Recently I attended a statewide union meeting as a shop steward. Our contract expires this fall. Union officials say that this year we will win the best contract ever—if we demonstrate to management our unity and commitment towards our specific goals.
I went to this meeting because it is important to be with the masses and to distribute Red Flag.
I distributed about 50 Red Flags (out of about 200 attendees). A comrade had encouraged me to take more copies but I did not want to feel obligated to continue distributing until I had no more. However, once I got started, I was disappointed that I had not brought more.
Starting is always more difficult for me than stopping. I am initially fearful of rejection, but when I get started, this goes away.
Only one person made a snide remark. Everyone else either politely declined, said they supported the cause, or enthusiastically took the paper.
Some said things like: “Communism? Yeah, let me take a look at that.”
“You’re communist? That’s cool, sure I’ll read your paper.”
One man said he was a socialist and wanted to talk later. I mistakenly did not make time to go talk to him after the all-day meeting. I should have asked for his contact information.
I am not good at getting contacts. I had a long talk with my roommate and her car pool buddy/co-worker at the conference. Her car pool buddy asked for my contact information saying, “I really admire what you are doing and what you stand for. I’m going to call you after I read your paper.” I said great! But did not in return get his contact information. It’s now been three weeks and I have not heard from him. I need to change this.
I’m not shy, far from it. When union officials talked about asking members to donate more for the union’s political organizing, I got the microphone and announced that it is very difficult for me to ask for contributions for this purpose. I declared that capitalism was not designed to work for the working class and that it cannot be reformed. Doing political organizing/campaigning or asking members to contribute to this is too big of a contradiction for me.
I said I would rather spend my time organizing towards getting rid of capitalism so my children or grandchildren can one day live in a system designed for everyone’s well-being. So they no longer work for money, but according to their love, commitment, and ability. We will produce abundance and not allow a few to hoard or waste it, but instead all will share what is produce. We will live in true unity, as one.
Afterward, a few people thanked me for my comments.
So why am I not getting the contacts? I’ll allow my collective to struggle more with me about this.
—Red Diaper Comrade