At home I break the dishwasher. I have nothing prepared for Christmas. I vow to get more sleep. A cool blustery day on the line is lightened when a supportive former Herald platemaker arrives with a tape he's recorded for our line. For Walking and other appropriate tunes have us toe-tapping through the line.
Union organizers say the third week is a tough one and it has been for many.
But there's also much good news. Thousands of dollars have been donated from across the country to support us. There have been expressions of support nationally and even internationally as news arrives that Conrad Black's Hollinger is threatening to scrap the collective agreement at the Jerusalem Post . Across the Southam chain there is growing support as writers refuse to have their bylines used in stories in the Herald . They know the issues we face in terms of journalistic integrity are also their issues.