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I know I've been talking a lot about it and plenty of you could care less about the complaints of a 30 year old white collar office worker, but I am getting nearly 100 coworkers organized to speak out about unfair labor practices and unrealistic work expectations. I've spoke to so many people at my office and so many have admitted to getting into therapy over our job, going home crying, having substance abuse problems to cope, and the total lack of respect or appreciation for what we do.
We have a big meeting tomorrow to go over just routine bullshit, but I collected a ton of concerns and condensed them into talking points that are going to catch the supervisors off guard. We are pretty much going to listen to what they say, and then I'm going to step in and make almost a speech that addresses everything we have talked about. We are gonna kind of take it over at the end. I have everyone on board, and told everyone keep it professional, don't get upset, and we will come out of this like champs. People I hardly know are coming up to me and thanking me. It's something I'm really passionate about and I'm willing to put the target on my back. I have the union coming next week as well.
I've been planning this for a few weeks now so I'm super excited to do it tomorrow, its really helped morale to know that we are coming together. Don't take no shit off nobody!
I'm excited to see where this goes; it's idealistic to imagine but it feels like we are on the cusp on a revolution work wise. Been reading a lot of Utopia for Realist and I'm hopeful that the global conversation about work (9-5, being held hostage by insurance, idolization of innovators, pursuit of endless growth) changes within my lifetime.
I always swore I would never work a 9-5, I don't, I work at 7:30-5:30, but I get every other friday off along with weekends. By the last couple hours you are useless and brain dead.
I've always spoken up when it's unfair, and I'm actually used to being the quiet one at work. But this is the first time I go to bat for everyone. It's pretty nuts, the pressure is on, but I'm down. I'm good at public speaking, I got a union and know my rights so it gives you some confidence. My mom was the same way and used to work for my same organization, but we never worked together, wouldn't want to. My mom is really like a no bullshit person and also grew up in the hood and gives no fucks for that kind of politic shit. She's been giving me intel to use from her connections still working with us.
At my work you are on probation for 18 months. In that time you have to hit a certain quota for 3 months in a row then you get promoted to a full level employee. She was just starting with them in 2001, and had finally done the 3 months in a row thing but her boss told her she didn't feel like she should be promoted yet and wasn't going to do it. So my mom looked up all the rules, got her thoughts organized, contacted the union and typed up a grievance on a goddamn typewriter. The day she has this big hearing scheduled fucking 9/11 happens, and she was like torn between even going through with it given the circumstances. Everyone is freaking the fuck out, people don't even know what the fuck is going to happen, she almost said forget it. Instead, she said, fuck it, the worlds gonna keep turning, she went for it, and by the end of the day her boss signed the paperwork and threw it at her and told her "Here's your fucking promotion." My mom didn't give a fuck, said thank you very much!
I learned from the best. Tomorrow is going to be sick!