“The happy people don’t talk to me,” is a phrase you’ll hear me say often. It’s true that one of the things that your Union provides is a person to help you solve problems at work. The Union is more than just a complaint department though. There is a positive to every negative we experience as a Union family of workers.

Through attrition, our headcount has been reduced, and that means that we are all doing more with less, but we are doing it. I am very proud of you. I have witnessed my brothers and sisters coming together, and helping each other on the shop floor to keep our shop running. Yes, there is a lot of stress everyone is experiencing, but we are responding to the stress by coming together, not by turning against each other.

In every family there are differences, and arguments, but in times of crisis and need there are few things stronger than the family. We are forming a united bond, and coming to the realization that we all have a common cause, our jobs, our shop. It really is our shop. Without our Union family, it’s merely a building and some equipment. These are hard times, and when we come out the other side we can go back to our differences and our family arguments, but right now we will support each other and be strong for one another.

“I hate coming to work, but I do it for my family,” one brother told me recently. I’d like to believe that he is doing it for both of his families. His family at home, and the one here in the shop.

There are lots of changes taking place in our shop, and change is always hard; however, you are rolling with the changes, and landing on your feet. You should be proud of yourself for your ability to adapt and overcome any changes you find when get to work.

I know that the Attaboys are few and far between at work right now, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t appreciate our brothers and sisters. It has always bothered me how easily we side with the person who wants to put down our coworker. Are we supposed to believe that when that person is talking about us to someone else that they are not saying the same types of things about us? Let’s flip that around. The next time other people start bad mouthing your Union family member, say something positive about that member. Watch what happens.

Please do me a favor. Next week, find one Union brother or sister on the shop floor and give them an Attaboy. Don’t be insincere, we receive plenty of those from other people.

You know the person who is always working hard, or the brother who helps out the worker on the next machine without being asked. Walk up to that Union family member and tell them how much you appreciate what they do. We all need some positive feedback right now, and we can give that to each other.

The struggle to move this Union family forward is going to continue, and I believe that we will make it, but if no one else is going to acknowledge our value, we will acknowledge each other’s value.

I appreciate all the hard work you do every day on the shop floor. I am proud to serve you as your representative, and I believe, in my heart, that you are a good, honest, intelligent, worker who contributes to the success of our shop. Thank you.

You’re AWESOME!