I think I am finally beginning to understand the union culture that exists for many. And with all due respect, I do see it as a culture, almost like a religion to a much greater extent than I could have ever imagined.
When you are union, in a union family, it's kind of like being a Catholic in a Catholic area. You live it, you breathe it. It is part of you and everyone with whom you associate. It is an allegiance, a loyalty, that is nearly as strong as family. Membership in the union is a source of pride, and you feel bound to the union and in many respects, grateful for that bond. So when you hear people suggest crossing the picket line for your family's sake, it is like asking you to commit the unpardonable sin or to deny your religion, or betray your best friend. You would almost rather die than become a scab. And you view those who do make that choice pretty much something akin to an infidel, the lowest of the low. A Judas. And you know that if you do cross, there are those who will condemn you and will not forgive you. You will potentially face the wrath of others for your choice. The pressure of others could be greater than you feel you could endure. You may even fear the consequences and be willing to let your family experience hardship in order to avoid being seen as a traitor. It is a lousy situation to be in.
Having said that, I also see that there are those who use the union for their benefit but do not have that sense of pride in it or themselves. These are the types I worked among many years ago who gave the impression that union members were lazy and only belonged to the union in order to get what they could get from the employer while doing the least amount of work. I suspect there are these types here at Verizon. However, I also know there are many who do take pride in their work and are feeling rather betrayed that they are having to fend for their livelihood after all they have done.
Many outsiders see the union as a corruption of the free market, led by corrupt men who use the loyalties of the members often for their own benefit. These non-union folks would prefer an environment where people are paid for what they are able to accomplish, not for who they know or organization they belong to or because they happen to have worked somewhere longer than someone else. In an ideal world, I think most people with initiative and smarts would prefer this scenario. But the world is not ideal.
So now we have a difficult situation for union members. Do you go against everything you have stood for or do you choose hardship and wear it as a badge of honor at some future time when your life has stabilized again with employment?
Most non-union people and even some in the union would say to do what you feel is right for you and your family. But they don't have to go home to your neighborhood, to your friends, to all those who expect you to be loyal to the union at all costs. Whether you realize it or not, this is the situation that kids from the Hood find themselves when they want or need more but have tremendous pressure to do as those around them do. It is a terrible situation.
My advice to them and to you is that you must find the courage to do what you feel is right. You must be loyal to yourself first and then to your family, understanding the consequences. If that means sticking it out with the union, then do it. If that means crossing the line, then do it. You must never allow others to make your decisions for you, for then you are just a pawn and not much of a man.