"Pulling the chute"
it's the new two weeks notice
Yesterday at J.F.K Airport in New York City, one bad-ass flight attendant with the chutzpa usually found in the lead character from the 1970's blaxploitation film, a.k.a Steven Slater- had enough. According to people who claim they are credible, a passenger hit him in the head with a piece of luggage which was stored in the over-head compartment. Slater asked for an apology and when the passenger refused, Slater walked to the intercom and cursed the passenger out, grabbed two beers, opened the emergency door and chute, jumped out, walked across the airport to his car and drove home. This man, who no one knows much about, has stirred the emotions of people everywhere in America and abroad as well. Some are calling him "A Hero" and I agree. Actually, my silly brain believes he is more. People are pissed. I am one of them. See, this recession doesn't just hurt the people who have lost their jobs; it sucks for the ones left holding the business' together doing twice as much work for the same pay. Just because no one is being paid to do the work, doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to get done. Many, Americans love this man because for one moment they lived vicariously through the person who sent the loudest "F-You!" that's ever been heard in the world of customer service and Corporate America.
All of us have had dreams of quitting our jobs, in the non-literal, guns blazing sense. The best story I heard was of server who worked at Carraba's and was tipped in nothing but coins. Apparently, she followed the slot winning patrons to their car and threw her handful of silver and copper at the car’s hood and yelled "you obviously need this more than I do". Brilliant woman; as is Steven Slater, who smiled and smirked while he was being arrested by cops who I hope loved him too.
I do believe that this man is more than a hero; I believe he is the first person to initiate a long awaited "Employee Revolution". It’s pretty obvious that we as Americans "live to work" while the rest of the world embraces the opposite approach and they are "working to live". But an “Employee Revolution” or strike is hard to do, especially in modern times, what with our inability to live without electricity and T.V dinners. But we all think about it. There were days, when I was a server, that I literally imagined beating a customer with the giant wooden pepper shaker that I carried with me to greet the table with. I even wrote a poem about it called "Southern Hospitality" it was a hit among my fellow college classmates who were also servers and hosts. But seriously what would happen if we all did what Slater did.
Regardless though, here we are in 2010 making it through this recession like a classic Bon Jovi song, thankfully things haven’t gotten much worse, but they aren’t much better; basically we are stable. But stable sucks, because it only means the carrot is hanging a little closer to our face. Close enough to smell and touch it with your tongue but beyond that- no luck. What would happen, if for a week, everyday was Christmas except even the Chinese restaurants and 7-11 were closed. What would happen if the economy froze because each American finally demanded the respect that they deserved regardless of the job they have or their status in society. That would be a huge problem! The markets would crash, the economy would completely destabilize and the employee's would be in jeopardy of their jobs. Striking is like Senior Skip Day, when two people actually skip and get suspended, while everyone else (the chickens) show up, thankfully.
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| James Michael Tyler as "Gunter" on Friends |
I actually like my current job, mostly because there is little interaction with other humans. But I have had jobs were the voice in my head, which surprisingly sounds like the brilliant and perpetually angry Eminem, would tell me to "throw that stapler through your bosses glass door, pack your things and go". But I never did it, because I needed the money. I eventually did quit but I took a lot of abuse for nothing. I am one of many living through Mr.Slater and I hope he makes millions of dollars off the memoir he will inevitably write and the endorsement deal, with a very special beer company, he will inevitably make. I hope he has wonderful retirement, somewhere off the coast of Mexico, he deserves it! If I am wrong, which I probably am, and the "Employee Revolution" never comes, than at least a hilarious story will be told, a script will be developed and James Michael Tyler will finally have a leading role in a made for TV film. But for now we will have to see the impact Steven Slater’s public figure Facebook page will have. The group already has over 60,000 friends and it’s only the day after the incident took place; after all we saw what happened with Betty White and Constance McMillen.
Thanks for reading- hope this one doesn’t get me in trouble. Next I'll write on how much the world needs- a Spice Girl come back tour... again.
UPDATE: As of 8 a.m. on 8/11/10 the Facebook page has over 99,000 supporters and Steven posted bail and has been released.
UPDATE: As of 8 a.m. on 8/11/10 the Facebook page has over 99,000 supporters and Steven posted bail and has been released.
Nita
