Author: Olivia

Coworker: “When I finally decide to quit this job, just so you know, I am NOT giving you 2 weeks notice.” General Manager: “Wait, What? What do you mean you're not giving me 2 weeks notice?” Coworker: “What do you mean, what do I mean? Why would I give you 2 weeks notice? You're not gonna give ME two weeks notice if you ever end up firing me.” General Manager: “Right. But… if I'm firing you… I'm firing you for a good reason!” Coworker: “Right! And when I end up quitting, I will be quitting for a good reason!” General Manager: Stunned silence.

I’ve been promoted to supervise a different team (unionized technicians), so I know how things run here from my previous position. Unionized workers are hourly ($38-42+), scheduled for 8.5 hrs a day, that includes 30 minutes of unpaid meal break and work 8 hours. Now my department manager is having me to make sure my crew take their break or leave 30 minutes early (80% of the time they can). The company does not want to pay over time since no one is asking the workers to put in the OT work! Now my crew is grumbling at me for being a sold out by enforcing them to have a break or leave early, so they can’t “sneak in” some OT pay. Like seriously folks? Only been at this for 4 months and I can see myself start being less friendly because I felt I’m being taken advantage of for…

I want to make a workers union and I work for a security company, this union would be for security officers because they are highly underpaid in this company especially night shift workers, and no one gets raises or advancements in the company. Anyone have any ideas how to start a union? The company would be securitas.

My beliefs align with this subreddit but I’ve noticed my mental/emotional well-being quickly erodes as I spend more time here (and on Reddit generally). I’m leveraging my skills/need for employment to teach human rights, critical thinking and empathy to the next generation so they’re equipped to challenge socioeconomic hierarchies. They’ll know that labour union movements have historically disrupted the status quo, and can do so again in future. Being here shows that isn’t enough. That nothing I can do will be enough to address the pain caused by shareholders’ greed for profit. I’ve been lost in hopelessness. Reddit shareholders make money off of our attention here, even if we use their platform to disagree with their corporate priorities. Anti-capitalist posts look like user engagement to capitalists. Reading a post on r/mindfulness helped me put this into perspective. I’m selling my mental health to Reddit to complain on their platform, so…