Phil Palios, the 23-year-old Microsoft contract worker who organized the protest against the company's cutbacks, has decided this whole labor-leader thing isn't for him. In a post published tonight, Palios explains how he got caught up in the situation, and he acknowledges that he has signed a contract revision accepting the 10 percent pay cut that he spoke so strongly against.

Here's his explanation:

"I made this decision for a few important reasons: I really like my job and I felt that even at 10% less pay, it was worth being able to continue working on the projects I am a part of. I also think that it's unfair to think one can be immune from a shattered economy. This was the first direct impact of the crumbling economy on me, but to think I could go on without being affected by the economy was not realistic. Microsoft had a lot less revenue than they had planned, forcing them to make budget cuts so they could continue their investment in innovation, this affected Volt by a cut in their bill rates which trickled down to me by a cut in my salary. It's unfortunate, but I have confidence that with my continued hard work and time the economy will begin to improve and I will have the opportunity to make more money. As many commenters have pointed out, I am lucky to be in my current situation, even with a pay cut."

See his full post for more. Palios will no doubt be having some interesting conversations whenever he bumps into any of the two dozen workers who joined him on that street corner Monday evening.