The Latino workers who drive the forklifts, do the shipping, receiving, clerical work and run our production line walked off the job last Thursday. I wasn’t there (the office that I work in is a 30 minute drive away) but I imagine you could’ve heard a pin drop. That is, I imagine, when a manager wasn’t having a fit. The news trickled into our office building around mid-morning and there were varying reactions. I was in the break room when one of my co-workers walked in and said jokingly to another sitting at a table, “See what happens when you voted for Trump?”
I turned to the seated man, “You voted for Trump? Howabout if I come over there and kick your ass.” And yeah I was joking – sort of.
Seated man said, “You heard what happened? That’s not right.” I told him that I supported the warehouse workers. ‘ Fuck that!” I’m right on board with ‘em.”
There were varied reactions in our office. I can guess what the managers in that building thought but they were more or less hamstrung for the short term; can’t fire the entire crew on each shift. But I’m not ruling out some reprisal down the road. The warehouse manager isn’t exactly a sweetheart and the company lost a full day of receiving, producing and shipping; and of course, revenue. Because that’s what it’s all about - money, money and more money. The cause of human rights and compassion are fine but do it on your own time and don’t get in the way of revenue. Thursday was the Day Without Immigrants protest and it hit our company right in the bank account which was of course part of the overall goal; show the nation and most importantly the Trump regime that immigrants help keep the machine moving.
Seated man said, “You heard what happened? That’s not right.” I told him that I supported the warehouse workers. ‘ Fuck that!” I’m right on board with ‘em.”
There were varied reactions in our office. I can guess what the managers in that building thought but they were more or less hamstrung for the short term; can’t fire the entire crew on each shift. But I’m not ruling out some reprisal down the road. The warehouse manager isn’t exactly a sweetheart and the company lost a full day of receiving, producing and shipping; and of course, revenue. Because that’s what it’s all about - money, money and more money. The cause of human rights and compassion are fine but do it on your own time and don’t get in the way of revenue. Thursday was the Day Without Immigrants protest and it hit our company right in the bank account which was of course part of the overall goal; show the nation and most importantly the Trump regime that immigrants help keep the machine moving.
