I want to create a union at my work, but writing for a new job is so much easier. (lemmy.today)

submitted 11 months ago by whimsical_absence@lemmy.today to c/casualconversation@lemmy.world

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I work in tech. At my previous job, I started organizing a union and got maybe 20 people out of 70 involved in actively planning and being interested. But I left my old job for this one, because I could be paid more with less work. And now there's a new job on the horizon which promises another 10-20k a year, and again, the call of more money outweighs the urge to improve the current situation. Anyone else ever dealt with this issue?

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[-] whimsical_absence@lemmy.today 6 points 11 months ago

I see where you're coming from. Having an organizer walk is an issue. I disagree with your notion that me organizing and walking is worse than not having tried at all.

But then, there's a reason I haven't tried at this job to organize, I know I might be leaving.

I do have one question for you. You say I'm making it worse and are the problem. Have you done anything to make a union happen?

I disagree with your idea that it is my personal responsibility to take a worse position, job wise, financially, when it doesn't just affect me, it affects my family. Especially when the potential for improvement is just that, potential. Not guaranteed. Not automatic. And it comes with the risk of retaliation by the business. Sure, people died back in the day, but that's not something that has to happen anymore. We have labor laws.

I suppose it does boil down to fuck you, I got mine in a sense, but not entirely. But maybe that's what I value more than a total worker revolution.