I am going to attempt to make this quick. Because, honestly, I am exhausted. All this optional overtime (that I opt to take) is really wearing me out!
*insert overly-dramatic stretch and yawn*
On days one and two, I opted to keep the iPod plugged on my way in to work. I just didn't want to hear it. But for some reason (maybe I wanted something good to write about?), I decided against it this morning.
Of course I got the usual "SCAB ALERT," along with the "SHAME ON YOU!" Pretty typical, I suppose. But I also found out that I must have a few fans of my blog as well. They were very considerate in voicing their concerns about what I have written as well. One person in particular told me, "I wonder what Pam McGuire is going to think about what you wrote about her?" Oh, man, I thought, I wonder, as well. Did I say something I shouldn't have? Wait...did I even mention her name?
Having been at my job for about a year and a half, I'm on to how some people operate. Human resources has told us many times that people slide posts from Facebook under the door for them to see. So, for all my concerned fans out there, I saved you the trouble. I gave HR the link to this page. And it was read by HR and Pam McGuire. Turns out, they dig it. So, while I appreciate your concern, I think I can handle it.
I really don't want people to look at me as a bad guy (or girl). I really thought that my previous posts were far from offensive. But there have been quite a few people (people I may not have expected) saying some pretty offensive things. Maybe I take things to heart too easily, too. Like the gang of people outside my window everyday? Banging and chanting and blowing horns...FYI, I'm in Court most of the day. I did come down to find a radio set up, blaring my desk at lunch though, to tune out the noise. I get that you're trying to...wait...what ARE you trying to do? You do know that you will eventually have to come back and work with me, right? I mean...that's going to be awkward, no? I guess that concerns me.
I'm going to give it another day or two to say some things that I would really love to share (i.e. the PERKS of being a scab...oh, yes, there are plenty). I don't want it to come across the wrong way, but one of my main objectives of starting this was to tell how it is when you cross that line.
But again, my pillow is calling my name. An 11-hour work day is tough. Know what won't be tough?
Christmas.
(Did I just write that? Ouch.)
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Day Two
What I would really like to do is get right to the point and divulge just how things have been going at work. But, I promised a bit of background. And, I do love explaining how my mind works. I find it pretty amazing; you should, too.
I come from a family of union workers. Seriously. Your typical middle class union family. My dad was an electrician and worked for Caterpillar for many, many years. My oldest brother is a union carpenter and my other two brothers are union pipe fitters. Holidays consist of me and the other females in the family chatting amongst ourselves as the boys talk of all things union. I never really saw the draw of it. I mean, I understand the reason why unions were created. Many moons ago, working conditions were not what they are today and the unions served as a great voice for workers. And, sure, there may be some jobs that could still use the assistance of a union. But, for the most part, I think they're overrated. I believe advancement and raises within a job should be based on how well you perform your job. So, when I began a job that had a union, I stuck to the basics and decided to just be a "fair share" member. It didn't make sense to me to pay an extra $10 a month just to vote for things I really don't care about. Now, now...don't get flustered. I don't have to care. I didn't vote last year for President either. I just don't think many people running for any office are worth a damn. And, when you come right down to it, they are only looking out for themselves. Who doesn't? Which is fine.
That being said, I didn't base my choice to cross the picket line solely on the fact that I don't think the work I do necessitates a union. I did consider it. Highly. When word spread that those on strike would receive strike pay...$200 per week...I was all for it. After all, if you subtract the money that we spend on childcare, I would have been coming out ahead. But then I found out that because I was fair share, I wouldn't get that pay. So then I really got to thinking about it. Was it worth it to sign up to be a full share member? It didn't take me long to come to my conclusion. But even after I reached my decision, it still plagued mind for a while. And the more I thought about it, the more confident I felt in my decision.
Reason#1: Insurance
So, during a strike, you don't receive pay from your employer. You also don't retain your insurance benefits. Being that the insurance was one of the big draws for my job, my family uses those benefits. Want to know how good? Under the old contract, I paid a measly $50 a month for my entire family to have BCBS of Illinois PPO. Yeah. Good. And, it is one of the main things the union was/is fighting over. Obviously, insurance premiums are going up all across the friggin' country (kudos, Obama). So the fact that the County wanted to raise what we pay into that shouldn't have been a surprise. And, over time, they came down quite a bit. Last word was, they wanted to double what we paid. Ok. So...$100 a month instead of $50. I can dig. Because, seriously, if we chose to get insurance though my husband's work, it would quadruple. Ouch. I really couldn't argue with what the County was offering there. And as far as the strike goes, I wasn't about to give up having insurance for who knows how long when my entire family depends on it. It would be my luck that I'd go on strike and one of the kids would break an arm or burn their leg or knock out a tooth. No thanks.
Reason #2: Pay
As I stated in Day One, we have made some serious strides when it comes to finances. I'm not about to take two steps back. I heard people talking about how they need to call this place or that place to delay payment of bills or skip a month. Eff that. If I called, they'd be like, "oh, yeah, sure, let me file that under the 'send to collections' category." The union is fighting for raises for the County employees. The people at my work are the second lowest paid County employees. No, the pay isn't great. But it's money. And to be honest, they don't require a degree in rocket science to do it. Sure, we train for a good 6 months, but a high school diploma could probably get you in. Look around. There aren't many jobs out there. There really aren't many jobs that pay better. And to find better pay and benefits? Forget it. I'm not saying that there aren't intelligent people where I work. There are. There are also not. But again, good luck finding something that is going to pay you more.
Reason #3: Childish Games
Neither side is being very mature about it. But I think the union and the people representing it have acted more child-like than the County. Seriously. I expect it out of politicians. But the union that is supposed to be representing me? I scold my daughter for finger-pointing and placing blame on others. And I'm supposed to accept it from my union representatives? No thanks.
Reason #4: Religion?
Alright, you got me. I am not religious. But I believe in certain things. I believe in positive thinking. I prefer to see the best in the things that affect my life. So far, it's worked pretty well for me (see my last 2 posts from 2012). When I stopped focusing on all the bad things about my last job and focused on what could be, it...was. I also believe that what you project out is reflected back. So if I were to stand out on the street, complaining and yelling, full of anger and frustration, then that's what will be. I believe in gratitude. So, I am grateful for the job that I have. I enjoy the work that I do. And I hope that my tenacity pays off.
My goal in posting this is not to change anyone's mind about however they may feel about what I'm doing, unions, the County, or anything else. My goal was simply to explain where I'm coming from. I don't disrespect those who have decided to strike. Everyone has his/her own reasons. For some, the decrease in pay could severely hurt them. Others don't want the insurance to go up. There are even those who are simply the"lemmings," who are just doing it for the social aspect or to be accepted by their peers. It's not that I don't care what my peers think of me. Believe me, I do. Want to know a secret? I care a lot. But I care more about taking care of my family and doing what I believe is the best choice for me. And I hope that even if you don't agree with me' you can respect my decision.
Oh, and walking in the first day? It was a friggin' rush! Like the first drop at the top of a roller coaster. I pumped myself up with some sweet, sweet tunes on my drive in and listened to my iPod on the walk in.Even over the music, I could hear the yelling. I ignored it. Scratch that. I couldn't hear it over the sound of my own pride that I felt as I walked in. For someone who cares a whole lot what others think, more than anything, I am really really proud of myself for doing what I did, and will continue to do...work.
I come from a family of union workers. Seriously. Your typical middle class union family. My dad was an electrician and worked for Caterpillar for many, many years. My oldest brother is a union carpenter and my other two brothers are union pipe fitters. Holidays consist of me and the other females in the family chatting amongst ourselves as the boys talk of all things union. I never really saw the draw of it. I mean, I understand the reason why unions were created. Many moons ago, working conditions were not what they are today and the unions served as a great voice for workers. And, sure, there may be some jobs that could still use the assistance of a union. But, for the most part, I think they're overrated. I believe advancement and raises within a job should be based on how well you perform your job. So, when I began a job that had a union, I stuck to the basics and decided to just be a "fair share" member. It didn't make sense to me to pay an extra $10 a month just to vote for things I really don't care about. Now, now...don't get flustered. I don't have to care. I didn't vote last year for President either. I just don't think many people running for any office are worth a damn. And, when you come right down to it, they are only looking out for themselves. Who doesn't? Which is fine.
That being said, I didn't base my choice to cross the picket line solely on the fact that I don't think the work I do necessitates a union. I did consider it. Highly. When word spread that those on strike would receive strike pay...$200 per week...I was all for it. After all, if you subtract the money that we spend on childcare, I would have been coming out ahead. But then I found out that because I was fair share, I wouldn't get that pay. So then I really got to thinking about it. Was it worth it to sign up to be a full share member? It didn't take me long to come to my conclusion. But even after I reached my decision, it still plagued mind for a while. And the more I thought about it, the more confident I felt in my decision.
Reason#1: Insurance
So, during a strike, you don't receive pay from your employer. You also don't retain your insurance benefits. Being that the insurance was one of the big draws for my job, my family uses those benefits. Want to know how good? Under the old contract, I paid a measly $50 a month for my entire family to have BCBS of Illinois PPO. Yeah. Good. And, it is one of the main things the union was/is fighting over. Obviously, insurance premiums are going up all across the friggin' country (kudos, Obama). So the fact that the County wanted to raise what we pay into that shouldn't have been a surprise. And, over time, they came down quite a bit. Last word was, they wanted to double what we paid. Ok. So...$100 a month instead of $50. I can dig. Because, seriously, if we chose to get insurance though my husband's work, it would quadruple. Ouch. I really couldn't argue with what the County was offering there. And as far as the strike goes, I wasn't about to give up having insurance for who knows how long when my entire family depends on it. It would be my luck that I'd go on strike and one of the kids would break an arm or burn their leg or knock out a tooth. No thanks.
Reason #2: Pay
As I stated in Day One, we have made some serious strides when it comes to finances. I'm not about to take two steps back. I heard people talking about how they need to call this place or that place to delay payment of bills or skip a month. Eff that. If I called, they'd be like, "oh, yeah, sure, let me file that under the 'send to collections' category." The union is fighting for raises for the County employees. The people at my work are the second lowest paid County employees. No, the pay isn't great. But it's money. And to be honest, they don't require a degree in rocket science to do it. Sure, we train for a good 6 months, but a high school diploma could probably get you in. Look around. There aren't many jobs out there. There really aren't many jobs that pay better. And to find better pay and benefits? Forget it. I'm not saying that there aren't intelligent people where I work. There are. There are also not. But again, good luck finding something that is going to pay you more.
Reason #3: Childish Games
Neither side is being very mature about it. But I think the union and the people representing it have acted more child-like than the County. Seriously. I expect it out of politicians. But the union that is supposed to be representing me? I scold my daughter for finger-pointing and placing blame on others. And I'm supposed to accept it from my union representatives? No thanks.
Reason #4: Religion?
Alright, you got me. I am not religious. But I believe in certain things. I believe in positive thinking. I prefer to see the best in the things that affect my life. So far, it's worked pretty well for me (see my last 2 posts from 2012). When I stopped focusing on all the bad things about my last job and focused on what could be, it...was. I also believe that what you project out is reflected back. So if I were to stand out on the street, complaining and yelling, full of anger and frustration, then that's what will be. I believe in gratitude. So, I am grateful for the job that I have. I enjoy the work that I do. And I hope that my tenacity pays off.
My goal in posting this is not to change anyone's mind about however they may feel about what I'm doing, unions, the County, or anything else. My goal was simply to explain where I'm coming from. I don't disrespect those who have decided to strike. Everyone has his/her own reasons. For some, the decrease in pay could severely hurt them. Others don't want the insurance to go up. There are even those who are simply the"lemmings," who are just doing it for the social aspect or to be accepted by their peers. It's not that I don't care what my peers think of me. Believe me, I do. Want to know a secret? I care a lot. But I care more about taking care of my family and doing what I believe is the best choice for me. And I hope that even if you don't agree with me' you can respect my decision.
Oh, and walking in the first day? It was a friggin' rush! Like the first drop at the top of a roller coaster. I pumped myself up with some sweet, sweet tunes on my drive in and listened to my iPod on the walk in.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Day One
Once upon a time, there was a girl who dreamt of having something more than just a job. She wanted to be able to prove that she was more than a silly cashier at a grocery store. She knew she had brains, and she wanted to use them. For five years she searched...and searched...and searched. There was, however, always something holding her back from reaching her goal of attaining a "better" job. It was the timing, it was the insurance benefits, the wages, the thought of having to hire a child care provider...there was always something holding her back.
Then, one day, all those things seemed to vanish. It didn't matter anymore if they existed or not; she was ready. She was ready to begin a new adventure, no matter what. And so...
April 30, 2012 was my first day at my new job. I knew it was going to be a big change. It was difficult making the transition from part-time to full-time; leaving my two girls in the care of someone else was, at times, heartbreaking. I began to realize what having two full-time jobs was like. My work day wasn't over when I left the office; it continued until everyone was in bed and all the housework was done. I've learned to balance it over the past 18 months. Many days housework goes undone, which was difficult at first. There used to be days where I would wake up at 6 am, get ready, get the girls up, get them ready, drop them off at the babysitter's house, go to work, pick them up, come home, clean, clean, clean, make dinner, clean, clean, clean, get them ready for bed, and CRASH. Mind you, my husband was working nearly 12-hour shifts at the time. Needless to say, I was beyond stressed. Nowadays, I get done what needs to be done and enjoy the sometimes short time that I have with my loved ones. I am really, truly grateful for that time.
My family has also made some strides financially as of late. We work hard. And, for some time, we were as thousands upon thousands of people all over the world who lived beyond their means. It became this vicious cycle of debt and collections and creating more debt to clear other debt. It was hard. It was stressful. I loathed paying bills, so sometimes I just wouldn't do it. It wasn't always because the money wasn't there either; sometimes I just didn't want to tell my husband that we only had $50 to last the rest of the week. Living paycheck to paycheck sucks.
After years of threatening to let him take over paying the bills, my husband finally took a look at things. And we sat down (a few times...for several hours) and created a plan. Turns out, when we stop buying the UN-necessities, we are able to save quite a bit. And pay bills. On time. Without late charges. It is amazing what we have accomplished after taking the time to team up and agree on things. I, for one, am really happy with the progress we've made! Until you have been at the point we were/have been, you can't understand the pride that comes from getting your finances on track!
So, back to this "new" job. I am a clerk at my County's courthouse. I didn't really have any expectations when I started. I just wanted out of my last job. At first, it was like learning a new language. If you know anything about me, you'd know that I L O V E learning. If I could, I would make a living out of learning. So yeah, I was happy about it. And I caught on pretty quick. After 6 months, I was moved to a new department...one that was a bit more difficult. I took on the challenge with ferocity. I was going to kill it! And I did. In the year that I've been in that department, I've learned the ins and outs of all but one Court call. So, I feel pretty confident in where I stand as an employee.
A few months ago, talk began spreading about the possibility of our union going on strike. Weird, I thought, I didn't think we could go on strike. I didn't think too much of it. But as time went on, the union and County Board members had more and more bargaining negotiations and talk turned from possibly striking to when the strike would occur. All the while, management spent months preparing for the impending strike. I listened when my co-workers spoke of it. I heard the anger in their voices. I know they are standing for something that they believe in.
November 18, 2013: Will County AFSCME Local 1028, day 1 of strike.
The only problem with this? I'm standing on the other side.
Yes, I am a (fair share) member of the union.
Yes, I crossed that line.
No, I'm not sorry.
Want to know why? Tomorrow's post will give more of my background, personal feelings/issues which led me to cross, along with how it felt to cross that line (you might be surprised!).
Then, one day, all those things seemed to vanish. It didn't matter anymore if they existed or not; she was ready. She was ready to begin a new adventure, no matter what. And so...
April 30, 2012 was my first day at my new job. I knew it was going to be a big change. It was difficult making the transition from part-time to full-time; leaving my two girls in the care of someone else was, at times, heartbreaking. I began to realize what having two full-time jobs was like. My work day wasn't over when I left the office; it continued until everyone was in bed and all the housework was done. I've learned to balance it over the past 18 months. Many days housework goes undone, which was difficult at first. There used to be days where I would wake up at 6 am, get ready, get the girls up, get them ready, drop them off at the babysitter's house, go to work, pick them up, come home, clean, clean, clean, make dinner, clean, clean, clean, get them ready for bed, and CRASH. Mind you, my husband was working nearly 12-hour shifts at the time. Needless to say, I was beyond stressed. Nowadays, I get done what needs to be done and enjoy the sometimes short time that I have with my loved ones. I am really, truly grateful for that time.
My family has also made some strides financially as of late. We work hard. And, for some time, we were as thousands upon thousands of people all over the world who lived beyond their means. It became this vicious cycle of debt and collections and creating more debt to clear other debt. It was hard. It was stressful. I loathed paying bills, so sometimes I just wouldn't do it. It wasn't always because the money wasn't there either; sometimes I just didn't want to tell my husband that we only had $50 to last the rest of the week. Living paycheck to paycheck sucks.
After years of threatening to let him take over paying the bills, my husband finally took a look at things. And we sat down (a few times...for several hours) and created a plan. Turns out, when we stop buying the UN-necessities, we are able to save quite a bit. And pay bills. On time. Without late charges. It is amazing what we have accomplished after taking the time to team up and agree on things. I, for one, am really happy with the progress we've made! Until you have been at the point we were/have been, you can't understand the pride that comes from getting your finances on track!
So, back to this "new" job. I am a clerk at my County's courthouse. I didn't really have any expectations when I started. I just wanted out of my last job. At first, it was like learning a new language. If you know anything about me, you'd know that I L O V E learning. If I could, I would make a living out of learning. So yeah, I was happy about it. And I caught on pretty quick. After 6 months, I was moved to a new department...one that was a bit more difficult. I took on the challenge with ferocity. I was going to kill it! And I did. In the year that I've been in that department, I've learned the ins and outs of all but one Court call. So, I feel pretty confident in where I stand as an employee.
A few months ago, talk began spreading about the possibility of our union going on strike. Weird, I thought, I didn't think we could go on strike. I didn't think too much of it. But as time went on, the union and County Board members had more and more bargaining negotiations and talk turned from possibly striking to when the strike would occur. All the while, management spent months preparing for the impending strike. I listened when my co-workers spoke of it. I heard the anger in their voices. I know they are standing for something that they believe in.
November 18, 2013: Will County AFSCME Local 1028, day 1 of strike.
The only problem with this? I'm standing on the other side.
Yes, I am a (fair share) member of the union.
Yes, I crossed that line.
No, I'm not sorry.
Want to know why? Tomorrow's post will give more of my background, personal feelings/issues which led me to cross, along with how it felt to cross that line (you might be surprised!).
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