Category Archives: work

Consumerism, Capitalism, Exploitation

Posted on March 26, 2016 by jyourist
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“Shirt” by Robert Pinsky

Posted on March 25, 2015 by jyourist

The back, the yoke, the yardage. Lapped seams, The nearly invisible stitches along the collar Turned in a sweatshop by Koreans or Malaysians  xxx Gossiping over tea and noodles on their break Or talking money or politics while one fitted … Continue reading →

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Philip Levine on America’s Workers

Posted on September 1, 2014 by jyourist

  What Work Is We stand in the rain in a long line waiting at Ford Highland Park. For work. You know what work is—if you’re old enough to read this you know what work is, although you may not … Continue reading →

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Community functioning at its very best

Posted on January 19, 2014 by jyourist

Last night we attended a fund-raiser for the displaced workers at the three businesses that burned down in Evanston, one of which our son IB worked at as a bartender (see “Two paintings were saved”). The Evanston business community came … Continue reading →

Posted in community, work | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Peonies in December

Posted on December 12, 2013 by jyourist

For the past several years, I have served as president of our union. It has not been the easiest of responsibilities. It took enormous amounts of time and energy, and sometimes I found myself beset with issues that presented moral … Continue reading →

Posted in union, work | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Long day

Posted on October 11, 2013 by jyourist

Today was a very long day. The manhattan that JB made for me when I got home was just the medicine I needed. Sometimes the work one does pulls and stretches every emotional fiber and intellectual muscle one has. Today … Continue reading →

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A solid 2

Posted on September 18, 2013 by jyourist

For two days this easled white board has mysteriously been sitting outside the Middle School Office in the main Middle School hallway. I don’t know about you, but today was most emphatically a solid 2.

Posted in school, Teaching, work | Tagged , | 3 Comments

The information age ushering in a silent workplace

Posted on November 27, 2012 by jyourist

On the way home from work today, I was listening to NPR and heard a segment about how office machines today are nearly silent and that a piece written for Expo 1964 by the Swiss composer Rolf Liebermann would be … Continue reading →

Posted in music, work | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

“Who Burns for the Perfection of Paper” by Martin Espada

Posted on November 26, 2012 by jyourist

xxxxxx At sixteen, I worked after high school hours at a printing plant that manufactured legal pads: Yellow paper stacked seven feet high and leaning as I slipped cardboard between the pages, then brushed red glue up and down the … Continue reading →

Posted in poetry, work | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Happy Labor Day

Posted on September 3, 2012 by jyourist
Posted in labor, union, work | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment