Motivation
“…and don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
-U2
I have a friend, well maybe just a longtime co-worker. He’s what is referred to in a union workplace as a shop steward. For the purpose of this piece, I’ll call him Jack.
Now Jack has been union shop steward for a pretty long time—something in the neighborhood of fifteen years. I was in a position to see Jack in action for a few years that we worked closely together. As a shop steward, Jack doesn’t go looking for fights to pick, but he always represents his union co-workers with energy.
Some people, unaware that being a shop steward is a voluntary position, ask how much extra money he gets paid for being a steward. I think he gets this question so often because he performs his union-related duties so diligently that people assume he must be getting paid. There are probably many paid union representatives out there who do less work for much more pay. Even members of management occasionally ask this type of question, though Jack believes they may just be trying to rub it in that he does so much for free. But that is neither here nor there.
The point with Jack is that he has the best motivation for what he does: He believes that all workers should be defended when they are in a position of disadvantage. This isn’t just to disparage the management representatives, who get paid extremely well, in large part to do many of the same things Jack does as a steward. The truth is that this planet is filled with people who are mostly out to make as much money as they can; some of them are even in the union movement. And after all, everybody’s got to eat, right? Even Jack makes a decent living, and why shouldn’t people make a good living? But he would make as much, and for much less hassle, if he were to resign as a shop steward.
People like Jack can be found in other situations as well. There are people in all walks of life who are willing to take the time to help other people, to make the world a little bit better—and even when this type of person is a little misguided, at least their sincerity can’t be questioned. God knows there are people who believe Jack is misguided (there are many who think the entire labor movement is misguided), but nobody who knows Jack doubts his intentions. Nobody who’s kept Jack late after work to ask questions about their workplace rights doubts his sense of good will.
There are many people who share this brand of sincerity, who have the courage of their convictions to do what is right, even when there is no corresponding benefit to themselves. But there could always be more.
I ran into Jack the other day, and I was pleased to find he still possesses the same enthusiasm for his cause. I just wanted to send along my salute to everyone who goes this route, usually because they know that accomplishment isn’t always followed by fanfare or gratitude or money, but it’s still worth it. This is my salute to Jack, and all those who are anything like him.
Thank you.
