Yesterday I surveyed 12 occupier-volunteers (from kitchen, medicine, pastorial, IT, Library, and info) as I could find at St Pauls, London.
1 There are enough people doing my work. 4 agree
Apart from some people whose work was light, or self selected, many volunteers felt that if they took time for themselves, important work wouldn't be done.
2 Everything in the camp should be equally available to all occupiers 5 agree
The implication is that work should be not bestow any special privileges on the worker - this might be likened to communism which was just at least in that everyone was obliged to work.
3 Everyone on camp should be contributing. 10 agree
Some people are continually intoxicated and many are not seen to be contributing. In a perfect world of abundance this could be a free choice, but perhaps not while there are many basic needs going unmet.
4 Volunteers need rewards/incentives 6 agree
The existing volunteers certainly did not need incentives, and were clear that the rewards were implicit. Many wanted more recognition for their work, resepct, or even just time off. However this approach does nothing for recruiting new volunteers.
Finally... What could be allocated / obtained only for volunteers?
Night in a luxury tent, meat, massage.
Many people, especially kitchen staff, thought that food should only be given to volunteers
What is lacking is not exchange media or resources per se, but the willingness to participate in doing essential work such as sanitation, and even more visible work like food preparation. Recognition, respect and the work itself is reward enough for those who are volunteering. Rather than offering incentives, people would much rather simply exclude those who are not pulling their weight.
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