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male
age
51-59,
anonymous
writes: I know this is a place for relationship advice, but I don't think anyone will mind me asking this. And the mod can always block it if it is inappropriate so here goes...I'm looking for a bit of perspective on a dilemma I'm having at work, and I'm asking here because, well... you're a helpful bunch.I work as a commercial cleaner for minimum wage. About a year ago myself and the other cleaners at the site joined the union because we were told all union members would be getting a large pay increase. Also, our boss is a lowlife and sometimes tries to rip us off, so I thought having the union behind us would be good. Well, no pay increase came but the union has been in negotiations for months now with our company.It seems like a waste of time to me. We want a two dollar and hour increase and the boss offered 25 cents. I don't think anything but an all out strike will change his mind. But the union, instead of striking is planning a picket at the school I work at. I don't know why they're picketing the school because the school does not pay our wages and has no say in how much we get paid. The company does. Also, none of us cleaners at the school were asked if this is what we wanted. None of us do.I've never been involved in anything like this. I'm a shy person and I wouldn't be at all happy about joining the picket line. Also, I feel bad about embarrassing the school because the school is not the problem. I basically don't want anything to do with this. It's all turned into more stress than it's worth.Here's the dilemma. The union is bringing in other cleaners from other sites to demonstrate on our behalf. I would feel ashamed not to show up. So I am prepared to quit the union. And to be honest I've been thinking about quitting for a long time because their fees are quite high. But then in the (very) unlikely event that this action works and we get a raise I will benefit from the effort that everyone else made, and I would be ashamed. So that's my problem.To be honest I wish I'd never joined the union. I'm going through some personal stuff at the moment and this is the last thing I need. I also think it's a waste of time. The boss will just laugh at us. And I'm peeved because no one consulted me or any of the cleaners I work with if this is what we want. But if I'm honest with myself I just don't want to do it. I would be very uncomfortable there.So what should I do? Should I phone the union and say I quit (for personal reasons), or am I making a mountain out of a molehill and I should just see how things go (even if I don't join the picket). I have paid my dues for months after all. Thanks. I appreciate any input.
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male
reader, anonymous, writes (10 November 2009): Picket is the wrong word for it. Demonstration is probably what I should have said. There was no suggestion at all of stopping the students from entering school. I had no idea someone would assume that or I would have explained it better. I guess I gave the wrong impression using the word picket. Also, we didn't stop work. We work in the afternoon and it was held in the moring.
In the end I decided to just go. It turned out it wasn't anything like a picket, it was just a small demonstration with some of the union people and myself and one other guy from the site. We just handed out fliers and let the union people, who have the experience with this make all the noise shouting slogans and banging on drums and whatnot.
I was a bit embarrassed by the whole thing actually. The school deputy principal came out and told us he didn't understand why we were protesting the school, that it was a place of learning and nothing to do with our pay dispute. The union rep (who doesn't work there) got into it with him a bit and I felt very uncomfortable. In the end he just asked us to keep the noise down since classes had started and I said we should do that, which didn't go down very well with the other union people who were there to support us. I probably should have just kept my mouth shut there. But I'm quite fond of the school and like working there and I felt bad.
I understand that this is the way it has to be, and I suppose I'm glad I went and didn't wimp out, but I hope I don't have to go through it again.
Anyway, thanks again.
A
reader, anonymous, writes (10 November 2009): First of all union is more than about a pay rise, if you have a dispute with your boss your union will be there with you to fight for your rights.
How would you feel about crossing a picket line? My husband is in a union and over the years there have been the odd one day strikes and if your not in the union you have to go to work.
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A
female
reader, LaraC  +, writes (9 November 2009):
Hi there,
I completely disagree with the other auntie.
Quit the union as soon as possible! They are very ill advised if they think right now is a good time to be arguing about pay raises - people are being fired right left and centre because companies are struggling to make ends meet. There are probably plenty of people willing to take your job.
Picketing the school is a TERRIBLE idea for a number of reasons and I can't imagine what kind of person would think this is the way to go.
In essence you will be trying to prevent children from going to school !!
I would be very surprised if your company will still be employed to do the cleaning at this school should the protest go ahead. You will have a stampede of worried parents lobbying for your direct removal from the school.
Leave the union ASAP!
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