We needed some supplies tonight, so I stopped at the Von’s on Telephone Road after work.

As I walked the isles picking up a half dozen items or so, the striking workers shouted into the store, “Boycott Von’s. Don’t Shop Von’s.”

At the checkout stand, a youngish black woman said to the checker, “How irritating.”

“We just ignore it,” the checker said in obvious good cheer.

I shook my head and said, “Why should these people get better benefits than I get.”

The woman in line said, “Oh, I know.”

While the checker ran my soda pop through the laser scan (how hard is that to do?), she said, “They can stay out there as long as they want, because as long as they’re out there, I’m in here. I’ve got a job.”

I said, “Good for you.”

“They can call me scab all they want,” She said. “It doesn’t bother me. I was unemployed for six months and I’ve got two children to feed.”

As I told one of the baggers at my local Von’s once — do what you have to do. Strike, carry your picket signs, if that’s what you think you have to do, but don’t harrass people because they’re doing what they think is right for their families.