*Ask Jen: Refusing to Answer Edition

Jim writes, "How come all of the union strongarm tactics have 'work' in their names when they all deal with the exact opposite of work? Examples: work stoppages, work slowdowns, work actions."

My first inclination is to say that it is because they are, you know, stopping work or slowing work, etc. But I am in a unique position to seek expert input to your question. I do have co-workers who are in the union. Let me go out to the shop and find some...(five minutes later)...hmm, no one out there. Must be break time. I'll just call a couple of the guys...(ten minutes later)...hmm. No one's answering their phone. Is it lunch time? It's not 10:30 yet, so that can't be. Oh, wait. Payday. They're at the bars. Sorry, Jim, I can't answer your question.

Pete the Blogless wants to know, "what is an Irishman's drinking stick?"

Oh, no, you don't. I'm not getting pulled into that Irish stereotype stuff again.

Do you have a question for me? You can e-mail it. If I know the answer, I'll answer it. If I don't, I might make something up. (Hint: history, trivia, and phrase origin questions tend to get more serious answers. No guarantees, though.)

Posted by Jennifer at March 5, 2004 09:24 AM

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