Between jobs... again... no longer working as a mechanic for Capital BikeShare... I was "let go" a few week ago...

 

so... after over two years as a Field Bike Mechanic for Capital Bikeshare

I am again looking for work

it was good when it was good

but it was not always good

such is the nature of the beast 

the Field Bike Mechanic job for Capital BikeShare was a unique gig

I worked as a mobile mechanic

assigned to different "zones" each day in or around the city

which made for some interesting days of exploring the city on bike

there were some hassles...

the weather...

it can rain... it can be cold... it can be hot... it can be windy...

lots of junk miles

slow pedaling on a bike with saddle bags

why was I let go?

I was let go for doing something that everyone on the Field Bike Mechanic crew does...

slow to get to the first job

which is a bit of a riddle... as I tried to explain why this behavior was normal before I got tagged for it

as the morning has to start in such a way that we ease into the day

there was the morning check in at 8AM

the team then were involved in a Call Out for Zones

once the zones were assigned I went through a morning routine

making sure the bike is ready to roll... so basic air in the tires\lube on the chain... 

important things to keep up with... especially with rain and weather

then replenishing supplies... filling bottle of lube, seat post clamp bushing, grips, etc.

replacing supplies that diminished the day prior 

and then also...

checking the weather... then packing and dressing appropriately for the days' weather 

and lastly

finish coffee...  go to the bathroom

and 

apply sunscreen 

oh... and check work email for important announcements 

then after this...

ride from the warehouse to the assigned "zone"

"zones" are usually 30 minutes to an hour from the warehouse 

I was tagged for taking too long to go from the warehouse to my zone to work on my first bike in my zone

tried to explain my actions

but they wanted my fired due to conflict with management 

my actions were justified

the warehouse bathroom was not fit for man or beast

so... I would go home

two blocks from the ware house 

at home I would handle my morning pre-work routine 

shitting, stretching, and applying sunscreen definitely made more sense to happen at home

yes... I was slow to get to my first bike in my zone

but... 

this was a behavior that was common amongst ALL of the Field Bike Mechanics

so...

why did I get fired?

my believe is this...

the Monday of the week that I got fired there was a team meeting

we were having team meetings every Monday

in this meeting a member of Upper Management came to speak to the Field Bike Mechanics

upon arrival she sent us to get some donuts

when we returned with the donuts the meeting started

these were good donuts

gourmet donuts

really good donuts

in this meeting this member of Upper Management spoke about how our schedule would be changing

that we would no longer get a lunch break

that our days would soon be a half hour shorter

to those working four ten hour days... their weeks would be four hours shorter

and those working the 5 with hours a day would lose 4.5 hours

which over the year would add up to lots of hours and lots of money 

it all happened pretty fast

I listened... the team listened...

this was not new information to me

I had READ the message in our work Outlook

I already knew about this schedule change

but... I was not sure if my coworkers understood what was being said

there was talk about the change in schedule

but there was no mention what this change in schedule meant in terms of pay

to me it was obvious

it also seemed clear to me that those in the room may not grasp that we were being distracted by donuts and may not be aware that this change in schedule would be a cut in our already meager yearly salary 

so... I spoke up

I made mention to the manager something about the donuts...

as said... it all happened fast

"these are great donuts, but... I am not sure if I can used these donuts to pay my mortgage"

this opened a can of worms

the Upper Manager responded

tried to say that the donuts were a reward for the work done the month prior

I tried to make the point known to the workers that this change in hours would reduce our wages

saying something about how I felt that this change in hours more than likely would reverse the pay raise we received a month earlier

my playful joke about the donuts turned out to be a back and forth between myself and this member of Upper Management

they were defensive... they were argumentative... 

they stormed out like an ex-girlfriend

later that morning I tried to say something when passing this member of Upper Management in the warehouse

she ignored as she strutted aggressively away

at the end of the week there was a Letter of Termination in my work email

not the terms I wanted to leave this job

I was ready to leave

maybe it was the push I needed to get out 

but really

these were not the conditions I wanted to leave under 

ironically...

I was a good worker

much of my error was that I was fighting for a better system

which made me a problem child

I had locked horns with management before

I was often sending emails making requests and recommendations

on top of that I had filed a number of "grievances" against management through the Union

so...

my being a good worker was outweighed by me being a problem child to management

not bitter

not angry

just unemployed 

applied or Unemployment and was denied