A question was posed.
On the Voices For Change forum, a site run by TWU member, but not by the TWU, a post was made by a member asking how do we move on, once the dust settles in this labour dispute. How do become we Team Smellus again? (My words paraphrasing, not his.) I resoponded:
bubba1 wrote:
"how will we be able to charge ahead as one team against the competition, when we know what trechary the company and it's managers are capable of"
I signed a piece of paper saying that I would adhere to the Smellus values. I believe "We believe in spirited teamwork." was one of them. That is how we will get through it. Forgive, but not forget. Values mean the most when you stick to them when they are the most inconvenient.
You can be bitter, you can be resentful, or you can move beyond it. You already know whom you can and cannot trust; those people have already proven their merit. Your mistrust or appreciation of management, wherever that may fall, will not have to change. Acting as a team does require trust, but it also requires knowing how to work around obstacles; sometimes those obstacles are other team members. This labour dispute changes nothing, in my mind anyway. I agreed to incorporate that value, I do not view it as purely corporate feel-good-speak, and I look at it as a common value amongst my coworkers in the company. I am committed to live up to my end of that statement, even if others are not, because I can work around them.
Is all this Ideal? No, probably not. Realistic? Absolutely. Maybe it is easier because my performance and operation managers are awesome people who are always willing to bend over backwards for me. I for one however, have no reason not to trust those I work with, and work around those I work for.
As for:
f40b20 wrote:
From time to time I read about workers who "love their jobs" or who are buddies with their managers (read cronyism, nepotism, I've seen it myself in this company).
I take issue with that. I was hired "off the street" (though I am grossly overqualified, like many on my floor for the job we are doing) and did not have to work hard to forge a good relationship with my managers, it was there from day one. There is no cronyism or nepotism involved in getting along with management, its co-operation and decent people.
I do enjoy my job, I do enjoy those who I work with, and I am grateful for managers who actually give a damn and are willing to accommodate me more than any other company has or would.
I go to school full time and work full time. My managers have had no issue working the schedule around me, moving shifts if they are interfering with my studies, or being sympathetic if my adherence sucks because I was slammed with tests and assignments. Your team leads may suck. Mine do not, I resent the generalization.
I realize the only way Smellus is going to work for me is if I work WITH Smellus, not against. Maybe I have not been around enough, maybe I'm just unusually lucky, maybe I'm deluded, or maybe a bit of all the above, but I resent the generalization. Not all managers are our enemies, and not all members play as a team or by the rules.
I then received a reply from bubba1:
I do not recall signing anything having to do with the Smellus values... but that is beside the point. I am glad to hear that your rappore is good with your managers, but as an individual you represent the minority I am sure. Personally, if there were a witten and signed contract between yourself and the Smellus values, that contract became null and void the day they were charged with unfair bargining tactics by the CIRB. They did not live up to their end "demonstrating spirted teamwork", and thus the contract is broken on their behalf, and is therefore null.
It appears you have been fortunate ofer these past 4 or so years to have escaped persecution, and for that, be glad, But you have brother's and sisters in your union that have not been so fortunate. For them, forgiveness will be along battle, and forgetfullness, impossible.
If the company gets their way in this contract, you can be sure the wounds will contine to fester and grow. You may see jobs such as operator services, 611 repair, and telemarketing outsouced to the lowest bidder. You may also see techs moved all around this country at a moment's notice, displaced for months at a time from their families and forced into overtime up to 10 hours per week. I am glad that you feel safe and secure though.. but don't lull yourself in to a false sence of security just yet. Those friends in management just may be forced to pass you a pink slip someday... at least they will do it with a smile.
At least you will always have good references.
I then replied:
I am not saying I am on the company’s side in this dispute.
What I am saying is that we will get through this, once it is over by working as a team to overcome it, working as brothers and sisters to rebuild the reputation of this company. Exactly how that will work, I am not wise enough to say, but my point is we are only going to get through it together.
Secondly, I am not sympathetic to upper management, but my direct manager has been great and works hard to work with us. I think that needs to be recognized. Just because someone is not in the BU does not mean they are automatically evil, does not mean it is automatically us vs. them.
Last, I have no false sense of security. I have options lined up already in case of a lockout/picket/loss of job. I have never had any illusions I would be with Smellus forever. I do not trust my income security to any company. I always keep doors open; I am always prepared. I just hope with Smellus, I will not have to use them sooner than I anticipated. Maybe that is a sad statement from my generation that we know better than to put all our eggs in one employers basket.
I am only 24, I only started with Smellus last year, I do not have years of abuse and neglect to base my opinions on. My age and employment length does not however invalidate my perceptions and what I experience. I may be a newbie, but I am not blind or stupid, and I resent the constant implications that my kin and I are. There is little faith in unions among the newer recruits, and the constant distaste; the lack of respect; and the minimalist faith in our ability to be wise and objective by those more senior does nothing to help our collective cause. We may not welcome the union because the union has not made us feel welcome. The younger among us feel dictated to by the more entrenched, that is a common thread I hear. THAT has to change. THAT is why I participate here. Others more experienced and aware will fight the battles with the company, I'm concerned about the attitude of the union and it's membership, and keeping both accountable. Of all the fights one can choose, this is the battle I have chosen.
I would do so, pink slip or not.
I guess I've declared.
I'm more of a social activist than I thought. Damn you mom. It's all your fault.
Me and my big mouth.
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