Every hour on the hour on January 5, our FTU workers took over Slack to seek accountability, demand transparency, and share frustration around Management’s delayed and undignified counter to our Union’s wage increase proposal for the organization’s performance review cycle. Messages conveyed a collective sense of urgency, with workers expressing a need for immediate and tangible steps to be taken, for Management to uphold their values, to see the union as a partner, and to respond genuinely to the concerns raised by the workforce. Here’s what some of our workers had to say:
“Not to sound like a broken record, but what IS our team’s plan to make C-Suite understand the urgency here? Every time they delay it hurts us all. How are our vertical leaders ensuring upper management faces the consequences of their bad-faith bargaining? I have been giving it my all and this is a slap in the face. It took six weeks for management to return a proposal on wage increases. This is beyond unacceptable and not something any of us deserve.”
“I am echoing a sentiment of deep disappointment and concern here. Six weeks really underscores an apparent disparity in accountability. I have heard many of our leaders say they are committed to this in their values. I would love to have a clear answer in the next 24 hours of how we are effectively communicating to upper management the urgency of addressing this issue. We have diligently contributed to this orgs mission throughout the year. We need to see management reciprocate with a genuine commitment to good faith bargaining.”
“Trevor, whoever you are, you need to prove you are trustworthy.”
“I see the responses here, and in #org-announcements… but I can only hope it has been made abundantly clear that this is a collective wound. A wound that is deepening in many of us the realization that our hard work, loyalty, and commitment is continually met with indifference… that all of our words are being minimized to the belief that the problem is “Management disagreeing with the union.” Management’s empty-handed presence at the bargaining table, their responses in the channels we’ve been silenced from responding in… these things resonate as betrayal, as disrespect, and they’re dehumanizing. It is a blatant disregard for the sacrifices we’ve made throughout FY23. It is a painful reminder that our aspirations for fair treatment and recognition remain unfulfilled. For many of us, this stands as a stark symbol of shattered hopes… shattered hope for ourselves as workers, for the young queer kids we once were, for the young people who we are still here for. Silence, or half-hearted responses, are echoing louder than any words spoken. For anyone genuinely listening, please understand that we are not merely seeking raises… we are yearning for the acknowledgement, the respect, and the fair treatment we all deserve.”
Despite these outcries from their workers and many other messages with the same sentiment, Management continues to show where their values lie by flatly rejecting proposals, deliberately stalling, and furthering attempt to strong-arm the Union into an insulting deal representing a step backwards for most workers. Management’s current proposal excludes a significant number of employees from wage increases for a year and a half, heavily impacting our 988 workers who have supported the organization’s mission and the demands of a new government program. Additionally, the proposal denies retroactive pay to ALL workers, deviating from Trevor’s historical practices. This leaves our members without compensation for their labor in fiscal year 2023, posing dire consequences for those living paycheck-to-paycheck.
To ALL workers, especially our dedicated 988 team: we must continue making our voices heard. Every voice strengthens our collective. Reach out to the FTU MC to sign a Membership Card and for more ways to get involved! We are not just seeking a counter. We urge Management to come back with a serious offer that aligns with the dedication and hard work of our workforce. Equitable wages aren’t just a request; they are a fundamental right.
