The Way I See It: Perspectives on the Labor Movement From the People in It
Client: Anthropology and Humanism
Format: Academic journal.
This piece appeared in Anthropology and Humanism, December 1997.It is one of the last in a series of papers resulting from an anthropological study of a local union.
Summary: We have interleaved Suzan Erem’s personal essay on the passions and pitfalls of being a union representative with statements Paul Durrenberger recorded from workers at meetings and during interviews with stewards, reps, and union officers to depict some points of view about the labor movement in the United States today that are not articulated by unions, their opponents, or the press. These sometimes contradictory inside views come from several different structural positions. Paul Durrenberger collected the interview material during the course of a study that involved a number of worksites and the staff of Local 73.
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My job is part insurance agent, part activist. When janitors, security guards, auto workers, window washers, secretaries or carpenters seek protection from supervisors who show favoritism, from employers who won’t pay a living wages, from managers who treat them like children simply because they rely on a paycheck to feed their families, they call us.[more]”I’ve worked positions where there were no rights. I wanted to organize a union at [a hospital]. I left before it got in. The union is fair and doesn’t disrespect anyone. They come from the same background as I am. My son is in a union. They see strength, independence, determination. More outspoken.”
We fall between organized workers and union leadership. We look both ways and are troubled. Our hearts still vibrate with a passion of anger but our common sense tells us that reason will always prevail. We are union representatives. Many of us have given up the security of an 8-hour day, overtime, comp time, and a grievance procedure to take this union job–doing what we loved to do or were driven to do as stewards–doing it full time for pay. The novelty wears off quickly. I am here to tell you that we are tired, we are speechless, and we are slowly killing ourselves.
“They [the workers] see management say one thing and the union say another. They see controversy. The hospital does what they want to do. I say ‘You’re seeing this, but you have every right to fight.’ Some people are afraid to sign grievance forms. Threatened. . . . I’ve been places with them. I communicate with [the rep] and [the president] and I’ve been to a couple of retreats. I’ve learned a lot. That’s what got me involved here. That makes me more of a participant here. . . . It gets you inspired. No limitations. You have to believe in something.” Union steward.