UPDATE: This was written on June 1, 2010, when my union decided to stage a 4 hour strike, something no staff member, union members included, wanted to be part of. We do not support our union since they refuse explain clearly what the issues are, how they concern us, nor have they shown any sign they will try to. We were even told, since we live in Quebec, they do not have to provide an english translation for us.
I am supposed to be taking part in a walkout right now, and I do not care. The City of Montreal's White Collar Union is a pile of nonsense. Its leaders are ignorant, selfish, and misinformed.
One of the things I have been thinking about lately is what kind of work culture do I want to be part of. Since going back to school, the realization that I will one day leave my current job for a job in the tech industry is getting more clear each day. I'm not sure where that will send me, but I do know that if a union is involved, I'll be looking elsewhere.
To be fair, unions, in certain workplaces unions are necessary. The teacher's union, for example, since the Quebec government does not know how to manage an education system. Or at Wal-Mart, where unpaid overtime occurs regularly. My workplace does not need a union, nor do we want one.
I work in the recreation department for a suburb of Montreal, and we are part of the large white collar union that represents employees of the City of Montreal, and employees of its suburbs. How we became, and remained part of the union, is too long to describe here. I may post how it happened, but in the end, the department I work for, like all other departments in the city, did not have a choice at all. It was the most unfair and un-democratic method of unionization, the very ideas a union is supposed to uphold.
In my division, there are roughly 200 part-time employees, and 10 full time. The 200 part time employes are students, or people looking for a little extra money. We are treated very well by our division managers. Better than other city departments in most cities in North America. We have a unique, and favourable, relationship with our supervisors, including the division manager and the department's director. Our union would like to get in between that relationship.
Our union represents clerical staff for the city. Full time employees who are generally nice people, and do their appropriately. What happens when a union becomes involved, the union takes a life of its own. Union leaders tell us what is wrong with our working conditions. Except, where my workplace is concerned, no union rep has come around to see that our working conditions are good. The 200 student employees at my workplace are numbers to the union, to show how influential and large it is. We are an extra 200 members filling the union's bank account with some play money.
In reality, we do not care about our union. They have nothing to offer us, nor do they attempt communicate with us in our language of choice (90% of the employees are anglophone). The only time they any attempt to get our attention is when the union needs a show of numbers, and then, in a language of their choosing. They also get 1.4% of my paycheque each week, which would be better spent buying The Montreal Gazette, or The New York Sunday TImes. We are a cash grab and a numbers game.
I am supposed to at a lunchtime strike right now, unclear as to the reasons. Picketing in front of my workplace, where relationships with staff, managers, and clients are more important than an misguided organization's attempt for publicity. I refuse to show any support for my union, since they have not taken any opportunity to take us seriously. Unions will weigh heavily on any future career choice.
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