For many years, I was a temp. It has been hard to find work in this economy and I have seriously been tearing my hair out over the issues I was having. Finally a little over 2 months ago, I got lucky. I got hired by the Colorado State Government. I was interviewed for this job the day that I (and all other temps) got let go from a land title company where our job was to process land titles.
When I was there, since I was a temp, I had been sent home and even had my week shortened to 4 days when things got slow. I started this job in November 2007 and lost it in April 2008, so during this time it was slow a lot. I would drive to work and drive home listening to political (progressive) talk radio. They talked (and still do) a lot about the subprime/housing crisis. I kept my eye open for other jobs because I figured my days might be numbered there and being a temp, in general, is kind of insulting. The way you get treated is in some cases shitty beyond belief. And I was really getting sick of having my hours cut. I set up an interview with the state Gov't. Then I got let go that day. I went to the interview and found out the next day that they wanted to hire me starting the following week. Goddamn, did I luck out. The fact is, I knew that I could be let go any day as a temp and I would have not gotten anything for it. Finally after 5 years of utter shit in the job market, the insanity of my struggle to find some stability had finally ended. Though, it never allowed me to be unconsious of other people's problems, especially in this regard.
On Friday night, I read an email from a former coworker at this land title company. Below is the bulk of it:
Just wanted to let you know that our entire production center(40 plus employees) will begin "layoffs" within the next few weeks to one month. All of our work is going to be done by the Portland, Oregon center. So, it has been somewhat somber here this week, and will continue to be. I am encouraged, though, that life is more than just my job. I value working, and will begin the new job search soon.
It's admirable that he keeps his head up high during such a trying ordeal. I know how hard it's been for me to be without a job. This is why temping just drove me nuts. I got paid, but then I could get "let go" for any reason there could ever be. I know that Layoffs are a fact of life. But this really hit me. I worked there for 5 months. I knew these people. I was seeing what all this trouble was doing to morale at that office when I was there. Obviously, it got worse since I left.
Layoffs are a fact of life, anymore. They happen more often than they used to. I just have to ask the question: Is this acceptable? To one extent or another, it will occur. But I hear about this happening all the time. I see headlines on the Denver Post building when I walk by it on my way to work. You know why I resent it when people accuse me (rightly or wrongly) of "whining and complaining"? Because I been run through the ringer and it sucks and I hate it when I see it happen to other people too. There are Republicans or McCain supporters who will accuse us of complaining. While we call 1/20/2009 "the end of an error", they call it "the day everyone stops complaining". Here's the thing, I have long acc8used Republicans (hypocrites they are of being heartless whiners. At the same time, I have "whined and complained", either about my situation or about the general situation regarding our country. I don't know about you, but I complain when I see something seriously wrong. I do it, because I'm sad and/or angry. I went out canvassing yesterday for the Coordinated campaign for Colorado. When I did it, I thought a lot of that email. Of my former coworkers, that many of whom will lose their jobs soon. I felt pensive, I felt angry and it became my motivation for the day. As tired as I am, it's things like this and the hope that Barack Obama exemplifies that continues to inspire me to take action.