Need Advice from Wise DUers About Labor Issue [View All]

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I'm feeling mighty blue-- in every way right now. I just got a job at a major private university. I'm in my 30s, but my job description is as a 'teaching assistant' (even though I have taught as a lecturer elsewhere and I don't 'assist' anyone-- I teach my own classes).

My school had a union. Bush appointed republicans to the labor board and they overturned our legal right to unionize. The president of the university is being a real condescending asshole and refusing to negotiate our right to even negotiate our rights. He's saying that we should 'trust him'. Well, before the union, from what I understand TAs were making unliveable wages (as in $5000 a year) with no benefits. Now we make enough to get by. But if we don't have a way to bargain, they can do as they please.

I've been at my job for about a month. I love my job, I love my students. I need my job. But I won't scab. I won't do it. This strike could go on for months.

I'm also really disgusted at my co-workers, many of whom are more irritated at the union for trying to protect them then they are the management (these are liberals, mind you...every last one of them). They think the strike is a joke. They say they pretty much trust the university to keep giving them their benefits and that we're all doing okay. Well, the only reason why we're doing okay is because of the benefits that the union won for us!!! I actually got into an argument with a friend because she started yelling at me "Well, I can't lose my job!" As if I can.

I'm disgusted and depressed. I'm disgusted at the cowardice of everyone around me. People even laugh at me when I say I don't want to scab. I don't understand how people can plan on walking through a picket line of people fighting for THEIR rights.

How can they call themselves liberal.
How can they call themselves 'working class'
And not even blink.

Number 6,901st way that Bush is fucking up my happiness.