19 years ago, at 8pm, I ran down the front stairs of the old News building into a crowd of union members and supporters and into history. As my co-workers and I left, we were replaced by strike breakers who the company had hidden - in the Chamber of Commerce building across the street (now AFSCME 25) and inside the building, along with the rats who decided at the last minute to betray their co-workers. I will always be proud and glad that I was on the right side of that door. It was hard, it was terrible, it was wonderful. I am who I am because of my experience. I saw a lot of awful things, and I saw acts of courage and love. I made friends who I will have forever. I learned about forgiveness and I still hold a damned grudge. This is my first anniversary since I was cut loose. I do not miss the mad ongoing dysfunction that still rules inside that place. Their greed for higher shareholder returns, for greater profit with no operating costs continues to strip away everything valuable about the newspaper business. Soon they will abandon that beautiful old building and become officially a tenant of Gilbertville. I wonder if they will keep the carvings on the front of the building to the happy hipsters who they will market the condos to? Scourge of evil doers • Exposer of secret inequities • Unrelenting foe of privilege and corruption Promotor of civic welfare and civil pride • Bond of civic unity • Protection of civic riches Bearer of intelligence • Dispeller of intolerance prejudice • A light shining into all dark places. Reflection of every human interest • Friend of every righteous cause • Encourager of every generous act Mirror of the public mind • Interpreter of the public intent • Troubler of the public conscience For the people who left the buildings that green thunderstorm evening, those words meant something. To my brothers and sisters of the Great Newspaper Struggle, Happy Anniversary. Solidarity Forever.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 13:48:28 +0000
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