I work at BlueOval SK as a Production Operator. Like many others, I saw this job as a huge opportunity. I came in with an open mind, fully aware that it was a new company, and that there would be growing pains. I had heard about the potential for unionization but wanted to experience the workplace for myself before making any judgments— just like the Army taught me: keep your head on a swivel and stay aware of your surroundings.
Even so, my support for forming a union came quickly. There was little to no actual training. We weren’t being prepared for the work we would eventually do. There are also constant policy changes that make it hard to plan our personal lives. We were initially told we could use Emergency PTO without question. Now, supervisors decide if our emergencies are “valid,” and if they don’t approve, we’re penalized. This isn’t just frustrating, it feels unethical. At our most vulnerable moments, when life happens unexpectedly, the company has the power to punish us rather than support us.
One day, the fire alarm went off, but I didn’t hear it. The noise from a nearby air hose leak drowned it out. I only found out we were evacuating because a coworker happened to walk past and told me. If that had been a real emergency, I could have been trapped. That’s not just poor communication — it’s dangerous…