"So You Can Work Faster."

These were the words that came out of my employer's mouth recently when talking about how I use the mouse instead of certain command keys. I said I prefer the mouse, I find it easier and quicker, plus I don't have to remember all of those keys for each of the macro's I use.

"But if you use the command keys, you can work faster."

Work faster?

I didn't know whether to laugh or hit. Instead I took a deep breath and let the comment go. Had I been more courageous, had I taken the time to think about this remark, I would have said something like the following: "I've been here two years and have seen only a thirty three cent raise. I've always done everything that has been asked of me. I've gone above and beyond at times for this department, when others haven't been reliable or able to work. And need I remind you when most of the other employees were let go and I, being the newest of them all, was one of a small handful to be asked to stay because of the kind of work I performed? Let me make this clear: I am willing to work 'faster' as you say only if you raise my pay."

I'm so grossly underpaid. When people find out my job title and where I work, the first response is usually "wow" or "cool". Yeah, don't get so excited. Priorities are so out of whack at that place, it's simply a reflection of the business world at large. You know something's amiss when some big wig coach is given a multi-million dollar salary and someone like myself is paid slightly above minimum wage. Oh sure, Mr. Big Wig helps bring in a lot of money to the place, but so do I in my own way. Because of the work I do, students who have reading disabilities are able to attend class and succeed.

It's actually not my department with whom I have the issue. It's the U as a whole. They are the people who set the pay scale. My department just enforces it. They're kind of like the messenger...

Still, to be told there are ways in which I can work faster, when I already do just that, so much so that my arm, shoulder, neck and hands cramp up at the end of each day, is so insulting. Please!

It's time for the workers of this country who are not paid a living wage or benefits to say ENOUGH! I am going to give you the SAME LEVEL of work as compared to my level of pay. Pay me a good wage, I'll give you a good performance. Pay me an excellent wage, it is excellent work you shall receive. But pay me a low wage, then, well, you figure it out. My spouses boss loves to say "work harder THEN maybe we'll see about a raise." Fucking dictator. Employment is a two-way street. BOTH EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE MUCH EQUALLY BENEFIT! And that is simply not happening in today's world. It's a crisis. It's a disease. But it has a cure. Adapting a consciousness of fairness, respect, compassion, understanding, generosity. Without these values, we'll continue to see human apathy grow, enslavement spread and eventually, the collapse of our system. I guarantee it.