Building Community Bridges

Walk a Day in My Shoes was such a great success during the presidential primary that the SEIU Public Sector Division should make it a year-round activity involving local elected officials and members of the public.

The public has no idea what our responsibilities are on a daily basis—they only see long lines at a service provider’s office or read about the latest contract negotiation. By working side by side with public service workers, members of the public will be more supportive of the work we do and the people who do the work.

Elected officials, especially members of the Legislature will no longer be able to feign ignorance as to what we do when it comes time to fund our contracts. Leadership may become more engaged when they call for job cuts if they know whose job is being cut—what service won’t be performed.

I believe that management, for the most part, would like nothing more than to have some attention focused on their agencies. Good, efficient employees make management look good.

Our members love their jobs and would love nothing more than to show others what they do for the public. Knowing that attention is being paid to their particular job would add to the pride they have in its performance.

This plan could work anywhere from a small town or county to a large state government. The cost would be minimal (advertising, transportation, lunch) and I believe that, if implemented well, this could become a tradition in many public sector locals.

Everybody wins here. The elected officials get to show their constituents that they care about working people and learn something about the agencies government oversees; the public gets an education in public services; and, perhaps, some empathy for the workers.