You’re an expendable drone

Many of us are overworked, underpaid and subject to blatant health risks at our jobs, but for some even the smallest peep of protest could result in being unceremoniously sacked. In this gloomy economic climate, that could leave a worker feeling very helpless and alone. And though the busy Starbucks and Duane Reades branches on every corner may make it seem otherwise, New Yorkers aren’t totally indifferent to the plight of wage slaves—just look at the siege mentality when it came to keeping the notoriously antiunion Wal-Mart out of the five boroughs. Here’s how you can throw off your chains and unite.

5 MINUTES!
Taking flyers from the inflatable-rat guardians helps you stay informed and buoys union efforts, but there are other easy options to fight the power. “Boycotting definitely helps,” says Matt McGowan, a member of the local chapter of Industrial Workers of the World. “Starbucks workers have been calling for boycotts because that place has been engaged in such awful behavior over the years,” he adds, referring to the IWW Starbucks Workers Union’s complaints about wages and employee treatment. While such boycotts aren’t responsible for the 600 stores the firm will shutter this year, all those $4 votes do subtract from the ubiquitous brand’s feel-good factor. The website for the New York branch of the IWW (iww.org/branches/us/ny/nyc) lists boycottworthy shops that have fired or otherwise harassed unionized workers.

Make a fashion statement by scoring jaunty pro-union rally wear such as caps, T-shirts, and classic buttons and lapel pins from service- and garment-industry workers union Unite Here (store.unitehere.org). And then educate yourself for future action with the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (212-227-6440, nycosh.org). The website can teach you about on-the-job health and safety rights (like whose fault it is when a crane falls on you), workers’ compensation (detailed in the 2007 New York State Workers Compensation Reform Law) and pending legislation that could affect you (like Intro 650, a City Council bill that would make it more difficult to indepedently monitor environmental hazards at work sites).

People might look at you funny if you start singing union anthems at your desk, but not if you’re a bona fide member of the New York City Labor Chorus (212-929-3232, nyclc.org), which sings—what else?—songs about workers’ struggles. Founding member Jeff Vogel (a bass and member of Local 1199) says, “We particularly need male voices. And some young blood. You don’t have to be a professional.” The next audition is on September 8 (and you don’t even need to be a union member to participate).

—Drew Toal

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