I am a graduate student instructor at a public university (guess where?) and in my second week in the program, our union voted for a week-long work stoppage. We are attempting to negotiate demands related to coronavirus relief, demilitarizing campus police, and support for international students. Our university, like most peer institutions, went for in-person classes to keep the money coming in.
I’ve been wanting to join a picket line for years, and I’m feeling a little antsy. But maybe this’ll help push labor politics just a bit further along. Solidarity forever/pigpoopballs. ✊🏽
Get that bread!
Speaking of bread, if you can do anything to help your fellow striking workers, now is a great time to do it. Normally I'd bake something for the picket line, but with the quarantine I don't know if you have a physical one. See what you can do to promote a sense of community while you're off work. This doesn't have to be super on-the-nose stuff like starting a reading group, you could just organize movie night or boardgames. People can be pretty nervous during a strike, so simple stuff to ease everyone's nerves can help them keep their mettle. (Don't let this dip into any direct-action plans your union has like picketing.)