Let me tell you a story.
It’s about a strike we almost had when I worked at Maryland’s largest newspaper.
The Sun was intent on breaking the Baltimore-Washington Newspaper Guild, following the example of The Free Press in Detroit. Guild members included famous reporters; anonymous night copy editors (like me); hundreds of advertising and circulation department employees; and about 40 janitors.
The newspaper’s strategy was to force a strike by outsourcing the janitors’ jobs to low-paying contractors. Guild leaders felt honor-bound to defend the janitors.
The tension built through weeks of negotiations. On deadline day, everyone was ready to strike. We knew there would be no coming back. Some of us would find jobs in other cities; most would be jobless.
When copy editors came to work that afternoon, management people were sitting in our chairs. Security guards were standing by.
At 4 p.m. word came that The Sun had offered a contract. A grim-faced manager passed out a memo. He asked us to vote for the contract.
“I don’t think so,” I said.
At 6 p.m., Guild members — hundreds strong — marched across Calvert Street to vote the contract down. We took our belongings with us.
We gathered at Center Stage. The 10 members of the negotiating committee sat at a table up front. One young women spoke for the committee. I don’t remember her name. She was a graphic artist in the newsroom. Like most newsroom employees, she was well-educated and relatively well-paid.
She said The Sun had offered a deal, and the negotiating committee was recommending we accept it.
“You want to know what’s in this contract,” she said. “You want to know, what’s in it for you. I can tell you what’s in it for me.”
She said the next sentence slowly:
“There’s . .. NOTHING . . .in this contract . . . for ME. . . .”
No raises for the newsroom. BUT, we had saved the jobs of the janitors. We had gained small pay increases for a few members at the bottom of the scale. That was it.
“If you’re like me, there’s nothing in this for you. But I’m asking you to ratify this contract.”
It took a few minutes to sink in. We had won, but only a few would benefit. We voted to approve the contract, grudgingly.
As we approach the 2010 elections in a time of economic uncertainty, Americans are sharply divided into two groups.
- Those who say, “What’s in it for me? I want mine!”
- And those who say, “What’s best for the least among us? I’m willing to sacrifice for my neighbors and my country.”
We’ll decide by Election Day, each of us in the privacy of the voting booth. I expect that “What’s in it for me?” will win, but I hope I’m wrong.
– John Hayden
