Several injured after UAW strikers hit by vehicle

gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world to News@lemmy.world – 595 points –
Several injured after UAW strikers hit by vehicle
mlive.com
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So sad seeing people hurt others who're just trying to get their fair share and make a slightly better life for themselves and their family

Again with the motherfucking passive voice! Yet again, car violence gets minimized by the piece of shit headline writers.

No, strikers were not "hit by vehicle," you sniveling sorry excuse for a "journalist!" A driver propelled his two-ton piece of heavy machinery into them. Quit minimizing the perpetrator's agency just because he used a car as his attempted-murder weapon!

I am sick and tired of this car-supremacist propaganda.

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You just know this asshole was driving a car manufactured by UAW members.

Don't forget that we have 8 hour workdays, weekends off, payed time off and other benefits all thanks to union efforts. All of them we take granted for. They were not granted because of the kindness of employers.

And for a view into what jobs could look like without unions "interfering" with the owners' wishes, look at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. That factory had long hours, horrible working conditions, doors locked to prevent workers from leaving (the owners claimed it was to keep employees from stealing scraps of fabric), and more. When a fire broke out, nobody could open the doors to escape and close to 150 workers died. Many fell to their deaths because they got to high windows and jumped out - hoping to survive the fall rather than be burned alive.

Several likely knew it would kill them and took the quick death. I know I would.. I don't care if it would take several minutes or 10 seconds to kill me, fuck that I ain't burning alive.

The shirtwaist factory incident definitely needs to be taught from like third grade onwards as an example of why unionization and labor laws are in fact necessary in a capitalist society.

The jury acquitted the two men of first- and second-degree manslaughter, but they were found liable of wrongful death during a subsequent civil suit in 1913 in which plaintiffs were awarded compensation in the amount of $75 per deceased victim. The insurance company paid Blanck and Harris about $60,000 more than the reported losses, or about $400 per casualty.

Jesus fucking Christ not only did they get off, they ended up making money off the whole thing. It really feels like not much has changed in 112 years

And $75 in 1913 is the equivalent of $2,325.95 today. Imagine if a factory was wildly unsafe, caused the deaths of a hundred workers, and then the courts said "their lives are only worth about $2,300 each." There would be marches like crazy and calls to hold the owners liable for much, much more.

*paid, since it sounds like you speak American English

Several injured after UAW strikers hit by vehicle Motorist hit-and-run striking workers with vehicle, causing injuries

fixed it

At least it's your average frustrated person trying to get though and not a terrorist?

If you think that running people over is a valid response to a minor inconvenience, you might be a terrorist.

No, they're not. Quit watering down what terrorism means.

Terrorism is someone who specifically is trying to kill, maim, destroy, or significantly hurt people due to very narrow ideologies which are usually VERY political now.

Running people over because you can't get to work isn't one of them. That is attempted manslaughter if you hurt them bad enough, not a fucking terrorist.

Either you guys know way more about the incident than I do since you're close to the police and already know it's a Trumper who hates strikes and thought they were all gay black democrats, who potentially showed up specifically to hurt these people, or it was some asshole trying to get to work and got so manic he decided it's better to maim or kill people than to get to work.

THEY, ARE NOT, THE SAME.

How do you know why they were run over when the person who did it hasn't been caught?

Exactly. Thank you.

I am fully willing to change my thought on the matter at the drop of a hat with new information. But the way the article reads is VERY different from every terrorist car attack we've seen in the USA in previous years.

The strikers were blocking an exit to the processing center on West Bristol Road, Bade said, when the incident took place.

The driver, who drove off after the incident, has not been located, Bade said.

UAW Region 1-D President Steve Dawes told MLive-The Flint Journal that the vehicle involved in the incident was dark in color, possibly an HHR or PT Cruiser.

He added that two of the five people hit were taken to a local hospital.

“It was uncalled for,” Dawes said. “These people are out here, you know these are my membership, and they’re out here doing a peaceful, legal demonstration.

“This is very serious and we’re going to be pushing this issue.”

Lol, what? Terrorism has a very broad definition and for good reason.

The main way to identify terrorism is if the terrorist's goal is to instill fear into the populace. That's why it's called, terrorism after all. It's an asymmetrical warfare tactic that people use when fighting directly isn't viable.

Sad seeing people live in their fantasy worlds and then get their panties in a bunch when met with reality.

Crossing a picket line is an inherently political act. Terrorism is the use of violence for political ends. Connect the fucking dots.

Terrorism doesn't have to be political.

Your goal just needs to be to instill fear in a population.

Even if that's true, it only expands the definition, which doesn't refute my point.

Who are they? Op meant you. They're referencing your validation of terrorizing striking workers from exercising their constitutional rights. You're validating it by minimizing its importance.

and already know it's a Trumper who hates strikes and thought they were all gay black democrats

I mean, this is entirely plausible.

Yep, and yet the article says nothing close to it, and is described the same way every frustrated person dealing with blocked roads does when they panic and flee and eventually get hit with significant battery or accidental manslaughter charges. Unless their car started to get beat on and they tried breaking in, in which case, it ends up being self defense. Isn't that how the charges against the dude who ran down a bunch of motorcyclicsts got free? He had his whole family with him too though iirc. I think it was this? but I swear it was denser and more in a city.

Where are you getting your definition? I would like to be able to compare them.

I get frustrated by average things, like the kids not closing cupboard doors or leaving their stuff everywhere. I have yet to run over anyone due to these average frustrations.

The person at the UAW picket was not dealing with average frustrations, they were a terrorist.

Terrorist? Really? That word has just lost all meaning huh

I dunno, the OED definition is: "a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims." The Unlawful violence was the act of running people over, they're car factory workers, so non military, ergo civilians, and they did it to against people expressing their opinion, which could be argued to be political as it regards the politics of CEOs compensation and the growing inequality of the world.

So yeah, terrorist.

He's talking about the secret meaning where conservative politics aren't politics so conservative terrorists can't be terrorists.

Touch grass

Can't touch grass, too busy breaking down doors and bear spraying cops at my peaceful protest over election integrity concerns. Maybe next week after I'm done trying to kidnap the governor of Michigan, but it might conflict with Yet Another Lone Wolf Mass Shooting so I can't commit to anything.

After all, like conservatives loudly and proudly said at CPAC, "We are all domestic terrorists."

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Jesus Christ. I often wonder why I'm still on Lemmy when I hear nonsense like this.

It's not an airport, you don't need to announce your departure

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I'm not going to hit someone but I certainly understand why folks are pissed at being blocked from going home.

Shouldn't scab then.

I'm glad you have that privilege. Some folks won't eat if they don't work. I support the union striking. I don't support making lives of low wage workers harder than it needs to be.

Again violence isn't ever acceptable but I understand the frustration of trying to get home just to pay rent. I would never fault someone for choosing a home and family over a union strike.

choosing home and family over a union strike.

Union strike IS for home and family. What do you think a strike is? Some frat boys protesting because someone dared them to do it?

Not everyone is a member of the union. Truckers are paid basically by speed, non-union members, especially hourly workers need to pay rent.

"not everyone is a member of a union"

Pretty weird that you have an automated answer for every comment without responding to any of the points being made.

I wonder why low wage workers have such low wages, Mr. Unions-shouldn't-strike-so-hard?

If only? There was a? Way? To?? Help raise? Wages?????

Makes u think

Real talk here, a lack of union power is why people have such shit wages and scabs just undermine union power more and keep wages low by letting companies ignore union demands.

I don't understand what is wrong with all you people. I made one minor single mention how I have empathy and you crazies start arguing random things I never said.

The problem is that you are giving empathy to the perpetrator of a vehicular assault, and not giving empathy to the workers on strike who are putting their livelihoods on the line to try and make a bunch of other people's lives better, even including the scabs who don't have the spine to join them.

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You speak of privilege when you're talking down to striking workers.

I forgive you, but please stop and rethink that sentence.

Can you point out where I spoke down about them? I fully support them except for this very specific issue. I'm just expressing my empathy for the low wage workers who don't really have a choice.

The only thing separating underpaid workers from union workers is the picket line.

If they want better conditions, create or join a union.

Yes its hard. Yes you'll be harassed, threatened and some even assaulted/killed.

But together, low paid workers can unionize and improve their life.

Yes you’ll be harassed, threatened and some even assaulted/killed.

Which is also how we know it is effective.

Not to mention that we have 8 hour workdays, weekends off, payed time off and other benefits all thanks to union efforts. All of them we take granted for. We shouldn't forget where they came from.

I feel like you're the one talking down here. Not everyone has the luxury of supporting the strike, they need to pay bills, and eat. If you can't support that, then your opinion is not one of relevance.

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Should have thought about that before they crossed the picket line.

I work at one of the "Big 3" as a software engineer, we are not unionized and the strikes have before reached the engineering centers. What exactly do you suggest those in this situation do? If we don't go to work we get fired. There's tiny internal efforts at unionizing engineering but it's far from feasible yet.

I am genuinely asking, I'd love to not have to cross a picket line should the strikes make their way here, I fully support what the union wants and is doing. At the same time, I am afforded none of the protections the union has to enable them to strike. I go into the office, cross a picket line, to do a job completely unrelated to union work, or I get fired.

(No, running over picketers is literally never okay. But not everyone entering a facility is scabbing or trying to undermine the protest efforts)

I'd start applying to different jobs. Engineers quitting in solidarity would be a boost to the union. You likely have savings and employability to spare in comparison to the plant workers

Again, that's a complete lack of empathy and position of privilege.

Fuck off you, disingenuous troll. Go back to your redditwasbetter site and conservative echo chambers. You had no empathy when conservatives came for minorities killing migrants across the boarder, the teachers being targeted for a witch hunt, the women being targeted for health care, voting right and the violence against women act... don't act like you really care about this issue...

You got quite an imagination. I vote fairly progressive.

It's not imagined, when you said it all yourself through all your comments.. so again.. Fuck off, you disingenuous Troll.. your projection and emoji use to argue, is pathetic and a waste of time.. go back to your shittyredditapp.

I have literally no idea what you are talking about. You have imagined this perceived slight or attack.

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