Forum Post: A message from a white-collar worker
Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 6, 2011, 5:33 p.m. EST by vamptvo
(5)
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I recently spoke with a conservative family friend about the #OWS movement. He does IT for a financial company, and told me that he doesn't see a reason to support you guys because when he sees unions for teachers, firefighters, etc. marching, he wonders why no one is supporting him. He has worked for years at the same company, and has seen his 401(k) diminish so that he now has none at all. He has no pension. He has no union. He will likely never retire. He has gotten where he is with just his skills and his hard work, and he knows that if doesn't continue that exceptional work ethic, he may lose his job and be left with no benefits with which to support his family.
He asked: "Who's fighting for me?"
I ask you that question, #OWS. Who is fighting for him? Maybe he's in the 1%. Maybe his work enables a financial company to do the very things you despise. Maybe he's not suffering as much as you or your family. But do you stand behind him just as you stand behind blue-collar workers? When I see you guys, I see people who would welcome him with open arms, and I sincerely hope I'm not mistaken.
I told him to go down to Liberty Square and tell his story to somebody, but I know he probably won't do it. So I just want to put it out there in the hopes that someone down in the Square protesting will read it. If we welcome EVERYONE who cares about our country's future, no matter their job, income level, or political affiliation, we can turn this into something even bigger than it already is!
your friend IS part of that 99%. i, myself have a similar story. i am currently laid off from my job, they say its temporary, but who knows. i held a position working for our federal government in what they call a "necessary field" & thought i was safe. but as soon as govt spending went up, and budgets were cut way down, we were furloughed with a quickness. pensions were cut, & what 401k?..... i started to feel like all i had representing me was my union, which is still more than your friend. i always knew i was part of the 99%. but i say all of that to tell you this, WE are all in this together. i dont know any of that 1%, and us 99% CAN make changes!!! somebody has to start listening, & somebody will start listening! if your friend is tired of working hard with lessening results, & scared of even lesser results, then he is the 99%. i am the 99%. you are the 99%. EVERYONE i personally know is the 99%.
It's hard to "support" someone that has nothing but excuses. Waaah they have unions and I don't. Waah no one supports me. What has he got against unions. Does he think that people in a union don't get somewhere with just thier skills and hard work too? Does he think people in unions have no work ethic. Just the fact that his 401(k) has dissapeared makes him part of the 99% . I've not seen anything that indicates any kind of exclusion of any type of worker. He is excluding himself. Why doesn't he want to fight for himself and his type of worker within the movement? My husband is in a union. The only reason he still has his job is because of his skills, hard work and work ethic. He is 55 years old and has recently had to go back to working with his bags (carpenter term). He has a bad shoulder that needs surgery that keeps him up at night and he can hardly walk when he comes home every night. We are all in this together.
We are marching for him, whether he realizes it or not. The conditions you've described - shrinking pension, vanishing 401(k), no collective bargaining rights - are awful, and everyone deserves something better. You say he works hard, which I believe - so why should he be denied basic provisions of security, while people who do nothing but manipulate abstractions all day (i.e. bankers) get to make off with billions?
He seems to have internalized a "me vs everyone else" mentality which is precisely what the 1% use to keep the 99% down. This is not a mentality that we share. This is an all inclusive movement.
He is a victim as much as everyone else. His bosses are not significant if he is experiencing the same problems as all of us. The more people like him we get with the movement, the more legitimate it will be. He is part of the 99%
I completely agree and I hope someone is reading. I am a out of work Anthropologist. Until 3 years ago I had a steady job for ten years strait until the economy took a shit. My pay was gradually decreasing with each new project until I was making little more than a Walmart employee until I could not find any more work at all. While I am not a factory worker, nor do I have medical degree. I can say to this to the IT worker with a full, loving voice... We hear you! Tell him so too. I understand and I bet all those who read this does too.
The interests of the 99% align with the interests of all Americans and people worldwide. If he likes breathing clean air and likes drinking non-toxic water, he's part of the 99% and we're pulling for him.
I absolutely agree, if we have any right to claim that we are even anywhere close to representing the 99% we need to listen and hear voices from across the political and economic spectrum.
I do hope he goes to Liberty Square and expresses his concerns as this movement as a whole is open to hearing everyone's voice. This is also why I think that this movement's initial demand must be something that the vast majority can get behind, and I'd like to see references to analysis and polls to back it up.
I am in the same boat as the white collar guy above! I might be white collar because of what I do (accountant), but I am suffering like everyone else. I have been out of work at least 1/2 of the last 4 years. Because I moved back from overseas, I couldn't collect unemployment. I had no Cobra. Then I went to work in the film industry (for minimum wage), and again, no health insurance. The state of Louisiana said I was "too rich" because I make more than $12,000. A private policy I paid $180 for with Blue Cross of Louisiana refused to pay out on the one claim I made due to pre-existing conditions. My mother's former co-worker in Michigan just DIED because he was waiting for his insurance to kick in after returning from his 3 year lay-off before seeking treatment for double pneumonia. He just couldn't afford a massive medical bill only a few weeks back to work.
I have no union I can join. I have no pension. I make just above minimum wage. When I try for better paying jobs it's always the same - over qualified, under qualified, wrong industry - just wrong.
We need UNIVERSAL BASIC HEALTHCARE IN THIS COUNTRY FOR EVERYONE.
And for the love of GOD - Can the Federal Government please take over paying unemployment??!! Labor in this country - especially during a period of recession - is HIGHLY mobile. Because I moved to another state to work, and became unemployed there, my very daunting "combined wage claim" (i.e. 2 state claim) took nearly a month to process.
And during that time - my checking account went overdrawn. Chase hit me with two $34 fees, one for a $25 debit.
SO, in summary, the Federal Government should pull it's finger out for everyone and address:
1) Healthcare - most important 2) Social welfare - i.e. unemployment, social security, pensions 3) Bank excesses
If done in that order, corporate america WILL be turned on it's heels.
Equity should be for everyone....including the 1%. OWS is as much a movement against greed as it is in support of equity. It is for both the blue and white collar worker. Your friend should join in the OWS movement and gather others together like him. Strength comes from solidarity of those seeking change. (What happened to his 401K?)
I understand how your friend must feel. I was a CAD Designer and my brother was an Electrical Engineer at Delphi. Combined we had over 45 years of service to them and lost our careers to their bankruptcy. No benefits, pensions reduced by 2/3. However, the unionized workers of Delphi had better offerings than we did. So maybe unions do protect a little better for the working class?
Here is your problem though, you're not connecting! You need to show some people that you do in fact work for them and there is something besides the corporate rut they're stuck in.
This has nothing to do with white or blue collar workers !!! Corporate greed is bad for ALL workers and all people !
He is an instrument of the 1%. Doesn't make him any less of a victim.
I think that he should be as much part of this movement and demand equal protection from exploitation of the financial system.