It’s nice to have someone fight for you. In a perfect world, a perfect system, the fighting should be done by so many institutions: the government, corporations, public services, and so much more.
Unfortunately, under a consumer economy, we’re not valuable in and of ourselves, only in what can be extracted from us. Thus, most people are bled dry until they find someone fresh and juicy to replace them.
But in today’s story we’ll talk about a pocket of resistance, someone punching up for the worker in order to give them what they deserve.
More info: Reddit
Having someone who will fight for your interests at work is one of the amazing perks awarded by unionizing
Image credits: Tima Miroshnichenko (not the actual photo)
A union representative took it to the Malicious Compliance community to share how he took a manager's "talk to the boss" blow-off literally
Image credits: u/Oncewasaworker
An employee came to the poster after not being granted bereavement days so he could go to the funeral of his grandmother
Image credits: u/Oncewasaworker
The poster came to the executive meeting with the issue and simply asked 4 incisive questions
Image credits: u/Oncewasaworker
After executives understood what was happening, they chewed out that awful manager and gave the worker his days off pretty much on the spot
If you’re reading the story and wondering where you can get so many paid days off, it is Australia, according to some knowledgeable commentators. It’s also quite ridiculous that the company wouldn’t give out the PTO because they needed proof that someone’s relative has died.
Imagine being the kind of person to ask for proof of a close one’s passing. I guess corporate bureaucracy is one thing, but c’mon. Have a heart. At least a tiny beginning-of-the-Grinch-movie one.
Before we move on, perhaps you’re surprised by the amount of PTO in ole ‘Straya and were already in the middle of packing your bags and looking for your passport, but let me tell you - it gets even crazier in some places.
According to a March of 2023 Visual Capitalist piece, Australia has 27 paid vacation days, but that’s nothing compared to the 53 days received by Iranian citizens, or even 46 by the Sammarinese.
Back to the topic at hand. The employee dubbed Max did receive his bereavement days with an extra 5 days at the end of it all, because of that knight in shining armor - the union delegate or shop steward, as the position is known in some places.
Maybe “knight” is the wrong word for the poster, Oncewasaworker, as it turns out knights were heavily armed and armored thugs, employed by warlords. And, oh yeah, chivalry came about to keep them in check, not because of their own achievements. Yikes.
So Oncewasaworker is a… oh, hell, he’s just a great shop steward and good person to boot, it seems. Just in case you aren’t aware - stewards are union representatives, people elected by other workers who represent them in dealings with management.
Image credits: The Coach Space (not the actual photo)
These representatives, democratically chosen by their colleagues, both deal with the management, while retaining their original position among the rank-and-file employees, therefore they are a crucial bridge between both echelons, as they know what the situation is really like.
According to Wikipedia, their duties include making sure that neither side violates the collective bargaining agreement and making sure that the company isn’t violating any applicable laws, while distributing union information and popularizing it at the same time.
Also, in the UK and Australasia, shop stewards in some industries are referred to as “Father/Mother of the chapel” which is an absolutely incredible title.
A good steward has to stay on top of a lot of things in the workplace, making sure that employees are happy and that the company isn’t trying to go under the radar with something that would hurt them.
They also have to be quite tough, because you can read stories of employees who are super rude, always late, and worse, who come to them asking to help somehow. You can’t really help someone who keeps shooting themselves in the foot, can you?
Hearing all of this has probably made you want to have a steward at your workplace or even become one. Well, the most difficult part of the process probably would be to unionize your workplace, which is a wholly different can of worms, considering all the union-busting that’s happening.
After that, according to Indeed, it depends on your particular union and industry. But good ways to get your foot in the door are being an active union member, participating in and organizing activities, studying employee rights, and educating yourself. When you finally feel ready, you should volunteer for the position and participate in the election.
That’s simplifying things by quite a bit, but you’ll have to do your due diligence if you want this responsibility!
Image credits: fauxels (not the actual photo)
To get a better understanding of a steward’s job and a different perspective of the situation at hand, Bored Panda reached out to Mike Ashie, a leadership consultant, with his own channel on the topic - Leadership with Mike. He was a shop steward for a stint, detailing his experiences in an enlightening video.
Considering the topic at hand, Mike says that nepotism is a go-to for managers who can’t actually manage. If you’re strong and confident, you can call it out when you spot it, signaling to your manager that you’re onto them.
If you’re coming from a union environment with this, chances are that the union is aware of it already, so you’ve got the benefit of not being alone in the fight.
“But here's a crucial tip to protect yourself: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! Seriously, keep a record of every instance and interaction related to this nepotism nonsense. And don't be afraid to get some second opinions from your colleagues. More eyes on the problem means a stronger case against it.”
While Mike himself was in a union, he also saw his fair share of management blundering and trying to abuse workers. One time, negotiations with the company started breaking down, as they just kept dragging out the talks and making unreasonable demands.
“Little did they realize that the busy season was just around the corner, the perfect time for us to go on strike.”
With things not improving and the company refusing to meet their demands, they took a vote and went on strike. The strike went against union advice, but Mike has this to say: “I strongly believe that a responsible shop steward does what is right simply because it is right, not because of any hidden agenda. I made sure to communicate our position to every employee, ensuring they understood that the offer was inadequate and they deserved better.”
Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)
Their actions paid off in the end, and the company finally met their demands. Mike emphasizes that a steward's duty is to the employees, not just the union. That means you have to stand up for yourself and do what's right sometimes.
“A steward is more important than you might think,” Mike continues. They know how to build relationships with employees and management. They also have the power to resolve issues before they become huge problems.
“Some workers may think that stewards are unnecessary. Maybe these workers are confident in standing up for themselves and getting things done. But not everyone is so lucky. Some people are easily taken advantage of, and having a strong steward can make all the difference in helping the team succeed.”
Mike Ashie doesn’t see unions or stewards as mere protectors but rather helpful mediators. They are in the best position to guide inexperienced managers and help them lead their team effectively.
To finish our talk, Mike added that unions are just like any business. They have an agenda - to maintain peace and collect dues. While unions can be helpful, they’re not the be-all-end-all solution.
“Ultimately, your success and behavior are in your own hands. You hold the power to make a difference in your own life, so take charge and pave your own path to success. Don't rely on anyone else to do it for you!” Mike finishes with an inspiring air.
This post collected 6.2k upvotes in the Malicious Compliance community, with over 200 people chiming in in the comments. They patted the poster on the back for doing a good job as a steward and laughed at the Karen manager.
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The community enjoyed the story, saying it was a perfect mix of malicious compliance and wit
