Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Keep on Caring

There are some perpetual workplace problems that we simply cannot fix. What can a union do?

By Jon Heinen, Representative

I encounter a temper tantrum at least four or five times a day. That’s right, I’m a parent. I have four kids between the ages of four and ten, and it is a fascinating experience to watch them grow up.

I admit, I don’t remember much from my childhood. I have memories of course, but I don’t remember the insane fluctuations of emotion that I see regularly in my kids.

My son and I had an argument recently about his bedtime. I flexed my fatherly muscles and told him that it was bedtime.

He got very upset and I watched him writhe in frustration that he was being subjected to tyranny of rule. He continued to say that it wasn’t fair—for a variety of “reasons.”

By the end, he was angry, stormed upstairs, and went to bed. The next morning, he was bright and chipper again, happy to go to school. Strange!

My youngest is also a roller coaster of emotion. He runs, plays, jumps on the trampoline, colours, does math on his fingers, talks and talks, and then all of a sudden he’s screaming! Whoa! What just happened. Oh, he wants something that he can’t have. Hmm . . .

I recently heard how, in many ways, we all reflect the characteristics of children. Even in my middle years of life, I find myself reacting in similar ways to my children. I’m happy, then incredibly sad. I’m totally fine, then really angry. Strange! Or is it?

I’m reminded again and again that many people struggle. We often will reflect on the physical, tangible attributes related to the struggle. Costs are rising, there isn’t enough time, we feel oppressed. These are all important things to consider.

I’ve started to say to my kids when they’re really struggling, “I care about you very much. I need you to know that I care about you a lot. You are cared about.”

I started doing this after my one daughter said she felt like nobody cared about her. After a few nights of saying this to her, she didn’t say that anymore. In fact, she seemed to settle down in other areas of her life.

I look at the work we get to do as a union, and it’s a lot harder to say these things to our members. So I don’t say it, except to myself. I care about your situation. I care about you. You are cared about.

It might not even help their situation, but it helps me to see the importance of the work we do. Our job is to care.

There are many times when I can’t fix the problem. I can’t reverse your termination. I can’t get you five dollars more per hour. I can’t get your supervisor fired.

This has often caused me great heartache over my years as a representative. There are some perpetual workplace problems that we simply cannot fix.

But what I can do is keep on listening, keep on trying to help, keep on caring. I care that you were terminated, and that your pay isn’t enough, and that your supervisor treats you poorly.

I care a lot. I say it to my kids, and it seems to help. Maybe I should start saying it to everyone.

Keep on Caring

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