I, for one, am proud of you!

Unfortunately some can't take the risk and not go to work, but you did. I wonder if any of then later expressed their thanks to you?

Thanks for posting this. I didn't see your original post in that you rec'd some grief on, sorry to hear this. It does happen on DU, but that's our community here, give and take, but overall, its a support for all of us.

Take care and thanks for posting your story, and sticking up for your beliefs.

I walked into the lunch room and told all of them, the next time you get your pay check, I did that. Every one of them sat there looking down. They couldn't look me in the face.

I forgot to say this. A few weeks after all this happened, I had not been fired yet, I got a letter in the mail. It was from a job I had applied to 5 years earlier. They hired me. It was a fucking miracle. I must have a guardian angel.

but my belief. Life has karma...karma has mysterious ways of awarding those who deserve it.

Thanks and take care of yourself!!

Last edited Thu Jan 24, 2019, 08:37 PM - Edit history (1)

My boyfriend's sister did this, at a restaurant she worked at. She looked up the law, found out that everyone had been stiffed on OT, and turned the management in. Everyone got back pay because of her. But what made her this way? Her family (like mine) brought her up to walk picket lines, to take the side of workers and unions, and to know what the law was all about. The other workers weren't bad people for working longer hours. They weren't educated to know differently.

This was in a small town on an island that thinks of themselves as liberal, but I'd call more libertarian - and it just wasn't built into the people to fight these fights.

and organized my small Co-op into a Union shop. In our 3rd round of contract negotiations now. Working with Interest Based Bargaining... a non adversarial bargaining process. We'll see how it goes.

Solidarity!

K&R

problem that has been going on since the "Raygun" years has been the Republican destruction of unions.

How long were at the new job after that pist poor manager?

Thanks. The most vital line in all of it. "I did not do this because I am tough guy who is fearless, no way. I was scared to death." That, to me, is when you know you are doing what is right: when you are scared, but you can't do anything else and stay yourself. Seriously, thanks for reminding me to stay that kind of scared.

And yeah, what you did took guts.

What I have learned is, most people talk a good game but when it comes time to stand up they fade into the background hoping someone else will do it for them. I'm always reminded of this quote from MLK:

you are an inspiration.

the most important things in life are done because they are difficult, not because they are easy.

"Never complain, never explain"

"To thine self be true."

because, well, they feel responsible.

All of our youth in America should read this. Too many are brainwashed to worship the corporate world.....

Keep repeating your story every chance you get!......

That's is all anyone can do: a guidepost for living life with both tough and easy choices. And everyone with a conscience is constantly challenged to stay true to that path. You did well back in 1994 - I'm not sure I could've done the same.

district in Southern California. I am 66 years old, retired from fulltime teaching years ago, and do it for the extra income. What some of you may not know is that for the most part substitute teachers are public employees who are generally not represented under union contracts. This allows school districts to treat substitutes like shit. Pay varies throughout the country. My district currently pays $120/day and half that for a half day. Paychecks are withheld for a minimum of an entire month, and a day worked may not be paid for nearly two months. If I work 9/1, for example, I will not see pay for that day until 10/31. Of course, needless to say, we receive no benefits. The district requires that substitutes be fully credentialed teachers. I earned a Bachelor's degree Magna Cum Laude from a state university and a teaching credential valid in K-12. As a substitute, I am expected to be "on call" and drop everything at a moment's notice to take over for a teacher or aide at any grade level and in any subject. It's a high stress job with a considerable amount of responsibility, and there is no good reason why substitutes, who perform a vital service, are consistently kicked to the curb.

Recently, fire swept through this area and schools were closed. Every employee and family of a student in the district received notification by phone. Everyone, that is, except substitute teachers. Another substitute and I subsequently arranged a meeting with an administrator to discuss why we had been left out of the loop. What an eye opener that was. She told us we were not "real" employees and did not deserve notification.

I also used the meeting to ask why substitutes were not paid for mandatory training we were required to take earlier in the year. Federal and state law requires that mandatory training be paid. The woman looked at me like I had two heads and dared me to show her the law. That night I located the statute and e-mailed it to her, again asking to be paid. Her response: crickets. I have subsequently filed a complaint with the state labor board and am awaiting a response. I hate that it's come to this over a lousy few dollars, but it's the principle of the thing. This is a wealthy district in which many teachers earn in the six figures. The info is available on the Transparent California website, and it pisses me off that we are thought so little of, they barely see fit to pay us at all.

I applaud you for refusing to work without pay. Employers should never expect anyone to work without monetary compensation. If the Federal employees working without pay followed your lead, this shutdown would be over.

Hi. I joined Democratic Underground today just to reply to this thread.
I worked at a major food hauler for many years back in the last century. We were unionized and we had a master freight contract which means we received top Teamster pay and benefits. We were a division of the largest food hauler in North America at the time.
When the parent company fired the president of our division and replaced him with a Wall St. "wizard" we all knew it was the beginning of the end. Within five years they started closing union divisions and opening non-union shops to take up the former union work which was a direct violation of our contract.
To make matter worse, our contract was up at the time and the company refused to re-negotiate. We were forced to choose to work without a contract or go home. They were selling the division to a smaller competitor, period. But we had the company in the palm of our hands. Supermarkets up and down the East Coast depended on us for on-time food deliveries of most of the products on their shelves. We could have refused to work without a contract and stopped the deal in its tracks.
Yet when the time came to stand together and stop the company from their illegal actions forcing us to work without a contract and ultimately axing all of of our jobs, none of our over 500 union employees stood together.
I talked to a labor lawyer who could stop the entire deal in its tracks within a week but he needed $7K to go to court.
NONE of my union brothers and sisters would even chip in a measly $50 a piece to start a war chest to take on the criminals at corporate.
I felt exactly what you felt, Shockey. I'm no tough guy either. I was scared too. But I can't change the way I'm hard-wired.
I came out on top. The rest of them are still trying to recover after over 25 years. Because I was true to my beliefs and I wouldn't be blackmailed by corporate crooks. I read my contract and I knew my rights.
I just pray that the USA is hard-wired the same way so we can rid ourselves of this fake corporate curse in the White House instead of capitulating like cowards.
Good for you, Shockey. Never change.

Sounds like an excellent way to start up!

When I read shockey80's post, what saddened me most about the OP was that evidently nobody said thank you. If somebody had gone to the mat so I could get paid for the overtime I put in, that's the first thing I'd want to do.

It's important to stand up to people like that boss and refuse to work without pay. Or at the very least report the business to whatever agency is in charge.

Here's an opposite story. When my sons were teens they worked at the local movie theater, six screens. One day they were both off and we'd gone there to see a movie. When we arrived, a good 15 minutes before the movie was to start, the manager said, "Hey, guys, I've just gotten a shipment of stuff, and would you be willing to help bring it into the theater?" They both said yes and the next words out of his mouth were, "Thanks. Go clock in now."

He was a good manager, and they'd have done that task on their own time, and it probably took all of ten minutes to accomplish the chore. But he was not about to take advantage of them.

More bosses should be like him.

who is currently out of work because of the shutdown. Although I admire your spirit there is a difference between your story and what is happening to those government workers who are being forced to work without pay.

Your position was not classified as "essential" by the US Government. Government workers whose jobs have been classified as essential to the public interest may not refuse to come to work and can (and most likely will) be fired for refusing to work.

Your position did not come with a guarantee of paid back wages for working without pay.

Because of those reasons, certain government workers can not simply refuse to work without pay, and this has been held up in various courts.

...all right to work does is allow union members to retain membership without paying dues.

You still can have a union. By way of example, Nevada is a RTW state and yet some of the strongest unions in America are located in Las Vegas

What’s this? The fifth thread on how much superior you are to federal workers?

What happened to your story about the sympathetic doctor who kept you out of work?

Amazing how this story keeps changing.

So the new story is working ...

I’m so confused!

You are just a trouble maker.

People are going to question when they see a different story each time. I mean, come on.

If I told another story it was because it was about something else. I don't make up different stories about the same thing. Strange. I may have been talking about something that happened at another job. I have been through lots of battles at work, at different jobs.

You were sharing an intense personal story of courage in the face of power and redemption - and one that many, if not most, of us can relate to.

It may not be exactly like what many federal employees are going through with Idi Trumpin. But it definitely speaks to the abuse and callous disregard he's subjecting them to.

That's how I wish everyone read it.

To me, their current dilemma - and your story - speaks to this wider trend we're seeing in the erosion of our rights as workers, if we happen to be employed. Corporate America in general - and even many smaller employers - are constantly floating trial balloons to see just how much they can get away with.

I for one am glad you shared that. Here's hoping they can stand up to this and win.

Everything you said was a lie.

my son was working for a pizza chain, I think Dominos but it might have been Pizza Hut. He was 16. He was diligent about getting to work on time and had a great work ethic. then it started to change.. for several days we had to remind him it was time to go to work and he went reluctantly. Finally, one day he says, doesn't matter if I get there on time the boss won't let us punch in until it gets busy.

My husband stopped dead in his tracks. Say that again? My son repeated it, said it had been going on for a couple of months. My husband said, how much do you want to keep that job, cause I'm calling everyone up the chain. My son said no problem. Husband got to the regional manager and asked why they were stealing from their employees and he was going public.

Needless to say, everything changed at the store, but the manager made my son's life miserable and he eventually found a new job. Now, granted, this wasn't really a livelihood like your's was, but our kid was demoralized by the sheer dishonesty of it all. it's amazing what they'll get away with if they can and nobody better to push around than people who won't stand up and do what's right.

You did it. I admire you for that.

are so docile. Most of them won’t stand together for anything.

the middle finger more than 80 times during my 45+ years of
working. I'd rather drink muddy water and live in a hollow
log before putting up w/workplace shit. When it came to jobs
I was like a Honey Badger; I just didn't give f*ck.

your message and I did not need any explanation, although l appreciate the fact that you tried. Let me be as honest as you. I thought your characterization of federal employees that did not toe your line as "sheep" was insulting and uncalled for. In fact, your repeated posts on the same subject seemed to me to be more of an ego trip than anything else. I'm glad you came back and explained things as it is indeed common to misunderstand the written words on a website. But you did come across as a holier than thou jerk.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of government employees are faced with difficult decisions and your constant ranting on how they should make those decisions is quite insulting to them. Do not assume that you understand their particular circumstances.


I quit a job once not long after we had our first born child. It was scary. But I do not condemn those who choose otherwise, nor do I refer to them as sheep. I honestly believe that most of us on DU are like minded. Calling names is not helpful. Please do not think that your experience is unique and a model for the behavior of others.

I am also the type of person that just can't knuckle under to Injustice. It's not that I'm a hero. Getting into these kinds of fights has always scared me to death. The only thing I feared more was walking away from them. At times, it did cost me, but I always slept well.

Kudos to you for doing the right thing.

They have your back when it comes to issues like this...

Props to you for handling your situation like a pro, and not a pee-on!

+1

...who was also a friend/colleague of his.

The person he stole it from knew about it and knew me (I previously worked for him for 2 years), and he asked me to be deposed by his attorney and tell him everything I knew. I agreed.

The guy who stole it from heard about that and told me if I went to the deposition he'd fire me.

I did it, and that night called him and said, "I did it, fire me." Which he did. I was unemployed but I felt great that I did the right thing. Hah! Two weeks later I got a great job, the best I ever had up until then.

Not everyone has your intestinal fortitude, and that is sad.

If we all put our hands in our pockets for a couple weeks, we could right a lot of wrongs.

That said, I don't know if I would have done that. When I was young, but not now, I think.

...but doesn't surprise me in the least. The demise of worker unions began with Saint Ronny Reagan and just continued with repuke rule of our government. It was not just with federal government but also with just about all levels of government. The Fate is now complete with the stolen election of trump.

Speaking just for me I would never take a job with no union representation. But, even then I found that sometimes, maybe all the time now a days the union bosses are just as corrupt and disrespectful towards those they represent as those corporate bosses that continue to flaut employment laws to the benefit for their million and billion -aires stock owners.

Isn't a little union workers party a good thing?

Thankfully there are labor laws in this, already great before Trump, country of ours. Let's make sure such labor laws are never done away with. Republicans and their ilk would love to do just that.