... it is what it is...
well... how appropriate... i'm feeling pretty discouraged tonight after a long day at the negotiation table.. i didn't doodle or draw, instead took notes on specifics that management spoke about. It's apparent they are unwilling to make much concession.
as labor day rolls around, i reflect on my own working history, a myriad of different labor jobs.. including construction for the phone company, climbing poles and in trenches splicing cable, waitressing part time so i could stay home with my babies, dental assisting, managing in pacbell to middle management working on process improvement... my escape from the corporate world came when management was going to institute a 12 hour work day while i had a teenager at home.. nor was i willing to sell my soul. i decided i wanted to work for the schools or the libraries.. I wasn't interested in a big paycheck, just some basic health benefits and a retirement for working "x" amount of years.
Working as a substitute teacher I finished my art degree, I found part time work in the library.. 10 plus years later I find myself working or shall i say, standing up for labor (myself included) that can barely stay afloat with the encumbrances now of the economic decline and the public perception that public employees, civil servants are just not that valuable. Of course what would it be like a day without the public employee?
Dare you imagine? Sure there's news about the overpaid/double-dipping managers that come back and reap a huge salary at retirement and collect also a big chunk of money as a contract employee? right? same thing in the corporate world..
The majority of your public service employees are a paycheck away from the street. And won't command any high paid retirement either. Most are hard working and care about the public, that's why they are there.
so... why am I writing?... my reflection has to do with the larger picture in how i see the world around me.
there is no value anymore for longevity in a job... in fact, now the norm is no one stays in a position longer than 3 years because they are moving to the next best thing..
there is no value for experience and true customer service either.. instead we've all become accustomed to not getting a real answer to our questions, not getting a tip to where we can find our solutions, having to follow up on our own in the doctors office, not even seeing a doctor at times, not even getting our fast food order correct, let alone having the person taking your money knowing how to count change back properly...why?... complacency.. there is a huge wave or sweep of complacency and an attitude of "i don't care" out there now, more than i've ever seen it...
well.. imagine ... no don't imagine.. in fact, don't even care... there are no solutions right? everyone is too busy to stand up, too scared for their jobs to speak out, too tired and fed up at the end of the day to show up to a meeting, too resigned that nothing will change, that they have no voice and are powerless..
so?... if that is the way it is?... you'll have to settle for what you get.. it's clear that if you don't show up, you better shut up..
it doesn't really take that much, raise a hand and say yes, i'll distribute a flyer, yes, i can write a letter, yes, i'll speak up when there are clearly rights that are violated.. ??? anyone?
http://youtu.be/dC5o5mVpYPM
as labor day rolls around, i reflect on my own working history, a myriad of different labor jobs.. including construction for the phone company, climbing poles and in trenches splicing cable, waitressing part time so i could stay home with my babies, dental assisting, managing in pacbell to middle management working on process improvement... my escape from the corporate world came when management was going to institute a 12 hour work day while i had a teenager at home.. nor was i willing to sell my soul. i decided i wanted to work for the schools or the libraries.. I wasn't interested in a big paycheck, just some basic health benefits and a retirement for working "x" amount of years.
Working as a substitute teacher I finished my art degree, I found part time work in the library.. 10 plus years later I find myself working or shall i say, standing up for labor (myself included) that can barely stay afloat with the encumbrances now of the economic decline and the public perception that public employees, civil servants are just not that valuable. Of course what would it be like a day without the public employee?
Dare you imagine? Sure there's news about the overpaid/double-dipping managers that come back and reap a huge salary at retirement and collect also a big chunk of money as a contract employee? right? same thing in the corporate world..
The majority of your public service employees are a paycheck away from the street. And won't command any high paid retirement either. Most are hard working and care about the public, that's why they are there.
so... why am I writing?... my reflection has to do with the larger picture in how i see the world around me.
there is no value anymore for longevity in a job... in fact, now the norm is no one stays in a position longer than 3 years because they are moving to the next best thing..
there is no value for experience and true customer service either.. instead we've all become accustomed to not getting a real answer to our questions, not getting a tip to where we can find our solutions, having to follow up on our own in the doctors office, not even seeing a doctor at times, not even getting our fast food order correct, let alone having the person taking your money knowing how to count change back properly...why?... complacency.. there is a huge wave or sweep of complacency and an attitude of "i don't care" out there now, more than i've ever seen it...
well.. imagine ... no don't imagine.. in fact, don't even care... there are no solutions right? everyone is too busy to stand up, too scared for their jobs to speak out, too tired and fed up at the end of the day to show up to a meeting, too resigned that nothing will change, that they have no voice and are powerless..
so?... if that is the way it is?... you'll have to settle for what you get.. it's clear that if you don't show up, you better shut up..
it doesn't really take that much, raise a hand and say yes, i'll distribute a flyer, yes, i can write a letter, yes, i'll speak up when there are clearly rights that are violated.. ??? anyone?
http://youtu.be/dC5o5mVpYPM
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