ABC’s The Mayor has been leaning to the left more with each episode to the point where they openly advocate for left-leaning politicians. When that’s not possible, I guess they go for the next best thing: left-leaning supporters. This week, they remind us of the important and still totally relevant role of the union in society.
The October 31 episode “The Strike” focuses on Mayor Courtney Rose (Brandon Michael Hall) handling a contract dispute with the city’s bus drivers’ union. When he doesn’t right away concede to every one of the union’s demands, they quickly go on strike in retaliation. The picketing outside city hall forces Courtney to come up with creative ways to keep the city moving, including personally driving citizens to destinations, but the city still isn’t satisfied.
Although Courtney wants to mediate between the protestors’ demands and a city that just can’t afford everything, his mother Dina (Yvette Nicole Brown) shares none of his hesitance. Right off the bat, she argues for the union’s side stating they “fight the good fight for us” and emphasizes the need to “get them what they deserve” regardless of any reasonable argument against it. Soon enough, she actually joins the protestors outside city hall against her son. Even after that, she still feels more comfortable defending the noble unions than Courtney.
Dina: No contract, no bus. A living wage for all of us. No contract –
Courtney: What the hell, Ma?
Dina: "What the hell" yourself. These are my pample mousses.
Courtney: I saw you picketing.
Dina: Good. How'd I look?
Courtney: Treacherous. You're picketing against your own son?
Dina: Excuse me -- the Post Office called a sympathy strike.
Courtney: That didn't mean you had to go.
Dina: That's right. I chose to. In case you haven't noticed, we are a union house. Everything we have is because of their hard-fought battles -- health insurance, rent, the piano.
Courtney: Ma, we got that piano for free off Craigslist.
Dina: And how do you think we got on Craigslist? Using a computer bought with union wages!
Courtney: This is so unreal. You're supposed to be on my side.
Dina: Not when you're hanging out on some dumb side, scabbing like you did.
Courtney: What?! When did I scab?
Dina: When you drove half the city around with your little See Someone, Scab Someone campaign.
Courtney: Ma, I was not trying to get rid of the buses. I was just trying to keep the city moving during the strike.
Dina: Boy, that may actually be the definition of "Scabbing."
Courtney: Look... I understand Dina The Postal Worker is mad at me, but I really need my mom right now.
Dina: Sorry. Of course. Here I am. [ Sighs ] You're wrong, Courtney. No contract, no bus. A living wage for all of us. [ Voice fading ] No contract, no bus...
Eventually, of course, Courtney and the bus drivers’ union come to a compromise which includes a pay raise and benefits. Now, I can’t deny that unions may have been once useful for insuring safety and adequate pay many, many decades ago but, as leftists keep me reminding me, it’s the current year. Nowadays it’s more common to see unions fighting against right-to-work laws, demanding unreasonable benefits, and paying for Democrat campaigns than “fighting the good fight.” Pretending they’re still relevant or fighting barely existing injustices is about as ridiculous as pretending the KKK still matters. Then again, that hasn’t stopped leftists before, so it won’t stop them now.
