The Union

1.

               Upon walking in the conference room Ellen was swallowed by darkness. There were no windows in any of the university’s basement offices. Ellen blindly felt for a light switch rubbing her hand along the wall next to the door where she thought it would be. Fear suddenly gripped her and seized her hand ironically coming to rest on the wall just two inches above the light switch. Someone was in the room. She squinted into the black towards a sound that she knew was a person’s breathing. As her eyes adjusted she could start to see a silhouette of a figure sitting at what Ellen assumed was a conference table. 

               Who just sits in a dark room, Ellen thought, why didn’t she make her presence known? "Hello," Ellen asked in bewilderment. Then the sound of a wooden pencil rolling across a table seemed so loud that Ellen couldn’t help but let out a surprised "OH," Just then relief flooded her mind as her hand came upon something familiar, the light switch. Ellen pushed the plastic lever up flooding light into the room. Squinting, Ellen saw a middle aged woman sitting on the opposite side of the conference table facing her with a note pad and a yellow number two pencil she was rolling back and forth. She wore the same coat that Ellen was wearing and immediately Ellen knew this woman worked in the same department as she did.

"Hi, Im Ellen, Im the new prep cook starting today."

With a sigh the woman looked at Ellen, gave half of a smirk, and said "Krista." Her eyes immediately returned focus to her tablet and pencil not noticing Ellen taking a step towards her with an extended hand. Ellen retreated her hand to her side and sat down on the opposite side of the table. Now Krista put her elbow on the table and created a plateau with her hand on which to rest her head.  

"It’s very nice meeting you Krista. I look forward to working with you. How long have you been working he-?"

Krista interrupted, “When will the university fix this place, look the ceiling tiles are falling down.  Ive been here sixteen years and still have yet to see any improvements to the kitchen." Ellen feared Krista was her coworker possibly supervisor. Why else would she be at her orientation meeting? Its fine she thought. She must be having a bad day, I bet she will be a great coworker.

Ellen couldn't resist asking, "Why were you just sitting here in the dark, couldn't you find the light switch?"

Krista, her head never leaving her hand replied, "That’s not my job."

2.

“Ellen you’re going to be late for work and on your first day!”

“No I’m not mom,” Ellen raced to find her shoes. Black, “check,” Slip-resistant, “check.” Ellen mentally inventoried the requirements of her uniform as she dressed. Her black and white checkered pants just covered the double knotted bows she tied when she stood up. Hair in a bun, “check.” Black T-Shirt tucked in, “Check.”  And to complete the uniform, the company supplied black chef coat and hat. Wrapping the coat around her with her hat tilted to the side of her head Ellen looked into the mirror, shifted her hips to her left side and said out loud this time, “CHECK!”

“What?” “Nothing Mom”

Humming the chorus of Hands by her favorite song writer Jewel, Ellen applied her pointe technique from her ballet classes as she crossed the short walkway from her room to the stairs. Descending the stairs Ellen broke into a free style, side step as if performing a jazz style dance to the audience of her seven year old family dog Lucy. "Morning Lucy." Lucy looked up, scratched an itch under her collar, shook her head, which flopped her ears off the top of her head, then settled her head back down to the floor. Ellen scrunched her face and gave her a nose to head nuzzle. "Love you pup."

"Here hon, sit down, you have to eat quickly, Ellen's mom said as she served her a plate of lightly buttered cinnamon raisin toast. The aroma of the toast was noticeable from the bottom of the stairs which made Ellen smile even wider as she entered the kitchen. Ellen pecked a kiss to her mom’s cheek. "Morning Mom." Then did the same to her dad who was sitting at the table so absorbed in his Saturday morning ritual catching up on world news via his laptop that he said “morning,” without even a shift in his gaze. With a brief look away from his computer he smiled and said "ready for your first day of work?" "You bet, "Ellen bobbed her head side to side to the chorus of Hands, which was starting to wear out its welcome in her mind, as she sat down to eat her toast.

In the Dining Hall’s parking lot Ellen over cautiously used her turn signal before pulling into a parking space, ending up about 2 inches from the passenger side line. "Not bad hon, a little off center, maybe we can work on it this weekend in the Sam’s Supercenter parking lot after your shift tonight." The parking lot only fills to fifty percent capacity in the evening. Being a twenty four hour operation the parking lot is well lit and offers about two football fields of open space to work on driving skills. 

"Yeah that would be great." "Only two more weeks and you won’t have to be my chauffeur anymore." 

“So confident,” her mom said smiling.

“I got this.” “And you did get me that mint green mustang at Berks right?" Berks Brothers Auto specialized in classic car restoration. They just restored a 63 mustang with leather bucket seats, chrome wheels, and cherry wood steering wheel to name a few of the custom restorations. Their primary clientele typically included collectors and conglomerate auto traders. Now in behind the wheel of their three year old silver Toyota Corolla Ellen's mom laughed a quick “haha,” while rolling her eyes and fastening her seatbelt.  

"Good luck on your first day hon, Ill be here at nine." 

Ok, thanks Mom, enjoy your Saturday with dad."

As Ellens mom drove off, Ellen looked at the door that was now in front of her. "ok, lets do this," Ellen said to herself, then walked into the back entrance of the dining hall.

3.

After the conference and had ended, Krista and Ellen headed to the main kitchen of the dining hall. Walking up the stairs Krista asked, "You ready for hell?" Inside Ellen laughed at her comment, yet at the same time felt sorry for Krista's bitter attitude. She told herself to focus on doing her job well, and good things will come. "You bet!”  “I am all yours, let me know what needs to be done and I’ll get it done."

On the third hour of her shift Krista brought Ellen a fifty pound sack of Idaho potatoes. They bounced her cutting board which recoiled her hands from the onion that she was slicing on it. Krista pulled out a vegetable peeler from her apron pocket. "Here, peel all of these when you are done with the onions."

"You got it boss"

Krista bounced around from station to station appearing to be working but not actually accomplishing anything. Ellen started on her potatoes and noticed Susan who was also peeling potatoes at the prep station next to hers. Susan had to be pushing sixty Ellen thought. Her left hand was curled around a vegetable peeler with a hand that look as if it has been putting up a fight against arthritis for years. 

"Hello, Im Ellen." 

"Hi Dear, Welcome to The Commons,” the lackluster name given to the dining hall.

“Thanks!” “How long have you been working here?”

“I just work part time to supplement my social security. Maybe someday I’ll fully retire” Susan gave a warm smile and she peeled her potatoes.

“Wow, well looking at you I never would have guessed you were at an age to even consider retirement.”

“Oh dear, that’s sweet of you. I guess this will be my seventh year. I came on board just before summer like you.” “It’s a good time to start. Classes are minimal during the summer, basically all we do is feed the sports camps and orientations. What is your story?

 “Well im just about to get my driver’s license so I wanted to get a job for the summer.”

“Good for you dear.”

“yeah, and I love cooking. Im planning to go to culinary school as soon as I graduate.” I seized this opportunity as soon as I had heard about it. Im so excited to be gaining experience in a professional kitchen already. I know one day soon I will have my own kitchen with passionate chefs like me to create some amazing fine dining.” I’ve already read The Joy of Cooking, twice, two different baking books, one charcuterie book, three sauce books, one pastry book, one garde manger book, and a book on molecular gastro-“

“Ellen, how much time on those potatoes?” Krista interrupted.

While Krista gleamed towards Ellen and Susan, Ellen gave a kind smile and a wink to Susan before concentrating on putting a rush order on her potato peeling duty.

“Almost done Krista!” Ellen said.

Ellen glowed with the feeling of independence to be working her first job and soon to be driving on her own.  Halfway done with the potatoes she started to hum along to Jewel's song Hands again.

4.

“Hi Susan,” Ellen nodded to her as she removed her coat and stomped salt and snow off of her shoes on the back entrance rug. Ellen put her car keys in her purse and asked “You excited?”

“Excited for what?” Susan replied

“For the meeting. Tom said he was going to go over raises and promotions during the Christmas party tonight, right?”

“Oh, that means nothing. The union contract stipulates we all get 3%.” And there weren’t any open bids for promotion that I was aware of.”

“Oh.”

“You just hit your six Months right?”

“Six months plus today,” Ellen said energetically with a smile

“Krista will probably speak with you. She’s the union rep. You become a member after your six month trial period is complete.”

Upon entering the meeting Tom was wearing his typical long sleeve button down dress shirt and black dress pants. 

“Hello everyone,” Tom said. Thank you for coming tonight, I know everyone was excited to return to their place of work while we are on leave for the holidays.” Ellen let out a little laugh then quickly pulled it back in when she noticed all of the seasoned employees rolled their eyes while giving empty smiles.

“I’ll keep this short, I just wanted to say thank you for all of your hard work. Effective January 1 you all will be given your appointed raises. Also, there is an opening available for bid.”

Then Tom gestured towards a member of his audience, “Please join me in a round of applause in saying thank you to Nathan, one of the best grill cooks we have ever had. He recently took a position in fine dining. Looking at Nathan, “Thank you Nathan, we wish you the best!  If anyone is interested in taking over the grill please see me before the close date of the bid.

“Congrats Nathan,” everyone said in unison.

This was the next step up from prep cook for Ellen, how exciting she thought. Krista was coming towards her with a small plate overflowing with the party’s complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

“Krista!” Ellen shrieked. Krista stopped and looked at Ellen blankly while chewing an olive. “I am interested in the grill cook position, how do I put in a bid for it?  I would like to secure it as soon as possible.”

“We have to meet to discuss your union dues and review the contract anyway, we can discuss it then. Remind me when we return after the New Year. Also just so you are aware Ryan is going to bid on the position as well.”

Ellen’s heart sank when she heard about the competition.  Ryan was Krista’s male counterpart when it comes to work ethic and decency, Ellen thought.  He shirks his tasks to the point of accruing overtime to get them done, which pays out time and a half, a big red flag in Tom’s book. Ellen not only finishes her tasks on time but takes initiative to start new tasks or help others finish theirs. She even tried to help Ryan with his but Ryan complained that according to the union she was infringing on his allotted work. She even remembered a couple times when Tom actually yelled at Ryan to get out of his office. Not hearing the conversation, Ellen just knew it wasn’t good for Ryan.  I got this, Ellen thought. No way would Tom choose Ryan over me. She smiled at the thought of this and went to enjoy the party.

5.

 “Ok,” Krista said to Ellen while slapping a copy of the union contract on the conference table. “Now that you have worked for six months and put in at least thirty two hours a week, the union recognizes you as a full time employee to be included by contract with the University. You should be thankful, they are here to take care of you and me to ensure the higher ups don’t screw us from what we deserve.” She looked at the ceiling as if she had x ray vision and could see Tom in his office, which was just above the conference room, then she turned her gaze towards Ellen then back to the ceiling signaling to Ellen that she included Tom as part of the “higher-ups.”

“No matter when you start, come the first of every year you get 3% raise! So after only a half year of work you got a 3% bump in pay, not to bad right?”

“Nice,” Ellen said with a sense of guilt. She thought about her father and how he had taken the family out for a celebration when he received a 5% raise plus a bonus one year. Her father explained “the bonus was a reward for hard work and dedication after years of service. Typically the company gives us 2% yearly to cover inflation (omitting that for the past two years raises were only 1% due to a bad economic downfall nationally) but to get more than an inflation raise you have to earn it, Ellen.” And earn it he did. Ellen knew her father was an honorable, hardworking man. 

“Next up vacation and paid-time-off. You accrue 1 day of vacation and .5 days of pto time a month.” This explained to Ellen why Ryan was always calling off the Friday before one of his weekends off every two months like clockwork.

“You can read about your benefits on page seven. Just be sure to sign up with HR by the end of the month. Any Questions?”

“I don’t think so,” Ellen replied.

“Good. Dues come out of your next paycheck.”

“Wait, Dues? How much?” 

“$10 per paycheck”

“Can I opt not to be part of the union?”

“Nope, to work full time after you pass your grace period you are required.”

Ellen sulked a little, she only planned to be here for a couple more years until she graduated. 

“Ok,” she replied.

6.

 “Have a good day hon,” Ellen’s mom told her cheerfully as Ellen was heading out the door to go to work. 

“Sure Mom, thanks,” Ellen replied glibly.

Signs of spring were in full bloom.  On her way to work her thoughts continued to replay the day Ryan was offered the Grill position over her. Over time she couldn’t help but notice the diminishing quality that came from the Grill. The suggestion box was full of student complaints.

“Do all burgers have to be charred to hockey puck,” one complaint read. Another said simply “YOUR GRILLED FOOD SUCKS!” 

Today she would say something. She nervously went to Tom’s office. “Tom, with respect, I just would like to know why Ryan not only received the grill position over me, but continues to keep it after all of the complaints and lack of progress?”

“Ellen, I like you. You have been a great employee here and I can see you have a bright future ahead of you. But you are naïve on how the real world works. Do you know what would happen if there was ever an investigation for employee claiming unfair treatment or breach of a union contract? Penalties are steep, more than just losing your job. The reps say they give fair and unbiased reports from their investigations, but I have seen firsthand favor tips to one side. Is it fair the union forced me to allow Ryan to keep his position after I tried to fire him last year for a third no-call-no-show?  Also if it wasn’t for the union I could reward those who do well. Take you for example, you, hands down, deserve the grill position. But the union stipulates that the most senior gets the position, not the most qualified. Quality is not part of a union’s vocabulary. E -quality is. This I can understand for inalienable rights, but not for job performance. See where Im going?”

“Yes, I see, well thanks for taking the time, I’ll get back to work.”

Walking back to her prep station with slight tears in her eyes Ellen could hear Krista giving what must be a newly hired cook a tour of the kitchen. Ellen started peeling her sack of potatoes when the new hire came up to introduce herself.

“Hi Im Sarah.” 

Slightly annoyed with her bubbly attitude, Ellen didn’t even look up from her potatoes when she replied “Ellen.”

“I look forward to working with you Ellen! And Krista said you could finish showing me around the kitchen and maybe even the dining hall seating area?”

Ellen stopped peeling her potatoes, rolled her head over to Sarah and said, “That’s not my job.”