TLDR- in a brand new workplace I’ve found my workmates and I to be very compatibly pro-labor and committed to creating a good work environment.
I and four others were just hired to open a new store in my city (another two exist in a city a few thousand miles away). The boss has a ton of other commitments/businesses so for our first two days of work, they just left us alone to clean/organize/prep the new space.
Well y’all it’s day fucking two and I love this crew.
Our hourly is what it is because we will receive approx 30% of our total earnings in tips but for now we are doing 2-3 weeks of work before the store can open and therefore cannot receive any tips. We discussed strategies for collectively negotiating a temporary pay raise for this time along with a plan to negotiate a revision to our wage permanently if our total earnings fail to average out to the living wage standard for our area within 1-3 months (haven’t decided exactly) of business. We’ve also discussed ways we can foster a better work environment to accommodate single mom/student life and have just generally had great conversations about labor conditions and our worth. I’m feeling optimistic.
I just wanted to share because it gives me a lot of hope and confidence to see the stories in this sub of people realizing what they are owed and negotiating better circumstances for themselves and us working class folks. It’s dope to feel the solidarity irl.