To see a Brother in Amma

[Guest guest]

This past Monday I got word that the National Labor Relations Board

in Washington agreed that Kaiser Permanente and OPEIU Local 29

improperly put employees in my job category in the union back in

2003. They order that Kaiser and the union post a statement saying

that they did the wrong thing (it's all spelled out exactly what

they did) and that they will not do it again. We will get back the

benefits that we lost and dues paid—with interest. Also any losses

must be repaid with interest.

 

In the group I started up again, an alternative to the 12 steps,

we're working step three which says, "We make a decision to become

our authentic selves and trust in the healing power of the truth."

Hearing the outcome of the case as we are considering this step

seems so perfect. This case was a really long struggle for me. I

remember how careful I tried to be to do everything in a democratic

way, to respect all the people involved, and their positions, to do

everything with care.. The hearing before the local branch of the

NLRB was in the days immediately preceding the Women's Spirituality

Conference at which I was a key planner. Worst possible timing..

 

The receptionist at the local office of the National Labor

Relations Board is an Amma devotee. Chidanand is Amma's name for

him. It was really great having him there every time I went. It

was as if Amma herself was there, in the scariest place that I had

to go.

 

On the day of the trial, he told me that the clerical staff was

never supposed to support one side of the other of the cases that

came before them. Then he added, with the intention of being

helpful, "We don't know what She has decided about your case—Amma, I

mean. She already made up her mind. It's just that we don't know

the outcome yet." Those were like magic words for me. They put the

entire process in Amma's hands. I was able to calm down and just

put one foot in front of the other on a very scarey day. I'm so

grateful that it turned out the way it did.

 

Jai Ma!

 

In Amma's love,

Aikya