It’s raining, and odds are if you’re reading this you’re sitting at a desk somewhere and not out there speaking out on the litany of 99-percent-friendly issues Occupy hopes to reignite today. The idea behind today’s general strike is to call out of work, shopping, school, chores … anything you would normally be doing, and join the movement out on the streets in a moment of solidarity. But not all of us can just bugger off work today, as there’s important interneting to do (and as much as I’d love to stick it to Faye for the day, we’re kinda in this together). And we doubt (hope not?) anyone is walking out of their jobs in the ER or driving the G train today. A bunch of our rabble rousing Trader Joe’s friends said they would strike today if they weren’t confident they’d be replaced immediately by the hundreds of people who apply for jobs there. So give us the scene from wherever you work: did any coworkers call out to go strike? Are you stealing their stapler while they’re gone? Do you wish you could be out there? Or do you think this is all a bunch of soggy sound and fury, signifying nothing?
Of note, on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer this morning, de facto Occupy spokesman Jesse La Greca disputed the notion that Occupy was trying to disrupt the workforce today. “If anything, there’s not enough work in this country,” he said.
View Comments (15)
not only are there barricades up everywhere, ruining my ability to escape for an afternoon coffee/lunch, but the Times Sq. ticker informs us all that our next door building neighbors, Bank of America, will be laying off 2000 people today. So maybe they will straight up join the strike in a few hours...
oh poor timing bank of america.
One of the instructors at Dou Yoga cancelled his 6:30 class today. So there's that...
down(ward facing dog) with the 1 percent!
I'm at work today, because I'm hourly. No work, no pay.
And is it really striking if you only take one day off? I wonder how many of these people told their boss the truth vs. taking a "personal day?"
I have a distaste for this whole movement. There. I said it!
Also, I'm at work. Stop bothering me with your clever turns of phrase and Shakespearean references. I'm very busy.
Here in the publishing industry, we're all sitting quietly typing on our computers. Even if we were striking, this is probably still what we'd be doing, so it's probably for the best.
Wait, does this mean we can't participate in Punderdome tonight? Does that count as work? GAH!
Not if you're buying everyone drinks. Just kidding, it still counts as work even when you're drunk.
The Punster strikes again!
Nope. I'm working, which is, as far as I can tell, the best way to get the 1% (read: my employer) to give money to the 99% (read: me).
Like Conal mentioned, striking is a luxury of salaried employees.
I am both working and going to classes today. I enjoy being able to sleep in a bed and take showers and I have nobody donating money to my "cause" aka paying rent etc
I wanted to attend Occupy Bushwick because I heard of the free coffee and donuts, but I was up until 6am watching HBO Go, so by the time 8am came around I was exhausted and just wanted to relax on my day off. However, if I had energy I totally would have at least done the crossing of the bridge. I still need to buy groceries.
Striking is not a luxury of salaried employees. FYI.