Greetings my fellow working-class comrades. I have been following this sub for awhile and contribute often in the comments and I thought this could be a useful thread.
I currently work for a large corporate restaurant under another corporate franchisee who owns something like 50 restaurants. I have been at my location for over 3 years now swinging between full and part time (I have to work my schedule around childcare needs). While I have received several raises over the past year ($3/hr with another one coming), the overall work environment is very toxic and there are regular problems with management. I also feel like the company has little to no respect for its employees despite those working in administration/management doing absolutely nothing to influence the success of the business. I’ve decided that I am going to attempt to unionize and have been strategically targeting my co-workers; having begun to get notable support.
As a leftist who has studied history and the modern world, I believe the first real steps towards socialism in the US begins with bringing the strength of unions back. I also believe that the leftist community should be investing the majority of their time and energy into this goal right now as well as offering help and support to others trying to do the same. The working-class needs unity; this is why the upper class shoves divisive capitalist drivel down our throats at every opportunity.
We need strategy and encouragement. I have never undertaken such a task before and while I have some idea about how to go about things, I’m sure I will run into obstacles and challenges. I (along with the rest of the community) could really use some guidance on this task from folks who have experience with starting and/or working under a labor union.