home | our local | patient advocate | august 2003

Taking Care

By Mary Schlichte, RN UIHC Chapter President

Recently I lost the diamond from my wedding ring. Granted, this ring was old, and an inexpensive one at that, but nonetheless, I felt bad. My husband had picked it out, and since I liked the man, I liked the ring. We are replacing it with a bright, shiny, and more expensive one.

What does this have to do with a union one might ask. This is how I see it. Like my first ring, our union started out small, inexpensive, but cherished. A whole new experience in the way we dealt with workplace problems was in front of us.

I did not take care of my ring. I took it for granted, didn’t have it checked for wear and tear, cleaned it only occasionally, and because of my neglect --- I lost it.

Our union is much the same way. We are taking our contracts, our membership meetings, and our willingness to help out for granted. “Someone else will do it". “It doesn’t need to be me". That thought process does not work for a union or a ring. Because I lost something that I cared a lot about, this time around I plan to do it right. I’ll have it checked, and I’ll clean it and polish it so everyone will notice.

Let’s not let our union fall into similar disrepair!! If you want it clean and shiny, safe and useful, everyone has to help out. This is a serious challenge to all our members. Help take care of our union! Talk to non-members, come to meetings, donate an hour a month to help out. Be proactive!! Take care of things that are important to our careers and work place environment. If not, like my old ring, sometimes things of great value disappear - or cease to be. Help take care of what we all have worked so hard for. Make a commitment to check on how our union is doing. Polish it, so everyone will notice.