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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIsn't it interesting that the workers folks seem to not be able to live without.....(Edited)
Last edited Tue Mar 31, 2020, 04:49 PM - Edit history (1)
are the exact same ones folks didn't quite realize they couldn't live without 6 months ago. It's also clear that many of those same workers are doing jobs that society at large very often doesn't think deserves a raise, or even to make a decent living despite regularly working way over 40 hours a week. Society doesn't think they deserve a vacation, or decent healthcare (or at least hasn't for seemingly ever) or in some circumstances, a safe working environment.
The next time folks are possibly annoyed because the person with the cart full of boxes of new product is blocking the aisle in a grocery store......
Or the next time a tractor trailer seems to cut across lanes to get to an exit......
or the next time a tractor trailer takes an exceedingly long time to accelerate away from a stop light
or the next time a postal or other type delivery truck is in the way......
or the wait is too long for a doctor or nurse to be seen.....
or the package ordered 3 days ago hasn't arrived yet in spite of a promised delivery date....
or the favorite restaurant or pizza place can't promise delivery any time soon.....
or the kids have been home from school WAY TOO LONG!....
or a flight is delayed for any reason at all......
Let us all hope that Americans remember these times. As so many millions are staying home, many others are still showing up for work.
Because they HAVE to.
I'm one of them.
My trip starts at 6:55 tonight and ends at 3:30 AM.
Stay safe and well, everyone.
On edit to add this;
I know how this reads, now that I have gone over it a few times. It kind of sounds like a "HEY! What about me!!" kind of bullshit, and that wasn't my intent in the least. Almost every single American will not be affected in the very slightest if I don't show up for work. Not at all. I am just a trucker who happens to haul the US Mail and I have a permission slip to do that from the Postmaster General's office in DC. So no, this isn't about me at all.
What prompted me to write this is the recent number of stories and memes popping up all over, about how Grocery Store workers and others we don't usually pay any mind to are now "Heroes". Well, no fucking shit! But they were just as valuable 6 or 7 months ago, or 2 years ago, or 50 years ago.
So it just kind of struck me that it seems we, and I'm not just pointing a finger at DU, but all of us, just seemed to wake up to the fact that there is this enormous class of people, living and working and sort of hiding in plain sight, that makes living in a decent society, with well stocked shelves of more products than one could need in ten lifetimes, possible. They do their jobs day in and day out, often well behind the scenes, and very often for wages that should disgust any fair minded person.
That's all. I'm not looking for an attaboy, I swear. I'm actually incredibly glad and fortunate I made the decision to pursue this area of truck driving 6 years ago. If I was still hauling cars or working in motor racing, I would very likely be laid off and out of work right now.
csziggy
(34,120 posts)2naSalit
(86,074 posts)As a retired roadster, I am on your side all the way!
A HERETIC I AM
(24,322 posts)I hope the same for you and all your loved ones.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,322 posts)I needed to add what I did at the bottom of the OP.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)but am now so even more than ever!
Stay safe and healthy out there, Heretic! We all need you!
A HERETIC I AM
(24,322 posts)You stay healthy too.
Needless to say, that extends to all of humanity.
bullwinkle428
(20,627 posts)a very comfortable living over the past 3 decades! Everyone else you mentioned in the OP is more than worthy of the plaudits extended to them as well. I really hope there is a re-definition of what "essential worker" means going forward.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,322 posts)Absolutely god damned right.
Meowmee
(5,164 posts)MLAA
(17,165 posts)progressoid
(49,827 posts)But how many think about the workers in the mills, the truckers, the shelf stockers etc who are working 24/7 to keep our asses clean.
Hopefully we will see a change in attitude after this.
benfranklin1776
(6,427 posts)Thank you for doing what you do, truly. Its my fervent hope that everyone will do what they can to see that every one of these workers, and every worker is paid a truly living wage. This reminds us all jobs are valuable to the sustenance of a civilized society. Talk and praise is cheap-society needs to put its money where its mouth is. Generally speaking, we the people are willing to do that,but its the banksters and malefactors of great wealth as FDR rightly called them that stand in the way. There are, however, many more of us than them, so we need to unite in common cause so that everyone who labors reaps the fruits of those labors-workers generate true wealth and value not hedge fund managers.That is the best way to honor their sacrifice and vital work in these perilous times. Be safe and again thank you!
onethatcares
(16,133 posts)we show up, do our jobs, clean up and don't really interfere with anyones' lives.
but we grease the wheels.
This country is going to find out just how that works.
Best wishes and thoughts to all of you guys, and thanks for being there.
progree
(10,864 posts)blah blah essential blah blah
Me: You keep saying they are so essential, but the companies don't seem to think they are essential if they decide they are only worth paying $10/hour with at most a smattering of minimal benefits, and willing to do without if they can't find enough at that wage level. If they are so essential, they would pay whatever it takes to get them.
Friend: (crickets)
(This from a conversation a few years ago)
A HERETIC I AM
(24,322 posts)CoWorker few years back; "Why the hell is that person (the one that took 45 seconds longer than he thought she needed to get the hamburger) worth $15. an hour?"
"Me: Why the hell do you think that just because they serve hamburgers, it means they should have to live in poverty?"
Now;
They're heroes!!
Couldn't agree more.
Off to the yard. Stay safe, Progree.
pecosbob
(7,511 posts)and when this is over, I will likely still be working in that same crappy, low-paying job unless I die from the virus. I will likely receive no assistance from the government. I will still live from paycheck to paycheck.
dlk
(11,439 posts)Something to remember when were finally on the other side of this crisis. Thank you for doing your part.
Skittles
(152,967 posts)I certainly have long thought people deserve to earn more.
Brainfodder
(6,423 posts)We can't even get survival class jobs here, age and over-qualified, too afraid you'll leave or perhaps be after their jobs, plus the whole higher cost insurance wise issue, before this catastrophe?
Not lost on me, about 12 years ago, the average age of fast food workers and people in survival jobs, I noticed had gone way up.
I was starting to wonder if we were out of teenagers, rarely see any.
progree
(10,864 posts)2028 projection: 30.9%
https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/civilian-labor-force-participation-rate.htm
No wonder.
Brainfodder
(6,423 posts)30somethings working every fast food place and max of 2 workers per.
Thanks for that, interesting!
Inside casinos, same thing, not many youngins work there, back in the day when they were open.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,041 posts)I took care of the computer side of a little sanitation company for several years. The owners ran into customer complaints as soon as they bought it from the previous owners, because of some unmaintained equipment and some sloppy record keeping. The new owners were prone to pointing out how few stops they missed or picked up late.
I told them, "People are not interested in a 99% pickup rate if their can is missed. They only see their own can still full. If the mail doesn't come, or UPS is a day late or the school bus is delayed, that's ok. If the garbage is not picked up, they get upset. They just want the garbage to disappear."
The people who honk the horn or pass the truck in anger when it blocks traffic are the first to complain if their stop is missed. They're also the ones who will set the can out after seeing the truck go by and then call and say the guys just didn't stop.
Our economy may be on a low simmer right now, but we're all still producing some garbage. Don't forget to thank the people who collect it and make it go away.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,322 posts)But thanks for saying so.
Refuse and waste management folks certainly contribute to making a decent society livable.
crickets
(25,896 posts)There needs to be a sea change in appreciation for all who keep this country running: truckers, grocers, waste management and on and on. We should appreciate you more, not just now, but going forward.
Excellent post and thank you so much for all you do.