I used to seriously, SERIOUSLY believe in it. And in a lot of ways I still do, but I am tired of playing my role on the front lines of it. It sucks. As time goes on you increasingly represent the worst people. And what are we told when we complain about the worst union members?

'You have to learn off the worst so you are ready to represent the best.'

Every place has a variation of this saying. It is true as well, in virtually everything. Health care, schools, anything that has any modicum of customer service you represent the worst, learn off of them, so the needy (or in some cases rich) will be able to benefit off of your experience. But in unions, it never really stops? The endless flow of utter slop people constantly come in. For years I never once saw so much as one reasonable accommodation needed, but now? Ohhh gawd, the threat of having to be physically in the office has made like every person suddenly have a medical condition that only being in the confines of your home is the cure. What bothers me about this is... I don't deny it? Some will have a legit need, just a very large swath of people are full of shit, broke the reasonable accommodation system so those who could quit did, and those who could not didn't so they got broken and now the interactive process is less a process and more of a 'get in the office you bitch' experience.

Then there is the discipline scenarios. Like gawd forbid you do your job.

... I'm done with it. Oh any my union is pathetic. Actively cleaved the salaried people (me) away from the hourly to get them a pay raise while I technically got a pay cut. WHAT UNION DOES THAT?! I thought the point was to be stronger together, not play into management's hands, divide and conquer, and drive a wedge between us.

Like FUCK I'm still pro union, I'll still defend it since it is still easy to do, but fuck, demand more of these fuckers since they will fail you the second they see a chance to do it. And that does not mean harass your representative, that fucker is over worked, under paid, and if you cross them they will switch sides and use everything they know to let management steamroll you. Attack the union's board, the people you elected. They're the jackasses who send your dues off to some bs thing that is not hiring more people -.- unions are great, but only if you put in the work to make them great and hold them accountable to that goal.

Oh yeah, and if I am still at this job later this year? So looking forward practicing what I preach and joining the bargaining committee. Take away my pay? Get ready to explain why you can't then pay for my student loans >:(