Rom: We're going to form a union! DS9 (Bar Association).

[@jamestown8398]

Later on in the episode we see why the Ferengi are so terrified of forming a Union, and why Rom hesitates to even say it. It's a Capitol Offense on Ferenginar, punishable by public execution.

[@kentallard8852]

Interesting that a corporate controlled society with no government has capital punishment - for workers standing up for their rights.

[@hankrearden20]

Who says they have no government? What is the title of Grand Nagus for?

[@danielsamper5176]

so ferenginar is basically the US

[@teknicron1080]

@@danielsamper5176 SOrt of . . . they're the extreme of corporate US, but the difference is that the Ferengi hold some value to not fucking up their profits. Long term planning means long term profits . . . so, unlike us, they've never dropped nukes on their planet, nor really had any wars (that I know of any way).

[@fenrislegacy]

@@hankrearden20 Grand Nagus is more like Chairman of the board.

[@F15ElectricEagle]

Rom becomes a labor union leader of the most capitalistic species in the Star Trek universe. Great, what is be going to become next, the Grand Nagus? Oh wait!....

[@tek512]

Quark would've made a much better Grand Nagus.

[@seriascannain6675]

@@tek512 That is a matter of perspective, if you could explore alternate timeline like the Sphere builders, you could see then!

[@deathbykonami5487]

@@tek512 Ferenginar changed by the time Rom becomes the Nagus, The New Ferenginar has Worker's Unions, Fairer Labor Laws, and because Moogie is the Previous Nagus' woman, females walking around wearing clothes and earning profit. That kind of Ferenginar isn't the kind Quark wanted to be a part of

[@crimsonphoenix1175]

@@deathbykonami5487 that's the problem lol

[@deathbykonami5487]

@@crimsonphoenix1175 Also in the books, Quark defends Rom against Brunt's accusations of breaking his marriage contract to Prinadora when he married Leeta. So Quark pretty much assured Rom's continued rule as Nagus

[@tsurugikage]

To think, when Rom becomes Nagus, some of those Ferengi can proudly say they were there when Rom formed the first Union and won against the FCA.

[@hagamapama]

Except they officially didn't. They won, but they won under the table. It was the best way for everyone to just get on with their lives.

[@artcrime2999]

@@hagamapama hushed legends speak of roms under the table union deal

[@irishdc9523]

@@hagamapama However small, it's still a victory. They've had their first taste and Quark knows it, so if he tries to go back to his old ways, the strike starts again

[@emersonpage5384]

@@hagamapama Rule of Acquisition #3: Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to

[@ryanm7263]

I love how the raspy one goes from being unable to say the word 'union' to chanting it loudly and enthusiastically in under 3 minutes. That's some charisma, Rom.

[@thedawkturr4481]

A few more minutes into this episode, after the FCA Liquidator threatened to seize all of the employee's accounts and assets on Ferenginar: " What about our accounts on Ferenginar? " " If your accounts on Ferenginar were worth anything, you wouldn't be working as a waiter. " Rom's more than a visionary, he's a capable leader.

[@michelguevara151]

That's why he became Nagus.. a just and compassionate employer profits from the exploitation of his employee's good will

[@kyleschroder9045]

Rom out of nowhere seems to have great leadership skills.

[@jj_b5400]

@@kyleschroder9045 Any character traits are out of nowhere when all of your previous screen time has been as a quiet waiter.

[@jagatdave]

The scariest statement for FCA...it would have been more satisfying...if rom would have said that on face of FCA liquidator ....but may be the fact that he did not say it in front of fca liquidator is a sign of his nature of not embarrassing people..

[@Summersong2262]

@@kyleschroder9045 he's capable of a lot when Quark's not constantly keeping him in his place, and Rom's continuously forced into situations where he doesn't have any stake or skills. Put him in an engineering context, in this case, a fair rights context, and his actual capabilities come to the surface.

[@ninedragons1]

Now I see why Leeta married him.

[@wa.a.s.nfa.2786]

His courage, his kindness, his ability to do change and become greater for it.

[@bencebotye3904]

As I see Bajoran women like men with strong sense of justice, no matter if they literal buttheads, gelatinous aliens, or William T. Riker.

[@altha-rf1et]

Leeta from a working tables girl to first lady of a world

[@Akatsukileader9]

Rom is the truest form of chad

[@kimcheewee4]

It's really nice seeing the Amazon workers on their lunch break.

[@Randomdudefromtheinternet]

Gotta love how the Ferengi react to hearing the word “union”, like if it’s true heresy (and considering Ferengi religion, it might as well be).

[@dreadburnz3522]

Unionization in Ferengi culture is treated as one of the biggest crimes in their society, and if I remember correctly it can incur the death penalty (hence why the word is never uttered lightly). The method of execution for people found guilty of such crimes is to be pushed off the Tower of Commerce on Ferenginar.

[@cyberdinedog2097]

Solidarity forever for the union makes us strong.

[@NewGuy2534]

Until the mob starts to run it.

[@Underworlddream]

My teacher was in a union and he discover some pay discrepancy to the teacher and brought in up to the union leader. The leader forgave it in a deal with the school district that heavily favor the district. It turn out that the leader of the Union was the controlled opposition working for the school.

[@stonem0013]

@@Underworlddream fake unions exist. That doesn't mean all unions are fake

[@jamestaylor2920]

Spoken with the intelligence of a Pakled. How's the Union working out for the Rust Belt and coal workers? Yes, the Union stood behind those workers just long enough to climb into their cars and drive off.

[@stonem0013]

@@jamestaylor2920 so your argument is that if a union doesn't perfectly protect an industry on one particular occasion, then we shouldn't have unions? Ignoring the many essential worker's rights, higher wages and benefits that only came about because of unions?? And instead we should just rely on employers to be nice out of the goodness of their hearts.

[@onedaxster]

"Strike a blow against Quark! Strike a blow against the FCA! Strike a blow against exploitation!" My god, this was truly Rom's finest hour

[@GayIncel]

Next to the time where he saved the alpha quadrant from being overran by dominion with his replicating mines

[@Jifty]

@@GayIncel While worrying about his wedding! Top tier union man, top tier husband, top tier father, top tier engineer. Rom really is one of the best.

[@artcrime2999]

@@Jifty its great because the wedding and in this scene he overcomes his natural shyness and self doubt through being distracted with worry once he realizes what it would mean to really be married and here when he realizes the FCA would kill him or at the least make his life a living hell. Its like those side distractions clear his mind for the real important tasks. Not to sound cold but he wouldnt have a wedding if he didnt get those mines up.

[@neuro3423]

​@@JiftyRom wasn't just a hero. He was a union man 😉

[@ThePathStrider]

One of the best things about Deep Space Nine is that it gave depth to the Ferengi (and other races), while TNG usually assigned them to _Villain-Of-The-Week._

[@kentallard8852]

TNG created the Ferengi to be the new antagonists to replace the Klingons and Romulans but they were just too goofy and soon became comic relief.

[@andrewdiaz3529]

@@kentallard8852 Which led to the necessary creation of a more serious recurring antagonist: The Borg.

[@PR--un4ub]

Too much depth.

[@zorasaphire]

"If they are gonna come after us, let's give them a good reason!" Becomes Nagus

[@nathanventura548]

Introduce Marxism to Ferenginar, watch all hell break loose. That's a a star trek series I'd like to watch.

[@TrenElZombie]

XD

[@michelguevara151]

Revolution? A wonderful opportunity to turn a profit! Especially if a Ferengi knows 20th centuary history: arm both sides financed by loans, like the USA did in two world wars, remember rule of aquisition 34. Or 35, they're easy to confuse..

[@altha-rf1et]

vote conservative most of the time, but nothing wrong with wanting a employee to pay over time, holidays, earning vacation time.. I bet you like your days off

[@james7286]

Didn't he eventually learn "workers of the world unite and you have nothing to lose buy your chains" from Marx?

[@jackzilla321]

pretty much what ended up happening in ds9

[@lostjedi3380]

I think this is the moment Leeta fell in love with Rom.

[@LEEboneisDaMan]

There is power in a union!

[@Jifty]

United we bargain, divided we beg.

[@daca8395]

There is power in the hands of working men When we stand hand in hand That's the power that must rule in every land One Industrial Union grand!

[@joshdaniels2363]

Rom V. Debs.

[@blockmasterscott]

Rom's finest hour. :)

[@blockmasterscott]

@kulwantb That is actually a good point!

[@JoeyVSupreme]

Amazon workers circa 2021 (hopefully).

[@jamesrabbitt]

“The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of the working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life. “Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world organize as a class, take possession of the means of production, abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the Earth.” -IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) preamble

[@FokkeWulfe]

The employing class were, once, the working class. Hunger and want only exist, so long as one doesn't take opportunities given to them. Seizing the means of production is fine. What then? Where does the production go? Where does it come from? Who speaks for the group? When an emergency comes up, who's in charge? This preamble looks good, until you give it three seconds of thought.

[@MartinRenner]

@@FokkeWulfe "The employing class were, once, the working class." What?

[@ultimate9056]

​@MartinRenner basicly what every billonare has gaslit the majority of the population into believing. The lie of the american dream is that anyone can get rich if they work hard enough. In reality every "self made" billonare had some kind of initial investment/advantage from the very beginning and made it to the top through luck and the exploitation of everyone below them

[@nitzky8920]

Gee, people might want to form a union because they care about their profits? -Libertarian- Ferengi minds explode...

[@tristanband4003]

Depends on the libertarian. In principle, a libertarian has nothing against unions. Freedom of association and all that. The efficacy of unions is where libertarians depart from the rest of us. I will say this: any "libertarian" who supports right-to-work laws is a very inconsistent one. Apart from government violating freedom of association, it also constitutes a government violation of freedom of contract, legislating what kind of contracts workers and employers can make. Source: I used to be one. Don't quite see them as the cartoon villains a lot of people see them as for that reason, esp. given Trump and his ilk. Even the worst libertarian looks positively virtuous in comparison.

[@michelguevara151]

A happy employee is a profitable employee

[@Random_Chiroptera]

@@tristanband4003 Considering it's a Libertarian ideal to reduce the Federal Government to its former and original purpose of ONLY securing our borders, and protecting our civil liberties, while putting a complete end to all unnecessary and redundant bureaucracy, regulation of the markets and free enterprise, which includes restrictions that force our economy to be so shitty, and in general keep big government out of what is really none off their damned business, suggesting that a Union is an idea offensive to a Libertarian is a fucking joke. The only union a Libertarian dislikes is the one relying on favors from government power to force conditions that guarantees they always win. Make your case and win on the merits of it, not by bludgeoning all who oppose you with big government, is all that's asked.

[@Talisguy]

​@@Random_Chiroptera Libertarianism is pretty broad politically. Yes, it usually has right-wing connotations in the US, but ultimately the only thing that someone needs to be considered a libertarian is a viewpoint that centres personal autonomy, political freedom and civil rights. What exactly those things mean can vary wildly depending on the individual. To put it in perspective, you could credibly argue that Karl Marx was a libertarian (he thought that a communist society would eventually become stateless.) It actually originated as a left-wing political philosophy.

[@georgecauldron4366]

The birth of a future Grand nagus

[@TammoKorsai]

This is the moment when Rom stopped being a virgin and turned into a total chad.

[@JSolar590]

Funny how Quark couldn't feel the weight difference between a disruptor and a piece of paper..

[@michelguevara151]

As long as he can tell the weight between latinum and mere gold, who cares?

[@charliewayne220]

MAYBE THE BOX ITSELF WAS HEAVY

[@irishdc9523]

First he stood up for his mother, then he stood up for his son. Now, he stands up for himself

[@Arthur-bb2zf]

In this episode, when Brunt is talking with quark in his empty bar, Brunt’s Norsican guards use each other as dartboards using O’Brien’s darts🤣🤣🤣

[@michelguevara151]

2 FCA liquidators down voted this tube

[@shinethief3785]

I am absolutely adore Rom and his wife, they are so wholesome.

[@thomasconnors4338]

What could be more Ferengi than raising the price on your brother when he needs your help. They should give Rom a medal... something gaudy but inexpensive.

[@HellishSpoon]

At that moment, Rom became the most powerful ferengi.

[@jacindarajas9934]

Seizing opportunity, and the means of production.

[@jamiehoward5538]

I love the subtle attention to detail right at the end if you listen closely you can hear the other ferrangi say "did he say what I think he said"

[@danieldickson8591]

Keldar's bloodline produced some of the toughest Ferengi ever.

[@Jifty]

Nah man, that's Ishka's bloodline.

[@danieldickson8591]

@@Jifty You know, I can't disagree with you.

[@skynetprime82]

leeta was hot 😍

[@Mindraker1]

Yes 😍😍😍😍

[@bailmccabe9089]

Lyta from Babylon 5. Rip off

[@highlanderwins3328]

Whenever someone says something dumb like, "Star Trek is not about politics!", this is one of the episodes I point to and say, "Oh really?"

[@gabrielreed8039]

Right? Sci Fi shows have pretty much always been an avenue to express politicial views, but people think that that's a new thing. Always makes me laugh and shake my head

[@jackgibsxxx0750]

".... a Union!!" That one ferengi is going to have a heart attack. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@xsailor85]

He already sold his heart for 5 strips of gold pressed latinum.

[@kyledunn3747]

No they do that at auctions after their funerals.

[@teknicron1080]

Say Union to a Ferengi, and it's like you just dropped the worlds biggest nuclear grade F-Bomb on Ferengenar.

[@PsiTerrorPrime]

Rom is objectively the most dangerous character from deep space nine

[@sebsignat8286]

The worm hole mine field was up for months

[@danieldickson8591]

The greatest danger is the one you don't see coming.

[@charliewayne220]

We're going to form....... a YOUN-YUN!!!

[@georginatoland]

To think, the people who wrote this episode are probably on strike right now. Unions make us strong!

[@ultramaximusreviews]

Love how the Ferengi balk at the word alone LOL

[@KC_Smooth]

Just want to say Chase Masterton was an absolute dime as Leeta.

[@pratikhazari3701]

100%

[@bartsanders1553]

Sean O'Brien is the current head of Local 25 Teamsters.😂

[@evanthompson7494]

In 3 minutes Rom perfectly explains why unions are good capitalism.

[@CPT85]

If only pro-wrestlers can grow a spine to form a union. #UnionizeWrestling

[@Y.Moroboshi]

Blame that on Hulk Hogan. At least the story goes that Jesse Ventura was trying to get the WWF locker room at the time to unionize, Hulk decided it wasn't gonna work for him (brother) and told the boss about it.

[@art-o-cart5166]

SUMMON THE PINKERTONS

[@EmonWBKstudios]

God, I wish I lived there and not here on this earth, where the worker toils and toils to the tune of his oppressor.

[@0doublezero0]

LMAO Unless you are living in the 2-3rd world country, you can form a union. In fact, you are far less oppressed in a 1st world country where unions are rampant than DS9 where the word union is blasphemy.

[@ultra6671]

Rom: Unapolegetic union leader, father of the first Ferengi in Starfleet, genius engineer, and the future Grand Nagus.

[@Charliecomet82]

"Oh, I'm a Union man, amazed at what I am..."

[@Kara_Kay_Eschel]

Looks like a number of the ferengi are in shock, havening a heart attack, or something else.

[@robertcorbell1006]

How to get immediately fired at Walmart.

[@77Shinmu81]

Comrade Rom

[@ponfed]

Rom quoting the Communist Manifesto healed my soul back in the day, and I didn't even know the reference back in the day. Also Alyosious O'Brien. He was more than a hero. He was a Union man!!!

[@squireob]

They're Ferengi. Why not form a employee-owned company and negotiate a service contract with better wages and benefits? They could expand to include all of the non-ownership positions around the station.

[@coprographia]

Tim O'Brien yeah you'd think that Ferengi would embrace the opportunity for collective bargaining whenever it's to their individual advantage. it's not like their work ethic is slavish

[@tristanband4003]

Ah, but that would be a co-op; worker owned. And workers owning everything is one step to socialism and the Federation!

[@tristanband4003]

coprographia That's a good point. They don't embrace work as a virtue in itself, only as a means to a desired good (money and the leisure it can buy).

[@dorkmax7073]

..... that's a union.

[@Great_Cthulhu]

@@dorkmax7073 But it's not. No where in it's name does it contain that horrifying word, so clearly it's not. Trying to equate the two is clearly Huuuumon logic and thus wrong and unprofitable.

[@01123heavenlybe]

Take control!

[@inwyrdn3691]

Great speeches throughout history: Napoleon's adieu to the Old Guard. President Lincoln's address at Gettysburg. General Eisenhower's message before D-Day. Rom founding the Guild of Restaurant and Casino Employees. Almost brings a tear to my eye.

[@CaptainBardiel]

GRACE

[@freedomstar3930]

Lenin and Trotsky would be so proud.

[@Enkarashaddam]

Wow Rom is actually a very compelling orator

[@altha-rf1et]

Quark must be doing good business to have all them employees

[@sebsignat8286]

We see in lower decks he explained to other planets and star bases A blink and miss it

[@altha-rf1et]

@@sebsignat8286 Hate The Lower Decks could not make it 1 minute watching that and I'm a big star trek fan even most of the fan base ones as sorry as some of them are can watch them with the exception of a couple that I cannot stand

[@rustbeltgothic7573]

Weyounion

[@jmstowe]

A Ferengi Jimmy Hoffa.

[@arnelarboleda2870]

A show can be made with just all ferengi only, and it will work.

[@gillianrosheuvel6750]

That one Ferengi in the front looked like he was about to pass out!

[@joshuabranigan6369]

"The Gift of God is Eternity life.".

[@calensterling4757]

It's a simple logic at work. As long as one group of people (employers) benefits through the exploitation of another (employees) this unequal relationship will continue. The bosses have the money and the authority, and workers are forced to obey. Worker vs boss is an unequal struggle, that is why workers have to organize. Collectively they can use their power (labor that makes everything run) to demand the treatment they deserve. The problem with most unions is another power imbalance, the leadership structure. A small group of leaders making decisions and negotiating on behalf of the majority of workers will lead to all the same problems of government - corruption, greed, etc. The alternative is not no unions, but a structure where the rank and file, every worker, has a voice and decisions are made collectively, not by an empowered minority. Right now we have minority rule and things are terrible. The alternative, majority rule would obviously be better - it's for the majority. But even still, there doesn't have to be any "rule" by anyone over anybody else. Decisions can be made through consensus, where compromise is used to make sure the most people are satisfied, and everybody is heard, so that there are no more "winners" and "losers" but people tackling their problems together, and trying to reach the most beneficial solution for the most people.

[@daca8395]

Almost as if we need some form of council? We could have the council appoint a representative that is recallable and bound by the decision. Then we could unite those councils to form even bigger organisations, that would mennage the economy with socialist principles (common ownership). And we might call it the Union of Socialist Councils. And since we are the republic (I can'r imagine this system working in monarchy tbh), we could call our country the Union of socialist council republics?

[@unanon_user]

through the efforts of ROM as well as his mother, their race learns that true capitalism requires you taking good care of your employees.

[@joearnold6881]

Which side are you on? Which side are you on! 🔨

[@fartinmartin404]

attention pleeeeeaz

[@abe6495]

Who is the actor behind the mask?

[@Fcutdlady]

Max Grodenchik I think.

[@erichanastacio9695]

Union! Union! Union! Union! Onion! Onion! Onion! Onion! 😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@KitsuneAdorable]

It would have been hilarious if they had said "No" when Rom asked if they were with him. 😜

[@fleckx]

Are capitalist bootlickers seeing this and crying about how DS9 is woke? 😂

[@vincentchiu2548]

I'd just quit, and work at Garak's instead lol

[@lolwutyoumad]

In the end Rom does quit and joins the stations maintenance team instead learning that he is alot better without Quark

[@kentallard8852]

Garak is a tailor

[@brabbit330]

What makes you think Garak would hire anybody? He’s very particular about his tailor and spy work. Lol. You think he’s got money to give an employee?

[@TheySchlendrian]

''You can just choose another Exploiter''

[@ivanadriazola1991]

A union os just like a collusion between employees, wich I doubt its illegal in Ferenginar.

[@roberthayden5103]

Isn’t that what happens at the end of the series when he is named the next nagus?

[@mberka12]

Rom is right Screw that FCA !!!!!

[@Zamolxes77]

This is Leeta of Terran Empire !

[@dieterrooke]

bedaurinde en krokodila lingvo

[@DieselTechie-uo9we]

Funny how in Ferengi society monopolies over the market are encouraged but oh no can't let the workers have any leverage and power to negotiate. It's puzzling anyone would agree to deal with much less work for Ferengi instead of any other society which still uses monetary exchange for goods and services.

[@diablaui]

The Ferengi are like the USA 👎😏🤢😩

[@jackgibsxxx0750]

FCA and IRS. The 2 most feared groups in the milky way.

[@CaptainBardiel]

and the ATF.

[@someonenamevalencia7527]

is it weird I don't like startreck but I love business so these chapter get me into star treck

[@HarPlayer]

Da Bo!!!!!! Leeta was NICE!!!!!!!!😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄

[@corvusprojects]

This is literally what it's like radicalizing capitalist bootlickers.

[@FS28_]

Can't help but notice that deremp sounds like me krabs?

[@maulaie9079]

Hehehehe

[@kabobawsome]

Based Rom

[@thelaw6267]

The Virgin Communist Rom vs The Chad Capitalist Quark.

[@KJTV67]

Paid vacation? You mean Quark is going to pay him to take a vacation? That doesn't sound fair!

[@daca8395]

Ah, my poor american friend... One day you'll learn

[@BijouBakson]

I hate everything about Forengis, everything.

[@yaosio]

Biden sees this: Oh no you don't!

[@Lorgar64]

Do you know what would instantly improve the situation on DS9 for the workers? If Quark had competition. If there was another business that could hire his good staff if they felt mistreated. Why did nobody consider this?

[@Taverens_Pull]

Because then you'd be in direct competition with Quark. No one besides Otho could do it and survive financially within a month

[@Lorgar64]

@@Taverens_Pull I think it'd be pretty easy to compete with Quark when he's working alone and I can pick from his staff at my leisure by offering them slightly better working conditions.

[@Taverens_Pull]

@@Lorgar64 Quark would bribe one of his own to go into your bar as a disgruntled worker, shows you how competent he is, you give him more responsibilities and then all your replicators aren't working properly. You're waiters orders would come out wrong, food would taste like other food and all your synthetic alcohol would have no alcohol in them. Face it, you're not crafty enough to go up against Quark.

[@Lorgar64]

@@Taverens_Pull 1. At this point, Quark has no one working for him because everyone understands he just cheats his staff. 2. It's pretty easy to realise when one staff member is giving fake orders and the replicators are just out in the open. Again, easy to spot someone tampering with them. 3. Quark has the chief of station security for a nemesis. That does not give him much room to maneuver. "Someone's messing with Quark's only competition. I wonder who it could be."

[@smartalec2001]

That actually happened in an episode.

[@Telco12]

I smell Zeno commies !

[@michelguevara151]

Don't mention that vulgar word! My lobes freeze at it's very mention!

[@SpeedfreakUK]

They could’ve just set up a bar across the promenade and beaten Quark’s that way. Never understood why they forced the union angle.

[@lerouxmartin3478]

Ah yes, the classical case of what to do when you're exploited at your job... you just leave and build another one !

[@WowItsErin]

Yeah sure, "SpeedfreakUK". We know it's you, Quark.

[@hithere5553]

Classic anti-union propaganda

[@Fellow_Traveller1985]

Instead of big noses they have big ears.

[@Ragitsu]

"Me am smart."

[@tek512]

Quark was absolutely in the right here.

[@alexsch2514]

Why?

[@PR--un4ub]

How so?

[@tek512]

@@PR--un4ub Quark paid them well above fair wages according to the guidelines set forth by the FCA. He even let them have benefits and *some* vacation (even if it wasn't paid vacation), which the FCA strictly prohibits. He may have been on a Federation station, but he was none the less beholden to the FCA. Quark was taking some serious risks to provide his workers with the friendliest work environment he possibly could without getting himself killed.