Union, yes.

I used to be a union organizer.

It ruined me for life, well, that and the incredible benefits I had while an employee at Harvard way back in the day. I don't mean it was a terrible place to work, I mean that it gave me the autonomy and confidence that I could do anything I put my mind to. I was very good at it, and I completely believed in it. I still do.

I was ruined for any other employer, for any other organization.

I keep trying to bring what I learned at HUCTW (Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers) to every other workplace. Sometimes the ideals I bring with me are welcome, sometimes they are not.

The ideals are simple: cooperation, collaboration, communication, participation, and building a solid middle class. You'd think that those would be easy enough to translate into other arenas. Not always.

Yesterday was May Day, and I worked a little over 12 hours between two jobs. The day before was a longer day. What's interesting is that I think I worked fewer hours as an exempt employee, making more money than I do now.

When I was a union member, I valued the ability to participate in the running of my workplace in some way. I valued having a voice in my workplace, the camaraderie of meetings, the learning process for problem solving, and I even enjoyed the case management with those who were laid off.

As a union organizer, I was often tasked with tackling the most resistant workplaces and individuals. My kindness and smiling face were my tools. It was a fun challenge.

I loved getting out and meeting new members, loved the excitement of the problem solving process, loved the encouragement from the women and men who had worked 17 years to formalize the union.

I value every minute I was a union member and organizer. I pull from those years on a regular basis, using the lessons I learned on the job to continue teaching me how to be the best I can be wherever I am in my career. I will continue to bring the ideals of HUCTW to my jobs, and keep them in my heart.