There was a lot of revelry following our final day of picketing. That’s why this final diary is a day late.
Fourteen days of strike action, spread over four weeks. I honestly did not think we were going to have the effect we’ve had. Colleagues who’ve been in this racket a while say they didn’t expect members to go the distance, to in fact increase their support as the days went on. They didn’t expect they’d still be here at the end.
They said they’ve never been more proud to be union members and to be academic staff at Cardiff University.
When I resolved to write diaries on this blog for every day of striking, I scratched some ideas for themes in my notebook. I had ten – maybe nine (some were waffly). If we’re still going, I’ll cook up some more then. I’m glad I saw it through, just like I’m glad I saw the strike through.
It will be odd being back on the clock on Monday, but there’s no shortage of tasks. The task that’s at the forefront for most of us, however, is how to capitalise on the fellowship we’ve fostered. To keep the relations up and, as necessary, to keep the pressure up. Because though our strike is currently over, our dispute is not resolved. So, watch this space, I guess.
And yes, we did Bohemian Rhapsody with nowt to accompany but my meagre ukulele:
An Earth Without Grammar 