A Little Late With My Union Dues

I have lived a good life. Better than good, really. My mother quit working outside the home before I was born and my father supported the family with a civil service job that provided more than basics. As far as I can remember, I wanted for nothing.

I worked twenty-five years in non-union jobs that enabled me to support my family, provided great benefits, ensured my safety, afforded me the pleasures and security of vacation and sick pay, and kept me in comfortable conditions both at work and at home. I have always been warm; have never been hungry. Until recently, I did not realize that unions played any role in how comfortable my life has been.

Still, I jumped right in there to stand in solidarity with the people of Wisconsin, and Ohio, and Indiana. When it became apparent that the Republican Party is determined to spread dishonest information about public workers, to bust unions, and to eventually harm all workers in every state, I was ready to rally the forces and show those Republicans that we will not stand for this.

I attended rallies and listened to speakers, and started organizing events on my own. I got to know union leaders and workers. They didn’t tell me how ignorant I had been, but my ignorance became painfully obvious to me. I might not have belonged to a union but those who did provided the luxuries I had enjoyed and taken for granted. I had the benefits of livable wages, great benefits, safe and comfortable working conditions, forty-hour work weeks, paid vacations, sick days, and holidays – all without paying my dues.

I did the unthinkable, only because I was too moved to think about my fear of public speaking. I took the microphone, apologized to my newfound union brothers and sisters, asked their forgiveness, and thanked them for my better-than-good life. And. I vowed to stand beside them until this battle with the union busters is over.

I urge everyone to do the same.

My earning days are over so I don’t have a dog in this race. All of you who do still work, or whose children and grandchildren do or will, have huge stakes at risk. If the Republicans manage to do away with collective bargaining, non-union employers will have no reason to pay anything more than minimum wage (which Republicans also hate, along with unemployment, social security, and pretty much every other security net we have), or to provide benefits and safety. What happens then?

I seldom hear anyone say that their employer is overly generous, and cares more about the welfare and happiness of employees than about profit. When I do, those people almost always work for an individual or a small business (a genuine small business, not a Koch Bros. façade).

Do you trust your employer enough to risk the influence union pressure has on them to provide decent wages, benefits, and conditions? Do you believe the Republican plan to do away with unions will help you in any way?