Eric Abalajon

It Starts By Showing How They Crossed The Border

                  

from Switzerland, early morning, racing
against the dawn and patrol dogs. Later,
street smart and sitting in a café,
the character of Jenny, after blurting out
Italian sentences, cites the number of Filipinos
in Milan. I was laughing at how migration movies
are sociologically clunky well into the new century,
stories appearing perpetually new and always hard
to explain. I can’t recall the exact statistic, but then
I’m aware of the trends here in Canada too. Most are women,
underemployed, alone, Tagalog is the fastest growing
language about to overtake French. Figures are
precisely haunting because what they represent
are unseen in expanse of the landscape, otherwise cinematic.

Union Busting     

we got on the van, exhaling deeply

you really can’t win with this job

for general labor places, you need a union

ah, with a union, that place will turn upside down

nine or twelve hour shifts would be unimaginable

longer breaks too

not just brief shift hours, the line will have a much slower pace as well 

and you really alternate work stations, not a same exhausting spot for the day

those cocky lead hands, that won’t do, no shouting and cursing either

a lot of bullshit will evaporate with unions around

the problem is, if the union is similar back home, practically syndicates

they still side with management anyway

no difference

well, this is just temporary, we’re already here

that’s true

see you tomorrow
                       
                         we got off the van, exhaling deeply