I walk the (picket) line: haibun

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) strike has now lasted a month. Coincidentally we’re entering the twelve days of Christmas. Long gone are hopes of getting my traditional batch of Solstice cards mailed on time. For several decades these cards have been my way of keeping the barest of contacts with friends left behind on my too many moves. If you are one of the annual recipients, well, Season’s Best!   . . . and now you don’t have to send me a “guilt” card in return ;  )-  

Two weeks ago I began joining the small band of CUPW picketers at the Marmora Post Office. Union members decided it makes sense to focus on a central and high exposure location - highways  #7 and #14 intersect by our post office, while the P.O.s in Tweed and Stirling are hidden off their main drags.           

old man

with walking stick

hobbling the picket line   

walking stick

waves to honking cars 

young picketer

rests in a snow bank

old picketer

blows smoke

into freezing drizzle

stranger’s passenger seat

carries a tray

of Timmy’s coffee 

Yesterday, Friday the 13th, after a month of picketing in the cold:

binding arbitration!

woman collapses

in the snow