#he replied enthusiastically 'but it's not transphobic! there's a trans character!!😆'

[damnesdelamer]

ME (literally wearing a badge that says 'UNION REP'): We'll be better able to renegotiate our contracts and pay if we organise and share our information, in advance of new contracts being written up, when we're forcibly transferred to a different department.

CO-WORKER (whom I've encouraged to join our union more than once): Agreed!

ME: And we'd be better able to do that with allies possessing experience and expertise in negotiating contracts, as well as legal consultation.

CO-WORKER: You're right!

ME (another badge on my bag reads 'THE UNION MAKES US STRONG'): You see where I'm going with this, right...

CO-WORKER (literally blinking obliviously): Huh?

[conversation continues, slightly frustatingly for us both]

CO-WORKER: When we're moved to the new department, they'll just have to give us a payrise.

ME: Only if we push for it. They'll give us as little as they can.

CO-WORKER: Well we got a payrise in January.

ME (eyes glinting red): And who do you think pushed and got it increased from an offer of 0% to 3% to 5%? That's material gain specifically thanks to union action.

CO-WORKER: Well that's still not enough though.

ME (literally wearing a t-shirt featuring a hammer and sickle): Well we're still pushing!