Ask a Union Organizer: How do we keep our morale up while unionizing?

Dear Ask a Union Organizer,

We've been fighting for our contract for over a year. It's been a nightmare -- so many people pushed out/laid off, others getting exhausted from the effort. What are some ways we can keep up morale? Any advice for getting over the finish line?"

— Overextended Organizer

Dear Overextended Organizer,

I’m so sorry your unionization process has been so long and hard. It is absolutely devastating to see coworkers laid-off or fired as a result of organizing efforts. There’s a lot of complicated emotions that come along with something like this; survivors guilt is one of them. It’s awful to be betrayed by our leaders, and the fact that you’re unionizing indicates to me that you’ve been dealing with unsettling working conditions for a while. Here are some suggestions:

Be gentle with yourself and your emotions. You and your co-workers have really been through a lot. Acknowledging the trauma you’ve been experiencing is an important step to surviving it. It’s really important for every union to create safe spaces and containers for your intense emotions. Your union organizers should connect you with a peer-support system, which is a group of other workers who know what you’re going through right now.

Listen to your colleagues about the hard stuff. Organizers should be good active listeners and they often share exciting stories about the union’s longest, most challenging battles. Sometimes hearing others’ stories helps us remember the legacy part of this whole thing. Good organizers hold space and help you feel uplifted and inspired after a meeting; but if your organizer isn’t providing that you’ll have to create it. Creating shared traditions, building structures for regular venting, mutual aid platforms, sharing meals together, and gift-giving all help us connect to our humanity during times of adversity. 

Check in on your nutrition, sleep, sunshine, and exercise intake. Vitamin D is best absorbed through your skin from the sun. Even basking like a housecat on the floor by a window might improve your outlook. If you’re struggling to calm down or feel constantly agitated, breaking into a good sweat can sometimes help signal to your body that it is safe to rest. If you’re not getting good quality sleep, it is worth talking to your doctor about. You won’t feel better until you’re getting enough REM sleep. Eliminating screens from the bedroom, establishing a regular bedtime, and creating rituals and habits at bedtime (like a cup of tea) can help, but sometimes chamomile just isn’t gonna cut it. 

Notice how you’re feeling and name it. Write it down, shout it out, text your friends about your mood. Having self-compassion for yourself during difficult moments and welcoming-in your messy emotions without feeling shameful is not easy. As a bargaining unit, you might want to have a sort of “feelings circle” where everyone is encouraged to just vent, moan, and feel crappy without any expectations of silver linings or action-items. The hard feelings aren’t going anywhere, so you might as well get to know them a bit. Journaling can be a safe place to express complex emotions without fear of how others will perceive you. If you have access to a therapist or counselor, now is the time to take advantage of mental health care professionals.

Change up what media you consume. Your favorite movies, music, video games, and funny television shows are all a great way to “escape” without a shame-spiral or hangover the next morning. Remember, it’s OK to put everything aside and do something unproductive for a while. You’re healing, and healing always means resting.

Practice playfulness. What brings you joy? Studies show even thinking about doing a joyful activity triggers happiness in your brain—so if you’re really missing out on something like sweaty concert dancing or passing the j to your left, take some time to let your mind wander on this activity, remembering the bodily sensations. You’re never too old to climb a tree, put your bare feet in the mud, play with Legos or a puzzlet, or fingerpaint! Playfulness and creativity can take many forms.

Create your space. During childbirth, people often put affirmations on the wall or hang photos of ancestors whose strength they hope to channel during labor. You can do the same! Usually, bargaining rooms are plastered with posters and working-class artwork. Make your space feel “activisty!” Put up pictures of your favorite heroes or sticky-note affirmations around your computer screen, ask your union for “swag” like branded pens and posters.

Remember that you CAN do this. How do I know? Because you’re already doing it. Even when you feel like you cannot go on, you should be very proud of how far you’ve come. It’s normal to feel like you simply cannot go on fighting much longer, but I know that you will keep fighting, because you haven’t given up yet!