I was once a solid member of the 50%, meaning I had a comfortable middle class lifestyle with accompanying salary. A mortgage, two cars, good health coverage and a job working for a good company. I admit I took all these things for granted.... In thirty years, I had never had much trouble landing a job in my field, which has always been transportation management.
If you would have told me four years ago, all of this would disappear in a matter of a few months, I would not have believed you. In July of 2009 the job I had banked on to have until retirement laid me off due to the economy. They were more than generous with their severance however, Atter that ran out, I took a $1200.00 a month "pay cut" by signing up for unemployment insurance, which I never imagined would be my sole income for the next two years.
I know I am not unique and my story is probably not different from miillions of others so I'll skip the details. Unemployment ended with my never having secured a job in my field and I don't blame anyone for this. In November last year, I took what I could find and started work for $8.00 an hour which again, represented another $600.00 paycut from unemployment.
I am now the person I used to supervise. I am now the person locked out of the things I had for over thirty years: job stability, a Living Wage, my own home, decent benefits, predictable increase in salary, enough money to repair my car on a regular basis, credit cards, some sense of autonomy and dignity.
I have yet to determine how much of this is my own fault, I'm too busy trying to survive. But instead of focusing on anything approaching self pity, I can say this is my evolution. I am a member of the working poor. I am the person I maybe used to look down on, a little. I hate even to admit that. I am a member of the working poor and I am pissed off. I am pissed off, first that I once was a part of a system created to exploit people like myself. Mid level managers do the grunt work in every company. Holding the company line out to the rank and file came with the job. I say now it was hypocrisy and it was arrogance.
I am pissed of secondly that I work for an employer that profits both from my misfortune and my desperaton. Yes, I am glad to have a job, so don't throw that in my face again. I am glad to have a job rather than be homeless and I a am glad to have a job rather than starve. But I am not glad to have a job where my employer watches me and all my co workers struggle and suffer and do without and then have to listen to that same employer trumpet how much they care about us all
I would much prefer my employer and I deal in truth. I am a commodity and that is all I am. As long as we both know that, it makes the situation more bearable. I am a member of the 99% and I will not work afraid anymore.