I currently work in a public school as an Administrative Assistant in the front office, working primarily for the Principal. This is my third school year. I have also worked under a union during my time in the plant at food production company. I spent many years working various office jobs, at a Fortune 500 company, an accounting firm, a non-profit and a property management company. I enjoy working with people, working on computers and doing the other duties that are asked of me. I do my best to work hard, follow the rules and please those that I am working for. I think I've done pretty good so far!
There has been a lot of hype, discussion, frustration about Senate Bill 5. I have done my best to stay out of it all, but figured this is a safe place to have my voice, since this is my blog, afterall!
I am not a supporter of the union. I believe the union had an amazing impact on working environments, etc. and I believe there are still merits of what a union was created for that are still beneficial today. However, I believe our unions have become far too strong and greedy in many ways.
I will admit, I do not know all the ins and outs of SB5, and I will not say I am for it or against it, but I STRONGLY believe that unions need reformed and here's some of my experiences that have led me to this.
At one company I worked for, over and over again, all I saw and heard was "I don't have to do that, it's in the contract" etc. What ever happened to my employer signs my paycheck, and within reason, I should do what they ask of me?
Or there is the time when my bosses recognized that I was a hard worker, as well as the fact that I had a college degree (which was not required of this particular job), so they made some adjustments to my role in order to advance my pay to be a little more respectful, and the union, the one that I pay into and should be representing ME, stepped in and said the pay raise, per the contract, was TOO BIG, and they had to take it back.... ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Or the time at one job, that a union "rep" came up to me and said I was working too hard, and I needed to step it down a little because I was making the others look bad. WHAT? I am a Christian first, and I am asked of GOD to "serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, wheter he is slave or free." (Eph 6:7-8)
Recently, we had a situation where someone needed to cover a night shift. I put out a request to all and no one responded, so as the principals AA, I felt I should cover it if no one else was interested, so I did. Typically when the night shift is covered, the one working it adjusts that days schedule, however I am expected to be the FIRST in to work each day and have responsiblities that necessitate that, so I could not. I asked if it was possible to work the adjusted schedule on the following day, a day there was no school. While I was told that would be fine, I was also told that an uproar was made by some union members about me being able to do that... ARE YOU SERIOUS? So I worked my 8 hours the next day too. I do not want to be the one to cause an uproar, I would much rather say that I am doing what is asked of me, then put blame on others to get out of my work. Am I wrong in that? I don't think so, but the union sure has issues.
Now, I TRULY BELIEVE that teachers, and other public workers are never going to be paid enough for all they give, HOWEVER, they have CHOSEN this profession! Unfortunately I believe many have chosen it for the wrong reasons (the hours, summers etc.) but many are very good and passionate about what they are doing. This, again, is where the union has put handcuffs on people. Administrators have no ability to weed out those that are not competint or do not have their hearts in the right places. My daughter has a teacher right now that has no right teaching, but the school system can do nothing about it. Now, my daughter that once had a LOVE for this particular subject, is hating it, getting Cs and Ds, which she has never had and just has a very poor attitude about it (because the teacher does maybe?).
And what about those of us that "support" the teachers. The people the teachers call when they didn't listen to announcements and don't know whats going on, or didn't read their e-mails and need a reminder, or didn't make enough copies and need someone to help them out when they have a classroom full of kids and not enough copies? The list could go on. I work 8 hour days in the office (and time at home with my particular job) 225 days a year. I don't get spring break or much summer break. I make $21,000 a year for the work I do. While that is a little embarrasing considering what I have made in the past, and all the work I do, I am okay with it. Do you know why? Because this is what I have chosen for my life right now. I am willing to do this, to make ends meet in our house (and basically that is all this income does) and still be off work at 2:30 so I can see my kids off the bus and try and be a mom, which really is my NUMBER ONE JOB!
And that's another thing. Everyone feels they need MORE! More money, more house, more cars, more clothes. What happened to being content? Money IS the root of all evil, and I believe it is the root of this issue. Everyone wants to be paid MORE!
If someone were to ask me what I think of SB5, I don't think I would have a firm answer for or against, but I do STRONGLY believe that something needs to be done in the education system to have educators be more accountable. I feel STRONGLY that something needs to be done to help workers realize they need to be accountable and compensated for the hard work they do. I feel STRONGLY that something needs to be done in our SOCIETY to help people realize they have ENOUGH. I have not seen anyone living like this:
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