STRIKE!
Well, it is so strange being on strike. My union, the AFSCME clerical workers of the U of M, have been on strike since September 5. This is the second time in 4 years that we have had to go to these lengths to get a decent wage, in the face of humongous increases in salaries for administration folks. And, well, plenty of money for stadia, it seems. I think the middle class is simply falling out of our world as we know it; there are po' folks and rich folks, and we are definitely not part of the latter. Of course the media prints all kinds of erroneous information, so we sound like a bunch of crybabies, but that is inevitable. The fact is that all we are asking for is a 3.25% increase for the next two years. If we get it we will only be about 12 years behind the inflation rate in this country. The real maddening thing is the our AFSCME members went to the capitol in March and lobbied for more money for salaries. AND WE GOT IT, BY DAMN! However, it went into the general fund at the U and was not dispersed to our salary account.
The first three days I carried a picket sign until I got close to heat stroke and then went to the HQ to do office work, make signs, order sandwiches, answer phones. I felt very depressed and aimless, so I asked for an assignment and a regular shift because I need structure in my life to keep from spinning out. I now am on deck to work at HQ entering stuff into the database and answering phones from 11:00 - 3:00, or I can move it forward or back as necessary. This way I don't feel guilty if I am not there all the time and I can do other things with the rest of my day. I feel really bad about ditching my bosses, whom I don't consider to be part of the problem. They are just as fed up with the administration as we are, but are pretty powerless. The last strike we had came at a time when I simply could not go without a paycheck, so I kept working and joined the picket lines at lunchtime. There seems to be a fair amount of this going on now, too, which is not too surprising considering that many AFSCME members have 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet as it is. I certainly don't think of them as "scabs," more as desperate survivors.
If you feel inspired, please send a letter or email to U President Bob Bruininks, the Board of Regents, or your legislators. Or the Star Tribune, in support of the little guys like me and my co-workers. Every bit of support counts. Thanks.
The first three days I carried a picket sign until I got close to heat stroke and then went to the HQ to do office work, make signs, order sandwiches, answer phones. I felt very depressed and aimless, so I asked for an assignment and a regular shift because I need structure in my life to keep from spinning out. I now am on deck to work at HQ entering stuff into the database and answering phones from 11:00 - 3:00, or I can move it forward or back as necessary. This way I don't feel guilty if I am not there all the time and I can do other things with the rest of my day. I feel really bad about ditching my bosses, whom I don't consider to be part of the problem. They are just as fed up with the administration as we are, but are pretty powerless. The last strike we had came at a time when I simply could not go without a paycheck, so I kept working and joined the picket lines at lunchtime. There seems to be a fair amount of this going on now, too, which is not too surprising considering that many AFSCME members have 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet as it is. I certainly don't think of them as "scabs," more as desperate survivors.
If you feel inspired, please send a letter or email to U President Bob Bruininks, the Board of Regents, or your legislators. Or the Star Tribune, in support of the little guys like me and my co-workers. Every bit of support counts. Thanks.