It is day two of the strike by members of the PSAC union -- federal public servants across the country are striking. I am not a member of this union, but many of my colleagues are. And I am fully cognizant that the important work they are doing, that will hopefully result in a new collective agreement, will serve as a foundation for new collective agreement provisions for all the other unions that represent different federal public servants.
Today I am working in the office instead of remotely from home. I wondered if I would have to cross a picket line and how I would handle that. Many options were swirling through my mind. I did not have to cross one, but I did pass by workers on strike picketing at another building. They were marching with PSAC flags and signs, one person was singing "solidary forever" through a megaphone... and suddenly there were tears in my eyes as I heard Arta's voice from the past singing that same song.
Arta has been on my mind a lot the last week as I read the coverage about the impending strike action. Thinking about her dedication and work in her own union, despite the challenges and toxicity that she encountered within the union, she was committed to the work they do to ensure good working conditions and benefits for their members.
I almost went rogue and joined the picket line in solidarity -- but my union is not in a legal strike position right now. I was imagining marching with Arta, shouting and making noise. What are some things I could do to support my fellow workers? I thought about getting up at 2am to bake 20 loaves of fresh bread and bring it down to the line with 5 jars of homemade jam (I don't actually have any...). I thought about joining them during my lunch break. I thought about writing this post.
P.S. I haven't attached a visual or photo to the this post. In the past I would have written all this in an e-mail to Arta and she would have said, "just put that up on the blog, I'll add a photo for you later." Anyone who reads this post... feel free to add your own visual.
---------Rebecca addendum----------------
Mary.... you make my eyes sweaty! Yes, let's raise a glass to Arta and the politics of bread. I found two photos: One of Arta giving lessons to a group of lovely young law students who were taking the Summer Intensive in Indigenous Law Research Method and Practice (Arta was also auditing the class... note her "Idle No More" TShirt! :-)) [each of them has a batch of dough rising under plastic wrap]. And then, a finished loaf!
Yes, Arta would be taking bread to the picket line.
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| Hot out of the oven, Arta's recipe... |
