Blue Ridge UniServ-VEA

Members in Charlottesville and Albemarle have both wrapped up the majority of their union authorization card campaigns. Its been an exciting and exhausting late winter/early spring. This is what a supermajority of support from 2 school divisions looks like in the safe. What you can't see is the relationships that have been built, the skills that have been learned, the leaders that have been identified and the solidarity that has formed.

Albemarle Education Association member, Chris Bunin, co-authored a wonderful piece in the Daily Progress. Teachers are endlessly optimistic, and this is a great way to think about the future our children will build post-COVID.

Opinion/commentary: Children will find a better tomorrow Since the onset of the COVID pandemic, children have experienced nearly two years of unprecedented change, stress, and loss. The loss has been personal and direct for some: the death

A few days after their cards were certified and they officially created HUGG local 1225, the polar bears unloaded a large wooden box marked "Fragile." Inside was the annual HUGG award for organizing, given that year to their newest union. They proudly displayed the contents of the box, since, after all, it was a major award.

The elves aren't the only ones unionizing. Our amazing union siblings in Charlottesville and Albemarle did a great job breaking down their efforts in this week's Cville Weekly.

A seat at the table Since Virginia lifted its decades-old ban on collective bargaining for public sector employees this year, Charlottesville’s firefighters and bus drivers have urged City Council to pass an ordi...

After talking to everyone again and mapping out their work sites, they learned where their support and opposition was. They were pretty sure they had 85-90% of workers in support of unionizing. But, telling someone privately that they support the union and publicly showing their support are 2 different things, so they decided to run a structure test.

They distributed buttons to everyone and asked them to wear them to work. Everyone was eager to participate! It took tremendous courage for the elf on the shelf unit to put those buttons on, not knowing how their assigned households would react, but they found courage in standing in solidarity with all their union siblings.

The organizing committee met again. The penguins were too busy to join the meeting, but a rep listened in while cleaning up. The reindeer rep begged off the meeting, but promised to meet for a follow up meeting. The elf on the shelf unit sent their quarantined rep via Zoom. And, the polar bear? Well, despite great solidarity, no one really wanted him too close while his food source was so dwindled.

But, together, the 4 elves recorded what they learned and crafted a vision for the union.

When they showed it to the rest of the reps, the polar bear made a suggestion they added into the last sentence of their vision so that the final version read:

When the workshop is unionized, all of us will be treated with dignity and can spread the joy of the holiday in an environmentally sustainable and safe way to all children and families.

It took a few days for Truman to track down the information about the international affiliate. Mitzi the Moose finally shared that the whole idea had been started by Hannukah Harry, and suggested a call to him. It was hard to find Harry, since now that Hannukah was over, Harry had headed to his condo in Boca for the winter.

When Truman got him on the phone, he said that he had heard that Harry had been the original organizer of the holiday unions, and that there was no one better to ask for help.

"Stop, you're embarrassing me!" Harry said. But, after that polite protest, Harry kept talking.

"It's true, I did create the international union. Back in the days, when I was young, all of the holiday workshops ran as collectives. Decisions were made by consensus, and everyone took a turn as the public face of the holiday. Over the years, as corporations took over the means of production, the collectives slowly got eaten away, until we got to a point where things were no longer sustainable. You all are the last to organize into a union. We were the first, and then we got the Easter Bunny's shop, the Tooth Fairies, and the leprechauns. There is even some talk that those Halloween upstart Switch Witches are thinking of coming on board. Santa has always been ready to enter into a contract with you all. He just needs you all to organize the card drive. We've been saving HUGG local 1225 for you for years."

"HUGG? What's that stand for?

"It's the Union of Holiday Gift Givers. I know, it should be UHGG, but we took some artistic license. Once you set your union vision and run the cards, you'll be ready to negotiate your contract."

"Thanks, Harry! You're the best! We couldn't do this without you! I read about you in some of those books. I can't believe I'm talking to such a hero!"

"Stop, you're embarrassing me."

Frances went back to the workshop late one night and discovered one lone penguin desperately trying to clean the workshop.

She introduced herself to Percy and asked him what he loved about his job, and what would help him be able to do the things he loved.

He talked about the stress of supply chain issues, and how it was getting harder and harder to both unload the toys and materials and keep the workshop clean. Where once there had been a team of penguins for each shift, now, they had a handful who were trying to keep both shifts running.

"I have always been so proud of being part of this team. It makes me feel good to know that without me, the toys wouldn't get made. I've always loved working behind the scenes and knowing that I'm part of the crew that keeps the workshop running and the elves safe. Now, there is too much to get done, and I'm always worried that I'll forget to do something, and my oversight will cause an injury. It's a lot of pressure."

Frances told him that if they unionized, they could negotiate for higher wages, and health insurance and workers compensation for injuries. That bringing in those things might get more penguins interested in working at the workshop.

Percy agreed to talk to the other penguins and get them on board for bargaining too.

When Lewis went down to the reindeer barn, he found a disaster in the making.

There were only 2 reindeer in the barn, crowded into one stall. Inside a second stall, there sat a polar bear.

Despite the unusual conditions, Lewis was able to get some important information and perspective from the reindeer.

"Well, its been an interesting year, to be honest. Most of us were feeling pretty ragged after last Christmas, and a few decided to retire. Santa couldn't find any new reindeer for training. Things got worse when he opened up the ranks to the polar bears. Climate change has made them pretty desperate, so they were willing to give it a go. But, they scared off so many of the remaining reindeer, so, its just us. I'm not even sure how we're going to manage this year's delivery."

When Lewis talked about what a union might bring to them, the reindeer were excited. Even the polar bear was on board, since, to be completely honest, he was pretty skeptical about his ability to fly in front of the sleigh.

Bess reached out to the Elf on the Shelf unit, and learned that in person meetings were impossible because of COVID protocols, but she managed to meet with everyone virtually.

Chip was particularly vocal. "I've seen some things. Let me tell you, I have seen some things. Parents yelling, children tantrumming, a dog nearly chewed my toes off. It is rough out there."

Bess asked what would help.

"Well, to be honest, I hate this whole initiative. I never liked the naughty or nice thing, but this takes it to a whole different level. I became an elf because I love children. All children. Even the ones who sometimes make poor decisions. I might have to quit this work. I can't be the police. I hear the leprechauns are hiring."