“He said we’re a commodity like soybeans and oil, and the price of commodities go up and down,” Mr. Budd recalled. “He said there are thousands of people in this area out of jobs, and they could hire any one of them for $14 an hour. It made me sick to have someone sit across the table and say I’m not worth the money I make.”

With their article, “In Mott’s Strike, More Than Pay at Stake,” the New York Times details the efforts of Dr Pepper Snapple Group to squeeze its workers to increase already-rising corporate profits.

The workers are doing the right thing in organizing for their own self-interest. I think it’s crucial for consumers to pressure manufacturers and stores to favor workers. I’m not sure what the best path for action is, though. I try to patronize local businesses, but maybe they just apply the same squeeze, with a friendly face.