The Fear of Losing Financial Security (part 1 of 4)

Since leaving school I've always been employed in the manufacturing sector. Being young in the working world my opinions were naïve due to lack of experience. Unemployment was low and times were easy back then.

I purchased my first car for $500.00. A 1979 Mitsubishi Lancer. Ugliest car EVER but it was mine. A full tank of fuel cost $27.00NZD which equated to 3 times my hourly wage of $9.00 back then

Our employment contract was up for negotiation that year (2001). I was 1 of 60+ members in the union. It was decided that we were to go on strike for 2 reasons:

(1.) a pay increase of 5% instead of the 2% offered. Inflation rises annually at 3.5%

(2) one department of 8 employees working 2 rotating shifts of 12 hours was to be reduced by 4 hours to implement three 8 hour shifts at a base rate. The loss of income was around $300.00 per week each for the 8 employees. The other departments were one 8 hour shifts.

Unfortunately I literally lived across the road from work and had no way of avoiding being on the picket line. Reluctantly I attended everyday.

In retrospect I appreciate that experience as I learned some values through my observations. I saw bad apples spoil the bunch, quiet and unassuming individuals reveal their dark side, stupid people prove how really stupid they were, , bullies/thugs abusing innocents attempting to cross the picket line and other unappealing things not worth mentioning.

We had some outside support join us too. I was introduced to socialism by a woman named Felicity. She was the leader of the National Socialist political party. A staunch supporter that faithfully attended everyday

I was saddened when she alone stood at the gate a week after the strike was over passing out socialist literature. The people she supported were rude and abusive. i saw one lady screw up the pamphlet and throw it at her. The majority on the picket line including myself were just sheep that don't care about politics but the bottom line.. where's my money?

After 28 days our strike came to an end. The union negotiated 3.5% and one year postponement of the shift change that was agreed by both parties. The last evening on the picket line there was 4 of us by an open fire chilling out listening to the radio. 4am the next morning breaking news comes over the airwaves. "An airliner has crashed into one of the the Twin Towers!" It was Sep 12 here in NZ when that fateful day happened.

From that day forward the world changed. Our short term success for the 8 resulted in the loss of 30 jobs. A primary customer took their business elsewhere due to losses incurred over the 4 week period. An example of "cutting off the nose to spite the face." The consequences of our collective actions in the end wasn't worth it. Eventually the 8 had their hours reduced it wasn't really a success.