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There are many other people at our job who stand up for their rights and are singled out for it - it’s always easier to single out those who stand alone, so I beg you to stand with those who stand up for all of our rights. That’s our strength. That’s what it means when we say: “United we stand, divided we fall.”

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It’s an odd feeling to be threatened with the loss of your job as a result of doing something both your contract and state and federal law allow you to do. I was always aware that I might someday be in a position to choose between doing the right thing and facing retaliation. I was never sure if I was strong enough to stand up and do the right thing - that is, until it happened to me.

I’m glad to say I was strong enough to stand up to the illegal threats by management. And I was even able to regain the right to work less than a day after being “fired.” Now hopefully the rest of the details in this situation will be resolved in a way that sends a clear message that this kind of abuse by an employer will not be tolerated on any level.

I’m proud to have the opportunity to serve my fellow workers. I have been ever since my first days as a shop steward over seven years ago. Yes, I take pride in knowing the contract and many of the laws governing its legal environment. I have taken great pleasure in the ability to help people when I can.

Some members are completely innocent and yet they are persecuted, simply for standing up for their rights. Some members are guilty of small offenses, and management grossly oversteps the established practice by attempting to punish them too harshly. Other members come to me with questions, needing guidance about their rights and options in various situations. Whether it’s getting management off the back of a persecuted worker, protecting the slightly guilty from excessive discipline or simply answering a question, I love doing this job. I sometimes feel as if I was born for it.

And I fully intend to continue doing this job.

Some of the members I passed on the way out the door (after being fired) knew what was happening, others didn’t. Some wondered why I was leaving in the middle of my shift, others expressed sympathy or concern. The situation has had me a little anxious (for both good and bad reasons), but when this is all over, I expect a bright light will be shone on many of the horribly inappropriate, ignorant and illegal practices that led to this point.

While I have been allowed to resume working, there are still some issues that desperately need to be resolved. I expect that resolution to come sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, there are many other people at our job who stand up for themselves and are singled out for it - it’s always easier to single out those who stand alone, so I beg you to stand with those who stand up for all of our rights. That’s our strength. That’s what it means when we say:

“United we stand, divided we fall.”

Filed under: UPS, exposing anti-union propoganda, rights, solidarity, unionism