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To the specific union threatening to shame people for taking work: you don’t know a person’s situation. Threatening to reveal identities and make a person’s life hell is not the way to get them on your side. You should be asking them to not take jobs, BUT THAT’S IT. It’s tough for a lot of people to get jobs right out of school, and even tougher to get paid freelance work without a lot of experience. So please, can you not shame a human being, possibly trying to feed theirs and another’s mouth, and just ask them politely to not work for a greedy company? Or better yet, reach out and help them find some work. That kindness will go a lot further for your cause then telling them you know what’s best and will “blacklist” them for trying to make a living. —Shamefully Yours, the Recent Student Struggle
This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2016.
OP-“…to shame people for taking work”
is this the new way of saying SCAB?
OP, I understand the desire to work in your field and to earn some money but the strike will eventually end and you will again be looking. I would worry what impact that period of work as a “replacement worker” would have on your resume and prospects of finding a permanent job. At the very least, it probably precludes you from ever working as a permanent employee of the publication in question. The other staff would not be too welcoming.
Anyway, just something to think about. Good luck with your quest for work.
It is really unfortunate because journalism is profession that I have a lot of respect for when it is done properly. Times are changing, though. The CH’ers are, sadly, doomed. You will gain in the short term by scabbing but in the long run you would probably be better off making connections and building relationship for the future. CH is permanently removing reporters by-lines. SO even if you did get permanent work there one day, you would not get credited for that work.
In Canada, I call BS any time someone says they have no choice but to cross that picket line. At àny given time over 85 percent of working Canadians have jobs. Those are good odds. Don’t do anything to compromise your long term future.
Think of this as an early learning curve for your career. Would you like to be treated in that fashion by your peers sometime down the road? Think long and hard.
“just ask them politely to not work for a greedy company? Or better yet, reach out and help them find some work.”
So if they ask you politely not to be a SCAB you won’t? Doubtful. Besides they shouldn’t have to “ask” you, the “line” is there for a reason.
Maybe you should go sit on the picket line with them for a week talk to them and help them to make a better future for everyone in thia profession.. you realise why crossing the picket line is definitely a no-no especially for someone who plans to make this their career. They are not fighting for themselves they are fighting for the future. Which means you!