Union Jack

The Union Workforce

I used to work for a non-union construction company. The pay was $12.00/ hour. Everyday I’d wake up at 4:00 in the morning, drive 1 hour to the jobsite and begin work. As a laborer the work was grueling. Day in and day out I’d dig trenches, cart plywood on my shoulder, work a 100 pound jackhammer for hours on end. The best days were when I’d get a water break while my muscles and bones would try to recover from jack hammering all day.

And then I caught a break. I got a job as a Shipping Supervisor in a union workplace. I gift from god right? Or so it would seem. Quite literally from day one I was asked to do nothing. Sit in a chair and look professional. Sure, I can do that, no problem. A couple months into it however, something started to eat at me. I mean, really eat at my soul. It wasn’t the pay. The pay was great. I began to think to myself, 6 months ago, I was sweating like a hog, breaking my back for half the money I’m making now. I began to look around at my co-workers and they were all miserable. Almost as if their job were sucking the very lifeblood right out of them.

Without a doubt, I’ve searched high and low for the answer. How can getting paid more to do less be a problem. The answer I’ve found lies in two parts. The first part is simple and short. If a corporation is making money consistently, why change things? The system works. No changes are needed. The second part however holds the problem.

IntrinsicValue. All of these workers feel disposable, expendable. Their daily work has a purpose but they don’t see a result. Their pay is guaranteed so long as they show up.

Back to construction. I pick up a shovel and I dig a trench for a plumbing line. My efforts are rewarded based on the fact that I see a result in front of my face. I think I’m going to put in my two weeks notice……There must be a construction company that would gladly pay me $12.00/hour to feel fulfilled.

Written By: Peter Bezanson
About the Author

Papillon By Union Jack. Platipus Records 2009

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