June 29, 2003
Imagine this job interview:
Interviewer: So tell me about what qualifications and skills you can bring to this job.
Applicant: None, really.
Interviewer: I see. Why should we hire you?
Applicant: I've been working a long time.
Interviewer: Sounds good to me, welcome aboard!
We've been going through some layoffs at work. Because all non-management jobs in Minnesota state government are union-represented, and because the unions respect seniority above all else — certainly above competence — this means that people with seniority get to "bump" people out of their jobs, regardless of whether the more senior employees are qualified. Pisses me off.
