To all my friends who consider themselves progressives, or lefties, or socialists, or Big-D Democrats or whatever term fits you, here’s a way to directly support one of our country’s and the world’s most reliable and powerful political movements. Right here in Buffalo, on the East Side.
The Bakers at Milk-Bone are on strike. This means most of Milk-Bone’s workers are striking, 165 men and women, our neighbors, family and friends.
How to support? Easiest is simply to drive or stroll on by their picket line, which is at the loading dock gate of the Milk-Bone plant, on Fougeron Street between Kehr and Louisen. 212 Fougeron will allow Google to direct you to the spot. Driving by, honking and waving, gives them a boost. They’d be plenty happy to talk about why they’re striking, if you were inclined to get out of your car. And I expect they wouldn’t say no to some coffee or food, but it might be best to ask them what’s needed and appropriate.
Striking is hard. Running a picket line is hard. No pay, out in the weather day and night, potential for violence and harm, a lot of standing around. It’s not easy standing up for your rights.
A little about Milk-Bone. The plant on Fougeron Street is North America’s largest dog snack bakery. A division of Smucker’s, which has come a long way from Mr. Smucker’s kitchen, back in small-town Ohio, back in the nineteenth century. They’re Big Corp. They’re profitable. They’ve been baking dog biscuits in Buffalo since 1957. They’ve spent serious money and resources improving their plant and buying neighboring properties. They sure look like they’re here to stay.
Milk-Bone is our neighbor at ReUse Action. We have nothing against the company and its local management, and have our own healthy relationship with them. We do, and I can speak for my colleagues, respect and support unions and collective bargaining and the laws and traditions that support labor organizing in this country. Our little bit of support for the workers is to allow them to stage their portable toilet on our lot across from the picket line, displaying a supportive sign in our store, and being available to help if they ask for it.
When I’m discouraged, out of gas, confused about what’s happening, I find my best choice is to take action. Any action, and by its nature it will be a small, individual action. The workers at Milk-Bone need our support. We can take action and directly support them quite easily. Please consider doing it.