause. 

This could be why union leaders brought in Rage Against The Machine front man Tom Morello to serenade picketers last weekend.  After all, nothing inspires one to give up a days shopping on Rodeo Drive and “stick it to the man” like the lyrics of an uber-rich rocker.  

Industry experts are predicting a long drawn out dispute. Others wonder how long writers will remain committed to the cause.   LA Times columnist Joel Stein, a guild member, seems to reflect the California writer approach to striking.  Last Friday’s effort detailed the fun to be had picketing for an afternoon but the timing seemed perfect for a European vacation.   

Is it possible union strike benefits could be paid in Euros?