I guess tensions are high. I stopped by on Tuesday or Wednesday, to ask what was up. I was driving down Main Street, and saw the picket line, so I turned into the parking lot, and drove over to the guys to ask what was up.

Maybe I broke some rules about picket lines I don't know about (I really am pretty ignorant on this topic) but was surprised at how abrupt and disrespectful they were. I guess I should have known to stay away, or something. They saw me drive by south on Main, and then turn into the parking lot, so they know I was not entering or doing business with Xpedx.

I was surprised to get the reaction I got, thinking that today, most public battles (you cannot get much more public than a picket line on Main street) want to win people and the public in general to their side of the argument, yet these guys clearly had no desire to enlist any support from me.

At the time I chocked it up to a tense situation, and perhaps I had broken some sort of picket line etiquette. There were no police in attendance at the time.

Next time, just drive by and beep... unbelievable. So did you get to ask what the strike was about (and did they change their tone), or did they just continue to bully you?

I would not say bully me. They were just rude. I did ask what the strike was about. They did not answer in any real fashion, just generic negative platitudes.

If I just drove by an beeped, some would take that as support, others as anti-supportive. I was looking to educate myself on the topic. All I learned is that those guys are rude. It surely did not make me want to support them at all.

I hope they get what they deserve. I just don't know what that is.

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I just drove by, at 11PM on Tuesday night. Had to be at least 6 cops there, and as many picketers. The cops were all standing in a group, and the picketers seemed to be sitting at tables or something...

Yesterday, my wife asked me a question, that I do not know, and I hope some reader here does. She asked if all these cops on detail are being paid by the town, or by Xpedx.

I guessed that if they are there because of a complaint by the neighbors, then it may be on the town's dime. IF they are there at the request of Xpedx, I would guess it is on their dime. I just don't know, but am curious.

Matt, do you know? How about any other poster. I would rather someone without an axe to grind here, I am just looking for some information, not a battle.

This strike is about long term job security. Sorry if we appeared rude, emotions are high, and for good reason. Please know that we do appreciate the support, and look forward to the day that we can get back to doing what we do best: doing our jobs at Xpedx and doing it well (and safely).

Pretty expensive for Xpedx when the detail rate for most police departments runs anywhere from $60-90 per hour, per officer so with 6-8 cops you are looking at a range anywhere from $360 to $720 per hour depending on whether you have to hire from other departments to fill the details. This is going to hit the balance sheet before long so I anticipate this being settled at some point soon. Just my opinion.

I had to make a delivery there with a truck. I'm an over the road trucker, just doing my job....they should try doing theirs instead of standing out front yelling crude and offensive things at innocent victims of their corporate terrorism strategy....such as "f$&@ you and f$&@ your little dog too"! What a bunch of selfish jerks!

I thought that people had to keep moving on a picket line. Every day when I drive by this site in Wilmington, I see groups of picketers standing together in the drive and also on the sidewalk or I see them sitting down. They have also set up a table with food and lawn chairs. I've observed the picketers shouting at a truck trying to enter and that causing a traffic jam on Rt. 38. It is very intimidating just to drive by and I certainly would not walk down the sidewalk. If I needed to have my car repaired I would pass up going to Charlie's Auto Body since the picketers stand on the sidewalk in front of that shop.This picket line is disrubtive to other businesses in the area. I thought that six was the maximum amount of allowed picketers at one time, there have often been more than 30 at a time. At one time I counted 10 police officers. It seems that their time could be put to better use. I support the right of people to picket, but this picket seems to be quite disorganzied and disrubtive which makes me less supportive to their cause. Perhaps someone can enlighten me to whether this is the norm of a picket line.

I'am a Proud union driver who has withstood many attacks by my peers.I'm not overpaid,Lazy or privliged. I work my a&& off every day for my family. I will not bow down to billion $$ companys who dont give two shi$$ about me or my kids. Sorry about the rest of you but my family comes first!!!!

Not overpaid or privileged?!
I've been in the union shops and seen employees sitting with their feet up on a garbage can at 2:30 in the afternoon. When I asked the Steward why he just sits there all the time, I was told that he had met his quota of "widgets" for the day, and was just waiting for 4:30 so he could punch out. Then I watched a line form at the time clock at about 4:15 and just stand there waiting for 4:30 to come so they could all punch out. So don't tell me how you work your ass off!! And yelling f$&@ me and my little dog for doing MY job to the best of my ability is in NO WAY honorable.
I hope your strike goes on for a good long time, so you can puff your chests with pride, as your families starve and freeze this winter because you wanted to "hang" and shout and get out your aggressions with your union "brothers".
And you can call me a scumbag if you want, but
Not a part of your strike, or your company, and shouting lewd remarks ate while I try to do my job is just wrong. If you don't like the way you are being treated there, find another job, or quit and collect unemployment. Either way you would make more money than standing out on that line like an idiot, using the valuable recourses of your city's municipal force and forcing the other citizens in your community to suffer for YOUR cause.

Ed Ryc,

You have the right to do what you feel is best for your family, and I have no gripe with that. Luckily, I have not had to confront this particular problem directly, as I do not do business with Xpedx. I have no problem with trade unions, as the reality is that if you ask for too much, or price yourselves out of the market, then you are the ones finally responsible for what happens. Therefore, use what tools you feel you need to, in order to get your desired results.

However, when you interfere with another man's ability to provide for his family, you put yourself in a position to be held accountable for that. If an independent driver, who is simply working to put food on his table is stopped by you from doing what he does, and you feel it is okay to call him names for it, then you have gone from fighting the corporation for your battle, to fighting him, and causing him harm. To me, that is a problem.

I prefer to fight my own battles, and to not make other suffer for my cause.

Im from out of town and needed to stop into Charlies auto body to have something looked at. As I pulled in I was called an fn moron an fn jerk and alot of other things that can not possibly printed here. When they realized where I was going, they just turned around walked away and waited for the next poor sap that pulls into the wrong driveway. No apology no nothing. How could I possibly be in support of idiots like this.

Oh TJ your the one where one guy said something to you, and when he was told where you were he went over to shake your hand and apologize. You proceed to tell him you didn't accept it and had you choice of words to say as well. So spare me the lies. We have not disrupted any business and people have walked the street unhassled.There is more than one entrance to these bussinesses and the police have done an excellant job of directing people or asking where they are going and peole have no problem. you chose to turn and cross through the line while the men were in the driveway. I'm suprised only one man said something to you.

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Boy Grecko you are a very bitter clueless man.Face it you ere never in the union I can tell by the way you have tried describe it in your meaningless thought process. We don't have Boss stewards not stuart. They don't tell us how to work.If you actually worked in this industry you would know that THEY keep on top of what we do very day with comp. technology and call us in the office when we don't meet their work standard. Union dues aren't $1,000 it is half that. Face it your a sore loser cause Romney the huge white collar criminal who destroyed jobs and companies and sent them overseas LOST. I know Iwas in one.Oh the poor white collar crime syndicut. Also if your so blue collar intelligant you would know that it is against the law for non union employees to strike withiout a union and they can be legally replaced without recourse we can't.White collar america is destroying workers rights and the middle class.Ask those who are surrounded by brainwashed yes men like you and live in fear of losing there jobs. We keep the work place competitive with wages and benefits for all. So yes Iam proud to be union and to stand up against morons like you. Isuppose you find it perfectly acceptable for a top ceo to make millions per yr. while he lays people off and cuts their benefits. Have you ever once seen a product made in China for pennies on the dollar sold at a discount here NO they pocket it. All they do is cry poor mouth and threaten peoples jobs.Good luck to you. YOU SORE LOSER

I agree with Scab Hater. I'm sure all the Union people are driving American cars supporting their Union brothers and sisters. I hope none of them have Apple products , Apple's factories treat the workers very poor and the mark up on the products is outrageous.