GarfieldOfficial

My office realized that while other offices have a CBA, we do not (despite eligibility). From what I could find, union contracts are with IFPTE (International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers).

Just wondering if anyone has had experience with IFPTE or similar?

I read through some of the other CBA’s, and while most of the articles are addressed in actions management already takes, I like the articles around legal representation and protections about how work is contracted externally.

It seems like a good idea, I have at least a few colleagues bought in within my discipline, and am going to start floating it to others. Then hopefully get the ball rolling!

I’m quite uninformed on this topic. I’ve (technically) been in unions before as a subcontractor working for a unionized prime contractor, but never actually had this opportunity before. One of my friends helped lead their coffee shop unionization effort, so I have some personal resources too at least.

Thanks!

Anyone into philosophy/ethics/theology?

I’ve only studied technical fields, but I love trying (and typically failing) to engage with philosophical material. One of my old roommates studied philosophy, and we’d stay up late discussing it so I’d get tangential exposure and a good dialogue on ideas (I credit them with helping me “discover” actual theory). Anyway, they’ve been dead for a while now and while every day I wish it weren’t the case, so is my only connection to engaging with philosophical topics.

Anyway - I wanted to pick up more background info of ethical philosophy, and have been wading into Kant (like literally getting started with reviewing overview pages like this: https://iep.utm.edu/kantview ) and the page author’s summary stood out to me:

Kant’s ethics are organized around the notion of a “categorical imperative,” which is a universal ethical principle stating that one should always respect the humanity in others, and that one should only act in accordance with rules that could hold for everyone. Kant argued that the moral law is a truth of reason, and hence that all rational creatures are bound by the same moral law. Thus in answer to the question, “What should I do?” Kant replies that we should act rationally, in accordance with a universal moral law.

Kant also argued that his ethical theory requires belief in free will, God, and the immortality of the soul. Although we cannot have knowledge of these things, reflection on the moral law leads to a justified belief in them, which amounts to a kind rational faith. Thus in answer to the question, “What may I hope?” Kant replies that we may hope that our souls are immortal and that there really is a God who designed the world in accordance with principles of justice.

Maybe I’ll have my own understanding when I engage with Kant’s actual writing, but I find the mentioned notion of a “categorical imperative” interesting. I guess when I’ve heard disagreements framed as “philosophical differences”, I never took it literally (ironically), but it seems like differences in worldview stem from a disregard of the

universal ethical principle stating that one should always respect the humanity in others, and that one should only act in accordance with rules that could hold for everyone.

and it makes sense then that common ground cannot be found when opposing viewpoints are rooted in incompatible principles. (Assuming that all parties have principles of sorts).

Idk where I’m going with any of this post, but I don’t have anyone to engage in my philosophical dumbassery with, so you’re all the lucky recipients.

Also can one hop around between authors? Or is there a benefit to interacting with older material? I was interested in reading some Kierkegaard, but thought I should go through Kant and Hegel first… but should one go further back to idk… Plato?

Alright I’m gonna check out from news now and focus on something less obscene

Why can’t we just get along like the heckin West Wingerino :/

How do you deal with mornings? I’ve long struggled with morning emotional dysregulation. Most days I try and get out of the house as quickly as possible (if I have to) so I don’t get caught in a spiral of disdain. As long as I can remember I’ve had an extremely low tolerance for social interaction, and even more in the morning.

I thought getting a stimulant would help (I’ve been prescribed for less than a year, so still very green on the topic) but idk if it actually does. I’ve stopped taking them for the past few weeks since I haven’t hoisted up my bootstraps enough to jump through the hoops to have the doctor resend the prescription (THAT THEY HAVE TO DO EVERY FUCKING TIME). Plus what’s the point idk if the efficacy is even there.

I thought I could trick my brain by bribing it with dopamine for getting out of bed with substances.

Idk per previous therapists I’ve tried all of the cbt, mindfulness, etc. and I feel like I have a good handle on those. The issue is that when I’m “in touch with my emotions, body, etc.” it’s resolutely pissed at the state of things. I’m obviously very happy and grateful for the life I have in the imperial core (/s) on top of the mountain of corpses of comrades and those I’d be with if I were a less “useful” ND or had a darker complexion.

Maybe this is just another vent post. But I’d love to hear if any of you have good ways of making it through the day.

Vent - After spending yesterday in a depressive episode from burnout I’ve decided that I’m too old to be anything but aggressively ND. Literally every day is systemic violence against ND folks to force us into their boxes- so fuck it. Maybe this is the year I’ll file an EEO complaint for forcing me to be in the office. I’m sick of it all. Or maybe it’s just working in the climate/water field and internalizing how fucked we are- or how little anyone cares. Idk. I usually rely heavily on dissociation as a coping strategy for making it through days of inane bullshit while the world burns, but am giving sobriety a try (5 days and I hate it!). Any way- I hope your years are off to a good start, and hope you all find peace and happiness :)

I absolutely bodied my nephew in “hi-ho cherry-o” the other day (his first loss I think) and he lost it. Anyway I’m getting a bunch of cooperative board games for various niblings and it’s awesome how many options there are; the old board games (eg hi-ho cherry-o) are just random, no wonder they’re frustrating for a kid. Plus how much better is it to learn that you can cooperate with others! Going to check out my local shop for recommendations but was thinking of getting them started with something like 5-minute dungeon, forbidden island, or castle panic. V excited

👼

Main. I think the rule is this post needs to say main? Or be accompanied by a materialist analysis of yesterday’s events? I usually stick to badposting so idk. Has anyone read the book “Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues”? It seems a bit lib in parts, but is an interesting lens to look at history through. Essentially, that Earths development (historic and prehistoric) is largely driven by microcosms rather than people.

I’m in the chapter right now talking about the Roman empires rapid transition from Paganism to Christianity after a plague which their gods “failed to protect them from”. At which point they disposed of their gods, metaphorically and physically (temples, statues, etc). This seems similar to a potential trajectory for a certain country/world once enough people decide that the gods (billionaires, ceos, etc) of the religion (capitalism) will not save them from the blights to come (literal blights, climate change and its effects, etc. ), and decide to abandon them metaphorically and physically (pew pew), and move on to the next god (not sure on this- perhaps an exceedingly charismatic council of furries?).

Anyway I feel like there’s a strange current with the attempted trump assassinations, pelosi hammering, yesterdays whoopsy daisy where a legally concealed firearm accidentally discharged at which point the projectiles reportedly entered a ceo who didn’t have supplemental projectile coverage (his fault really) and then he rode off on a bike (carbon neutral, and partly subsidized by Citibank (accomplice much?)).

Idk I just overheard two strangers (to each other and me) talking about absurd healthcare costs for family members and their insurances failure to cover them.

To work unfortunately 🤮 but at least I’m cozy in my parka and a little stoned

That’s it, that’s the entire bit