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Labour of love
Sep. 2nd, 2003 09:07 amSince yesterday was Labour Day, it's fitting that I was thinking about working and unions and the implications for my job. I've always had the sort of jobs where raises were based on the whims of the boss. And I have to tell you, bosses love me. Especially in the first few months of a job. I'm a fast learner and a fast worker, so I look good right off the bat, which has always resulted in early raises (usually highly secret, because the first raise wasn't supposed to come until 6 months, or something like that).
My current job is the first time that I've been part of a union, and it's a bizarre experience. I've always been a strong supporter of unions; I really do believe that they are necessary in many employment areas to protect workers' rights. To my knowledge I've never crossed a picket line*, not even when the projectionists at all the major movie theatres were on strike for a year and a half. But I'd never actually belonged to one before, and my perspective has totally changed.
Things I've learned from being in a union: Never ever work more than your designated shift, or the union reps will find out and beat you down (figuratively, one hopes). No one can ever be fired (this is not always a good thing, at least not for the people who have to work with someone who should have been let go years ago). Raises will come only through union negotiation. Do not even think about using a hammer. Once you're here, you're here for life.
I still think unions are good for many different types of jobs. But I'm not sure that salaried jobs are one of them. I'm pretty sure that my work environment would be healthier without the looming union presence.
Happy Belated Labour Day, y'all. And now it's back to labouring for me.
*the exception being, stupidly enough, at this job, where my union was ordered to cross the picket line of the technicians union at my work, which made me extremely uncomfortable.
My current job is the first time that I've been part of a union, and it's a bizarre experience. I've always been a strong supporter of unions; I really do believe that they are necessary in many employment areas to protect workers' rights. To my knowledge I've never crossed a picket line*, not even when the projectionists at all the major movie theatres were on strike for a year and a half. But I'd never actually belonged to one before, and my perspective has totally changed.
Things I've learned from being in a union: Never ever work more than your designated shift, or the union reps will find out and beat you down (figuratively, one hopes). No one can ever be fired (this is not always a good thing, at least not for the people who have to work with someone who should have been let go years ago). Raises will come only through union negotiation. Do not even think about using a hammer. Once you're here, you're here for life.
I still think unions are good for many different types of jobs. But I'm not sure that salaried jobs are one of them. I'm pretty sure that my work environment would be healthier without the looming union presence.
Happy Belated Labour Day, y'all. And now it's back to labouring for me.
*the exception being, stupidly enough, at this job, where my union was ordered to cross the picket line of the technicians union at my work, which made me extremely uncomfortable.