(cw: mention of suicidal thoughts)
Started the process of unionizing, and I don't know if somehow word got to the boss man, but I was just offered another shift and a 20 cent raise.
If word did get to him and this was his solution to stopping the process, I'm only more frustrated and ready to knock him down a peg or two. My manager is incredible and I wish I could include him in the process, but he has hiring/firing power and the union rep I spoke to said I should leave him out of the process, at least for now.
We're a very small store with only about 12 employees, not including our manager. Because we're so small, the owner can legally not offer us benefits, even when we're full time. I live with chronic illness and mental health problems, and the state funded health insurance I have is not cutting it, and at $17/hr, I can't afford medical bills on top of the skyrocketing price of food and gas. I'm tired of watching my coworkers struggle to make ends meet. I'm tired of having to chose between healthy meals and a roof over my head. I'm tired of having to tell my friends and family “I can't afford to” when they want to go out. I'm tired of struggling to survive. I deserve to thrive. We deserve to thrive. My depression already makes me want to die, I don't need anything like poverty proving my suicidal point.
I'm really hoping a radical shift of revolution starts soon, because I can't do this much longer. I'm doing my best, but I'm so tired.
Edit: to say, Happy May Day, yall! Keep up the good fight!