...It's been a few days since I've been able to post due to my recent re-entry into the world of full time employment.
I have to say, I've been pretty lucky over the last 10 years when it comes to working for 'the man'. When Mum died she left me a decent amount of money, so any motivation to get up at silly o clock suddenly evaporated and I became a lady of leisure. In fact, looking back I wonder if this is the reason why I got into activism in the first place. I actually had the time to think about it. Now, all my time is soaked up by the daily slog. I don't have enough time to sleep let alone consider the questions of a socialist system where sharing resources can be balanced with the rights of the individual on a local and international scale.
I haven't got time to scratch my arse let alone implement alternative forms of currency or pop round to an elderly neighbours house for a cup of tea. .
Is this part of the conspiracy perhaps? Keep them busy and don't give them time to think or organise?
Why do we work 5 days a week? I could do my hours in 4 days or even 3 if I did two 15 hour days - which is often done in my line of work.
Instead, I spend my time either getting up for work, traveling to work, working or recovering from work and then squeezing in some sleep when I can.
To be fair, as a support worker my day is probably more demanding that the average office job. In my job I am a basically a badly paid personal assistant, entertainment manager, cook, nurse, housekeeper, hairdresser, stylist, masseuse, errand girl, accountant, security guard and life coach, not to mention all the other things related to bowel movements and the like.
Don't get me wrong. I love my job. And on occasions I actually look forward to going to work. However, the private care industry is notorious for its bad pay compared to other less necessary vocations - such as politics for example.
At a sensory activity the other day we were asked to go round the circle and tell everyone what made us happy and what made us laugh. When it was his turn one of the support workers dryly replied that his pay check made him happy, and how much he got paid made him laugh.
But why aren't we marching on Downing Street demanding better pay I hear you ask? The reason... we are caring people. Who would take so and so to their appointments or give them their medication if we all went on strike. Who would be there when so and so has an epileptic seizure or needs their hand held when they are feeling sad? It's a double bind. We're paid a terrible rate because we don't complain and we don't complain because we're support workers - i.e. nice people.
I've also wondered if its related to the fact that its a female heavy industry. If it were the men who were in charge of bum wiping we might be getting a bit more than minimum wage.
It seems that the nicer you are in this society the less you are rewarded.
However, rape an entire country of their oil and precious stones or sell deadly weapons of torture to dodgy countries and you're laughing...
P.S. This post suggests that people who do strike aren't caring people. This is not true at all and I fully support any group of workers, especially the Junior Doctors at the moment, who chose to strike and understand the real sacrifice that they are taking to ensure their rights are respected. I'm planting seeds at the mo and you never know, you might see support workers on the picket lines one day soon as well.
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