Changes Within

So this summer has been quite interesting not to mention busy.  I have considered running for Auditor of my union in March and am happy to say was elected in April. As an active Union member for over 18 years, a delegate for five and believer in equality and unity all my life I was happy to be elected, but of course with that comes other responsibilities and an even bigger demand to fulfill these newly added responsibilities.

Challenges may come along the way based on past administration errors but the goal is set and I am ready to fill the shoes of my predecessor with my head held high as I bring forth the passion and drive to do both jobs, and do it exceptionally well.  No excuses, no exceptions and definitely no slacking off...  

Black Lives Matter

Did you know these facts?

*Unarmed black people are killed 5x the rate of white.
*1 in 3 black people killed by police were identified as unarmed.
*Young black men killed by US police are at its highest rate in years (1,134).
*Only 10 of the 102 cases of unarmed blacks killed by police in 2015 resulted in an arrest.

Here is a list of the most publicized cases of unarmed black people killed by US police in the last 18 months.

Name, death year, age (State / Cause of death)

1). MICHAEL BROWN JR, 2014, 18 (MISSOURI / GUNSHOT)
2). ERIC GARNER, 2014, 43 (NYC / CHOKE HOLD)
3). DONTRE HAMILTON, 2014, 31 (MILWAUKEE / GUNSHOT)
4. JOHN CRAWFORD III, 2014, 22 (OHIO / GUNSHOT)
5). EZELL FORD, 2014, 25 (CALIFORNIA / GUNSHOT
6). DANTE PARKER, 2014, 36 (CALIFORINIA / TASER)
7). TANISHA ANDERSON, 2014, 37 (OHIO / HEAD SLAMMED ON PAVEMENT BY POLICE)
8). AKIA GURLEY, 2014, 28 (NYC / GUNSHOT – BKLYN STAIRCASE)
9). TAMIR RICE, 2014, 12 (OHIO / GUNSHOT – MISTOOK TOY GUN)
10). RUMAIN BRISBON, 2014, 34 (ARIZONA / GUNSHOT - MISTOOK PILL BOTTLE)
11). JERMAINE REID, 2014, 36 (NEW JERSY / GUNSHOT)
12). TONY ROBINSON, 2015, 19 (WINSONSIN / GUNSHOT)
13). PHILLIP WHITE, 2015, 32 (NEW JERSEY / DEATH UNKNOWN WHILE IN  POLICE CUSTODY)
14). ERIC HARRIS, 2015, 44 (OKLAHOMA / GUNSHOT
15). WALTER SCOTT, 2015, 50 (SOUTH CAROLINA / GUNSHOT)
16). FREEDY GRAY, 2015, 25 (BALTIMORE / DIED IN POLICE CUSTODY FROM A SPINAL CORD INJURY)
17). AMADOU DIALLO, 1999, 22 (NEW YORK / GUNSHOT X 44)
18). SEAN BELL, 2006, (NEW YORK / GUNSHOT X 50 ON WEDDING DAY)
19). TRAYVON MARTIN, 2012, 17 (FLORIDA / GUNSHOT BY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH VOLUNTEER)

Trayvon Martin

Here it is, a complete run down of police brutality, racism and corruption that has only gotten worse throughout the years. This is about living amongst a community you can rely on to keep you safe. These lives mattered and little has been done to prevent it from continuing and it must stop. Our Government needs to face up to this and act to make things right. We should not be afraid to let our children go out and we should not fear that they would be gunned down and murdered with no true justice prevailing.   ~Susan B. Anna

Motivation or a lack thereof...

Sadly many of us are simply working to pay bills and just basically feel stuck in a job we can't stand. Settling to make ends meet and praying for that one vacation getaway that will make it all seem worth it while busting your ass to actually make it at doing something you actually love. Dream on or go for it.  ~Susan B. Anna

Great Kid Quote

If only a kids perceptions can truly be a motivational tool for some.  Hard to be happy at a company if you don't feel appreciated nor even recognized as an asset. ~Susan B. Anna

Are we Union or Corporate?

Working for a union once meant job security, wage increases when warranted, safety, amazing benefits, and union representation if anyone felt they were being treated unfairly by upper management or staff.  As a union worker myself for over twenty years I have witnessed so many changes throughout the years that can make Albert Einstein roll over in his grave. The union is no longer running under individuals with a back bone and our union heads have disappointed us in so many levels these past few years that understandably many have given up.

When I first began as a union employee I was both thrilled and very excited to be  part of an organization with such high regards, integrity and political involvement, but now I see how quickly that can all change.  All it takes to see a union crumble is a shift of Management and a new Fund Manager with a past in law to corrupt the masses, change things internally and force individuals out because they know full well how these changes will soon come to haunt us.

Union workers are doing the job, the organization is growing  and the work load keeps growing as more duties and responsibilities are being assigned with no monetary compensation or overtime.  It is also totally disturbing to want to move up within your organization, but have all these obstacles like job posting timing, HR and management interference; and testing that will be very difficult for many within to pass because they intentionally make it hard to get a passing grade, or already have someone in mind for the position they can probably pay less than a Union member for.  Union jobs are slowly diminishing, and new job classifications are being put in their places simply because those who were in charge of our Union were too afraid to stand their ground.  Changes are expected at every working environment, but when your Union doesn't fight for their members jobs and let management dictate their every move there is certainly a problem. 

Within the past few years we have been through  a lot. There is no longer any respect  within and member moral is at an all time low.  One can pass blame and continue to point fingers but we all have a voice,  the power to take back our Union, and should not be afraid to do so.  As unified members we can make it stronger.  We must all act now, and stop letting the fear of losing our jobs keep us silent.  The more we continue to be manipulated by management, the more they will continue to adjust  our job descriptions, call it necessary due to your title and department restructuring and get away with not paying you for the extra work and or overtime that may go on your time sheet as "unapproved. "

Remember, we are the front runners of this organization. The members, providers and employers talk to us to get the benefits rolling and their medical bills paid.  Most of management cannot perform our duties.  Stop being afraid to stand up for your job, if we once again find the nerve and earn back the trust to be united,  our membership, Brothers and Sisters  can make this Union strong again.  I have total faith that we can.  There are many among us who feel the same but again nothing can be accomplished without UNITY.  We had it once, we can have it again. 

It's going to be challenging, stressful and maybe even frustrating as we transform this Union to what it can be, but that first step is binding together.  Trusting our strength and ensuring we have the right Officers looking after our Union.   The BFSA has had some setbacks, but that cannot deter us from obtaining the respect and UNITY we once had.  Don't let us go completely corporate, get involved, speak up and rely on your new Union Board members. They each have your best interest in mind and truly care about accomplishing great things, but we can't do it alone. 

Copyright © 2016 ~ Susan B. Anna

Good Friday

Day Job Madness

Being employed at the same company/organization for more than fifteen years can become very mundane.  One can easily find themselves loathing said job and not due to the job itself but the people who can make your job a living hell from coworkers to management who simply put could not comprehend your job at all but can easily dictate and or add on to your already hectic duties.

I, for one love what I do and do it with pride but have found myself lately trying to figure out why I even bother.  No one appreciates your work, or even recognizes your worth but then expect you to take everything they toss at you in stride with little complaints and without the proper training. Being grateful to have a job these days comes with a price. Your peace of mind and very little pay but then you must still be grateful.  

You sit idly by as others get hired for positions suited for you, with basically no knowledge of how the company runs and they again pile on the workload while others are even approved for overtime and you scurry through a day trying to resolve all issues tossed your way in a seven hour shift. I am just about done being a mat. I would prefer to be home doing something I truly love a hell of a lot more but we need to pay bills.

I would like to say my goal of being a success with my writing career is close but I can't.  This is a time consuming process and I am just at the beginning stages of it but hope to be where I need to be soon. Nothing would make my life fully complete until it is and I can then say the words I've been wanting to say to my day job heads for the past three years.  At this point, I would keep that phrase to self as there are some spies among us and one can never be too careful but my day will soon come so till then, peace...


Copyright (c) ~Susan B. Anna

Quote of the Day Author Jim Rohn

“You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay? Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.”

– Jim Rohn

Trump Presidential Candidate 2016

When they say a picture says a thousand words, this one is totally on point.  I am not into politics but the possibility of this man becoming our next president surely scares me and it should you too if you took the time to research him and or follow him on social media you know the reason why.

The man is undoubtedly an egotistical moron and God help us all if he becomes our next President. The following link demonstrates my many reasons for not being fooled into thinking he is the next best thing, This country is in shambles as is and having someone like this in office will certainly make things a lot worse.

This of course is my opinion and I do not want this to turn ugly so lets just be the adults we are, share your opinion if you'd like and feel free to not hold back.  All I ask is that you keep it respectful. Thank you,


Trump-for-President-Hmmm-Not


~Susan B. Anna

Quote of the day!

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“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

– Steve Jobs

To Live & Love Again Excerpt

The following is an excerpt published in Hub pages for one of my current WIP's.  I have expressed to many how I have a habit of starting one and then jumping onto another once a new idea pops to mind. As a writer that is great as the stories continue to flourish but staying on track and finally completing one has been my downfall since the start.

This one I particularly started writing in 2009 and I lost about five chapters worth of it when the flash drive I stored it in was mysteriously wiped out.  Thankfully I was able to recover it and start anew but in between I have ventured into book review writing and taking minutes at day jobs union delegate meetings so having the time to fulfill all and finally submit for publishing has eluded me.

I am hoping to break that barrier this year, well actually scratch that, I intend to,  My name certainly deserves to be featured as an author to an actual full fledged novel and grateful for the opportunity.


To Live & Love Again (Excerpt)


Copyright (c) ~Susan B. Anna

RIP Anderson (Andy) Nunez

Rosa Sanchez and Anderson Nunez

Today is a tough day as I recall and reflect on the person who could've been celebrating his 41st birthday as opposed to simply being remembered.  Anderson Nunez was viciously murdered along with his live in girlfriend two days after Christmas 2015 by none other than her 15 year old daughter, Destiny Garcia.  Both lives savagely taken and mourned by two families that will never, ever be the same again.

What can possibly cause a teenage girl to brutally murder her own parent and take another innocent life in the process is baffling, the truth and reasoning behind it only truly known by the teen murderess that easily manipulated everyone in her family. The bodies left to rot as she continued to live amongst  them partying and living her life as if nothing had occurred and the lies she spewed to try and justify it.

The teen, Destiny Garcia lied to her family members about having a fight with her mom and her leaving the apartment to get away from it all and allow things to die down.  After a few days a cousin became suspicious because it wasn't the norm for the mom to go without calling. Rosie Sanchez of course couldn't make that call to check on her daughter  and will never be able to do so again. She and her boyfriend Anderson Nunez were both brutally murdered, shot and stabbed and left in their Brooklyn apartment to decay as Destiny partied on and even celebrated the New Year in Times Square.

Destiny first told the police that Anderson was raping her and her mom did nothing to protect her and then upon being interviewed again she changed up her story and said it was her mom who was abusing her and her step dad did nothing.  Both stories of course false, two lives taken and one life spending  two consecutive sentences behind bars for both murders and possession of a hand gun.  

I want to take this time to wish Anderson (Andy) Nunez a happy birthday, 2/29/16. He was a wonderful caring man who enjoyed life to the fullest and loved his family and friends deeply. The time we shared will forever be treasured. RIP today and always. 

Brooklyn Teen Confesses to Murder

Copyright (c.) ~Susan B. Anna

Quotes

Finding Me

Well, I guess I've been neglectful once more and for that I do apologize.  Day job, personal life and of course my writing has kept me pretty busy. Today was a good day, I was able to have lunch with my ex manager and chat with him a bit about my WIP, all three to be exact and then I remembered how can anyone possibly keep up with what I am up to if I don't take advantage of every available resource that will enable my name to get out a bit more, and my work viewed.  The issue I have is sharing and receiving very little to no feedback to what I may write about.

I have three major titles in progress, one I have shared a piece of here and two others I had basically completed, edited a bit and restructured multiple times. The story concept for each is by far interesting, enticing and very much filled with drama, and all of course have some hot steamy romance involved. I will soon add a few teasers to introduce you to all as soon as I can, but in the interim I will also be posting stuff of interest, daily motivations and positive encouragement for anyone who may be interested.

I also want to launch a contest this Spring or Summer where one lucky person can have a chance to showcase their work and win a cool prize. Details will be posted soon as well so let your friends know, join as a follower and feel free to comment whenever you see fit.  Thanks for dropping in and stay well and blessed!

Susan B. Anna