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Time to throw in the towel?
Topic Started: Jul 29 2008, 02:37 AM (125 Views)
Anti
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Ex Mac Elitist
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I'll drop a link to the original topic since it's relevant: http://s3.zetaboards.com/nationstates/topic/226584/1/#new

Now, I posted there that I had started a new job (I was hired, actually, on 10/1/07. I couldn't post until the date on the old topic due to lack of computer).

So far, it's been a great job.

But things have begun getting progressively worse. First, they insist on pushing me past my physical limits, and as NH knows better than anyone else, diabetes can cripple your physical endurance. It did so to me.

But this takes the cake. We've got a new scheduling system. We've now got more courtesy clerks now. Four more. We don't need four more. but here's what they want.

Remember how I said in my previous topic that we alternated between carts and sweeps? Well guess what? Now, our entire shift is either ALL carts or ALL sweeps. No alternating now. Plus, we've all been cut back to 16 hours a week, because that's part of this new strategy. People are only allowed one duty, and called in for only 4-5.75 hours a day. That's it.

In my eyes, this is "strength in numbers."

Considering I can't survive on $8/hour on 16 hours a week...plus union dues? Ergh. I won't be able to survive.

My phone bill is two paychecks alone in this case. Good god.

So I ask you guys....is it time to move on? I'm thinking college as I can go back to social security and get additional financial help from other sources as well while I educate myself.
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Sedulius
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Yes, you should quit. Like you said, you can't survive on wages like that. As far as college, go for it if you think you can handle it. It sounds like the best choice to be honest, since with your diabetes you couldn't do heavy labor. I myself am about to go back into heavy labor for the next few weeks so I can pay for my college books when I go back. Now if you could find a good paying job, you should do that, but without a college education or the endurance for hard labor, that's hard to find sometimes, especially these days. I'm going to try getting a job at the college while I'm going. Not much pay, but its a little something in addition to the education you're getting.
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The CNNP
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My family when they came over to this country were sharecroppers. Hard physical labor. Sickness or not, the work had to be done, even my dad was a sharecropper during his life while managing other venues of revenue for the family. One of my great uncles told my dad perhaps one of the greatest things someone could ever tell someone.

One day, he was recording something down in his notepad. He pointed for my dad to come to him and he told him, "You see this pencil, get your education so later in life the heaviest thing you'll ever have to lift is a pencil!" With that, my dad would end up going to college and for the MOST part that saying was true...even for me.

I am not sure how your financial situation truly is but 'tis time to part with the job. Your job is giving you subtle hints that you won't have it for long anyways. If possible, go to college and get a degree. ;)
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
Get an education. Doesn't matter what degree, you just need the degree to get anything besides minimum wage. No one should work for $8.00 an hour if they can avoid it. Your company is deliberately screwing you over because they don't want to pay benefits - also, call your union and ask them what the hell are they doing for the money you are paying them??

If you don't want a general college degree, go to a school to learn some other skill, be it computers, auto work, etc. Try to pair up your career with something that interests you - you'll be happier down the road.

Avoid physical labor at all costs.

So, in a nutshell - quit your phoney-baloney job today, not tomorrow, and forget the two weeks notice unless you really think they are deserving of it. Get the money you can to go back to school, and do it NOW.
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Ulgania
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Dude, quit that job, and get back to school. You honestly won't regret it in the end. Besides, there are tons of opportunities for work that isn't as desolate as that. Hell, I work in a kitchen 50 hours a week at $8. I pretty much hate the job but I know it's just something to pass the time in the summer and to earn a few thousand to help with school and such. Don't let this job get you down. There are tons of opportunities out there
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Anti
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As far as work goes, I can get a job at Trader Joe's and they start quite high, treat their employees well, and don't have a union.

That being said, if I can score a promotion and/or my hours increase, I may change my mind on quitting.

But I'm still going to college.
Edited by Anti, Jul 29 2008, 02:20 PM.
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lebowski2123
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Whatever you do, don't join a union. They are the scourge of the earth. Unions were useful before the age of mass media. Now they're corrupt organizations trying to make a buck, defending the inept at the expense of the skilled. That's all I have to say.
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Anti
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lebowski2123
Jul 29 2008, 06:03 PM
Whatever you do, don't join a union. They are the scourge of the earth. Unions were useful before the age of mass media. Now they're corrupt organizations trying to make a buck, defending the inept at the expense of the skilled. That's all I have to say.
Tell me about it. The UFCW5 has a stranglehold on ALL grocery workers in the area.

No wonder that TJ's told them to fuck off.

Any company that tries to open a business out here will either fall under the union or be bludgeoned out of existence. A new store, called Fresh and Easy, is opening in the area, and the UFCW is attempting to bludgeon the shit out of it.

They tried that (and are still trying) with TJ's, and they have failed. Their little campaign is called "Traitor Joe's". They claim TJ employees want a union.

Wrong. I did my research. TJ's employees are HAPPY without a union.

OH Forgot to mention. These morons make it a CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT to be a union member. Otherwise, you'll get fired within 6 months if you don't join the union.
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Tristan da Cunha
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IIRC you have a major learning disability in addition to diabetes and other difficulties?

I'm at a loss for ideas. My default advice (for anyone, not just people with health problems) is to buy guns, buy the side of a hill in Montana, and build and inhabit a survivalist bunker there. In your case Anti, sell all your iPods and Mac swag to finance.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
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Jul 29 2008, 09:18 PM
lebowski2123
Jul 29 2008, 06:03 PM
Whatever you do, don't join a union. They are the scourge of the earth. Unions were useful before the age of mass media. Now they're corrupt organizations trying to make a buck, defending the inept at the expense of the skilled. That's all I have to say.
Tell me about it. The UFCW5 has a stranglehold on ALL grocery workers in the area.

No wonder that TJ's told them to fuck off.

Any company that tries to open a business out here will either fall under the union or be bludgeoned out of existence. A new store, called Fresh and Easy, is opening in the area, and the UFCW is attempting to bludgeon the shit out of it.

They tried that (and are still trying) with TJ's, and they have failed. Their little campaign is called "Traitor Joe's". They claim TJ employees want a union.

Wrong. I did my research. TJ's employees are HAPPY without a union.

OH Forgot to mention. These morons make it a CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT to be a union member. Otherwise, you'll get fired within 6 months if you don't join the union.
Are you telling me California is not a Right to Work state?? I thought the only one left was Michigan??

In most states they cannot legally force you to join a union.

Do you have "Whole Foods" out there? From what I hear they are very much like T.J.s and the people that work there love it!
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Anti
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Tristan da Cunha
Jul 29 2008, 11:20 PM
IIRC you have a major learning disability in addition to diabetes and other difficulties?

I'm at a loss for ideas. My default advice (for anyone, not just people with health problems) is to buy guns, buy the side of a hill in Montana, and build and inhabit a survivalist bunker there. In your case Anti, sell all your iPods and Mac swag to finance.
No learning disabilities.

But interesting on that one NH, I'll look into it. The union has a "collective bargaining agreement" which says that all hires have to join the union within 7 days or face termination. They make us pay $70 a month for the first year, then 40 a month after that.

What a ripoff.

EDIT: Looks like CA is a "forced-unionism" state. Fuck.
Edited by Anti, Jul 31 2008, 12:10 AM.
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Rhadamanthus
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Jul 31 2008, 12:04 AM
Tristan da Cunha
Jul 29 2008, 11:20 PM
IIRC you have a major learning disability in addition to diabetes and other difficulties?

I'm at a loss for ideas. My default advice (for anyone, not just people with health problems) is to buy guns, buy the side of a hill in Montana, and build and inhabit a survivalist bunker there. In your case Anti, sell all your iPods and Mac swag to finance.
No learning disabilities.

But interesting on that one NH, I'll look into it. The union has a "collective bargaining agreement" which says that all hires have to join the union within 7 days or face termination. They make us pay $70 a month for the first year, then 40 a month after that.

What a ripoff.

EDIT: Looks like CA is a "forced-unionism" state. Fuck.
Indeed... the eternal struggle between labor and management is a con game. They are quite happy to get together to screw ordinary people like you.
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flumes
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CLEVELAND ROCKS!
$9.00/hr 40hrs/week.... I'll take it even though working at Allstate is pretty boring... Speaking of which didn't someone on here work at Allstate? NH perhaps?

Anti, I got my job through a temp agency (Kelly Services), if you want a higher paying job chances are you can find one through them, or another temp agency... Education still the way to go...
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
flumes
Jul 31 2008, 03:31 PM
$9.00/hr 40hrs/week.... I'll take it even though working at Allstate is pretty boring... Speaking of which didn't someone on here work at Allstate? NH perhaps?

Anti, I got my job through a temp agency (Kelly Services), if you want a higher paying job chances are you can find one through them, or another temp agency... Education still the way to go...
Yes, I was a programmer/analyst/lazy bum at corporate that wouldn't play the corporate games, i.e. free-form knife fights and trench warfare. It wasn't as bad as Sears, though, where you had to wear a helmet and entrench! :lol:
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