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The Strike starts today. It was supposed to start yesterday, but the workers agreed to one more day of negotiation before actually striking. Today, a few hundred workers will, instead of serving food or cleaning bathrooms, stand outside various buildings with signs and such. I can hear them shouting from my window, but I haven't been out yet to see where they are.
As much as I support their desire to get more money, a selfish thought comes into my mind. I want to be able to eat! If I say I am in support of the strike, doesn't that imply that I can't go into the dining halls or Shriver Center to get food? Our garbage can needs emptied...do I leave it out as I would have normally knowing full well that no one is going to come get it or do I take it out myself, thus hindering the strike? For today, I will leave the garbage can as it is and I will eat a Pop-Tart in my room instead of going to breakfast. For the time being, this is not much of an inconvenience for the student body, but if they can't come to a conclusion... I'll support the strike for as long as I can, but I don't have the proper food in the room to only eat here and I don't have the money to eat Uptown or buy the foods I need with the proper nutritional value. I hope that the University can give the workers the pay raise they not only need, but deserve as well. I hope that enough students support the strike for the time being so that it makes a point with the University. I hope that a compromise can be reached soon because being here makes me nervous. There is a sense of unease on the campus. Everyday I leave my room and I am bombarded with flyers telling me to support the strike and bullhorns with messages for the administration. They have even called in extra police officers for today, saying that the demonstration held by the workers was expected to be much larger than any the university had experienced before. What do we want? I can't even tell you how many times I have heard that chant this week. Yesterday, I was given a green ribbon so I can show my support for the strike. I don't know if I can wear it. I don't know if it is safe. |