Look for the union shackle

My son, the aspiring actor who's out in Los Angeles doing the multiple-part-time-jobs-acting-lessons-thing, is learning some valuable life lessons that one doesn't learn in the hallowed halls of higher learning.

The latest addition to his list of jobs is a grocery store gig. He was required to join the union. The union has a negotiated rule that an employee must be given a half-hour lunch break for every 6-hour shift. So guess how long his shift is? 5-3/4 hours.

Forget that he needs the hours. Forget that he's willing and eager to skip the formal lunch break. That's not an option, comrade. Not good for the collective.