. . . if it wasnae for the union (old Scottish song)
Union work has been one of the few things that have been giving meaning to my life in the past couple of years, but it hasn't all been bread, roses and joyful shoulder-to-shoulder.
Recruiting is essential, especially among translators and interpreters, who work alone nearly all the time, and are therefore isolated and unaccustomed to thinking in collective terms. But recruiting is very hard, and requires specific interpersonal skills which I do not have (above all, being able to link the recruitee's experiences to the need for bigger numbers) and have not managed to develop in these past two years.
Last week, after a two-day training seminar, I was seriously tempted to throw in the sponge. But another union member convinced me that everyone has some skills that can be used in union work. I probably am a lousy recruiter. But I do have research and writing skills; the trick is to find ways in which the recruiting campaign can use the skills I do have instead of the skills I am unlikely to develop.
And the point of the above revelations being . . .?
Well, that doubting oneself only leads to despair and inaction, while choosing to offer whatever one has (however insignificant it may seem) has at least a small chance of success. Which is obvious, but maybe even some obvious things need to be stated at times. And this approach could be a sensible one also for people other than translators, interpreters and trade unionists.
Recruiting is essential, especially among translators and interpreters, who work alone nearly all the time, and are therefore isolated and unaccustomed to thinking in collective terms. But recruiting is very hard, and requires specific interpersonal skills which I do not have (above all, being able to link the recruitee's experiences to the need for bigger numbers) and have not managed to develop in these past two years.
Last week, after a two-day training seminar, I was seriously tempted to throw in the sponge. But another union member convinced me that everyone has some skills that can be used in union work. I probably am a lousy recruiter. But I do have research and writing skills; the trick is to find ways in which the recruiting campaign can use the skills I do have instead of the skills I am unlikely to develop.
And the point of the above revelations being . . .?
Well, that doubting oneself only leads to despair and inaction, while choosing to offer whatever one has (however insignificant it may seem) has at least a small chance of success. Which is obvious, but maybe even some obvious things need to be stated at times. And this approach could be a sensible one also for people other than translators, interpreters and trade unionists.