Bestie's chapter of SEIU is about to go on strike.
She's feeling terribly unsupported, confused, and conflicted about the whole thing. This is not a union that's inspiring a lot of confidence, or even really communicating with any effectiveness. I'm not sure what to tell her.
@violetmadder I've got a lot of feelings from my time in SEIU.
I don't know what to tell her either, but I'm curious and would like to hear more...
@violetmadder (Seriously, strikes are so destructive and risky, and if you don't have everyone effectively organized before it starts, you're just creating a big, ineffective mess. I'm concerned for your friend.)
Yeah. SEIU is one of the biggest unions around, but that also means it's compromised. The nurses and janitors have managed some good wins, but the security workers aren't as strongly represented.
Bestie has already been doing her best to look for a new job, with VERY little luck, so she's scared. If participation gets her targeted, she has no confidence she'll have any protection or recourse. Right now she's the main breadwinner holding down the fort for the two of us that are not as functional.
@violetmadder I hate to undermine organized labor, but, of be concerned.
Retaliation is maybe not something to be super worried about, as long as she's one of many, but I'm also not counting on SEIU to save anyone's job. And it is a huge thing to ask, to join a strike. She doesn't sound convinced it's likely to succeed, or worth it if it does succeed, or both.
I really, really encourage your bestie to listen to her misgivings and play defensively on this.