Go back to front pageSAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 5 1994 -- I have co-authored a book on the homeless and written dozens of columns on the subject for The Examiner. Now I wonder how far away I am from becoming what I spent years writing about. I'm not kidding.
Unlike management I will gladly share my "books." Otherwise I can't expect people to believe me when I poormouth.
Also I figure if I let readers see exactly what being on strike will mean to me, you might accept that if I'm not crazy, I must be convinced these employment issues are worth inviting financial ruin.
I make a good salary -- for The Examiner. Most of my striking colleagues make considerably less. Several years ago I got what is known as a merit raise, which put me above the union's top salary scale. Every week I gross $1,106.65. That sounds like a lot of money, doesn't it? My net is $643.73. (A single person with no kids, I have only myself to deduct. Unable to save enough money for a down payment on a home in San Francisco, I get no tax breaks there.) Bottom line: I'm your basic middle-class worker.
My strike pay for a month is $600. This will not cover the rent on my apartment, which is $775 (I know, it's a bargain). My PG&E bill runs $35 to $50 a month, depending on the weather. (I turn the heat off between May 1 and December). My phone is always at least $100 a month (I call my folks in Indiana every other day).
Last time I looked, I owed MasterCard about $2,000. I was going to pay it off with my savings until I realized I would be living off those savings during the strike.
My 1986 Honda CRX is paid off, but it's awfully small to live in. And it does require gas. You may notice we have not talked groceries yet. I don't eat a lot, but food still costs me more than nothing. By my tally I got to nothing before my rent was paid. In fact I got to minus $175. I'm not even going to start in about the loss of health benefits. If I think about that, I'll be in what's left of SF General's psychiatric ward.
One more thing. As bleak as my financial future looks, I'm one of the "lucky ones." I have no mortgage to lose, no children for whom I have to provide. And by now I know my way to St. Anthony's and the handful of tolerable shelters for homeless women.
In other words, this strike's a lot bigger than individual comfort and security. That of mine and my 2,600 colleagues who are off the job.
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