FIGHT THE POWER!!

RRrrar!!

In digging about in the this-day-in-history files, I discovered that June 4th is a day for protest. And I ain’t talkin’ repurposing a cardboard box into a picket sign and loitering on the median strip. I mean EXTREME protest.

A mini timeline for your edification:

June 4, 1913—British suffragette Emily Davison throws herself in front of the king’s horse in the Epsom Derby with the presumed intent of raising awareness for the suffragette movement (she was carrying a banner for the WSPU* when she did the deed). She died the next day of her injuries.
June 4, 1989—the violent end to the Tiananmen Square protests in China

June 4, 2004—Marvin Heemeyer lays siege to much of downtown Granby, CO in a “Killdozer” of his own design. This was in response to a zoning dispute that obviously did NOT pan out in his favor. I felt the gesture kinda held some great comic potential until Heemeyer had to go and cap it off with his suicide.


So Paul and I were emailing back and forth about this--how June 4 has historically worked out to be “Protest Day” . And then in the midst of that discussion, I overhear tell of more nitpicky corporate crackdowns. We have this open plan office where what few cubicle walls we have are low. Makes for an airier atmosphere but privacy is utterly nonexistent. So I overhear Sheila (whom I have groused about before in this forum) laying down the law to poor Pat…well, here is how I rehashed the sitch to Paul (who missed the tete a tete)—

Sheila just came up to her with an Avon book (Pat’s name is stamped on the back of it) and schooled her on the agency policy of NO SOLICITATION. And told her she can peddle her wares in the parking lot but not in the office. Then she launched into some ridiculous jibbajabba about how selling Avon is tantamount to soliciting for the union. Or something goofy like that. She brought unionization into it anyhow.

I couldn’t resist—I sent Pat an email that said: “Not to be the devil’s advocate, but something about the smell of Skin-so-Soft does make me want to unionize” Trouble there is that Pat –even realizing I’m generally a cheeky chit—will probably take that 100% seriously.

At least when I got reprimanded about my wrinkly pants, Cathy had the good sense to pull me into her office (not that word didn’t get around in 10 sec flat anyways) I think it’s kind of shabby of S to reprimand Pat right out here in the open (it was a gentle reprimand…and it doesn’t sound like she’s getting a black mark on her permanent record or anything, but nonetheless people are *sensitive* about that sort of thing!!)

Y’know I AM rather annoyed by the VNA’s unreasonable crackdown on petty offenses. Perhaps I will throw myself in front of the North Country Courier station wagon as a means of protest. (They cruise in here pretty slowly…I don’t think it would be fatal)

And later on, Paul said something about conversing with a records manager from some other Vermont VNA and I accused him of stirring up union activity. I added that today would be the day to go all Norma Rae on our asses but please keep in mind that these chairs have casters on them as I do not want his broken neck on my conscience!!