Bluff Trade
The strike that would have emptied the Sun-Times city room last Monday was scheduled to begin at noon. To no one’s surprise that perilous deadline passed without incident. An hour later the two camps were still negotiating at the Executive Plaza, and strike headquarters remained almost empty.
“That’s interesting. ‘BBM says we’re not striking.”
Once again journalists had proved that the only story they’re sure to be beaten on is their own. And once again guild-management negotiations at the Sun-Times had followed the hallowed trail to the 12th hour and beyond. With pickets already stacked outside the building for immediate distribution, and surly endomorphs patrolling the corridors against vandals, the two sides as always came to an agreement. If ritual was violated this year it was only in the high level of delight later expressed.
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We put the question to Jerry Minkkinen, the guild’s executive director. “If anybody divines an answer to it, please let me know,” he said.
“We have just three points in a weak data set: insufficient information to document a real trend,” Polsby admits. “With respect to violence against school personnel, then, I can conclude only that school reform has had no apparent positive effect.” Feeble stuff.
We’re tempted to say Moore would have been wiser to calm down and let Polsby’s study waft away into oblivion. But a couple of matters Moore brought up with Fuller did deserve to be mentioned.
