polyglot conspiracy

One thing that has kept me from posting practically all semester has finally been settled: late Tuesday night my union settled our contract negotiations with UM and reached tentative agreement. This came after nearly 5 months of bargaining and union members striking during a one-day walkout - which was really a two-day walkout with the 2nd day halted by the reaching of agreement. We won an incredible contract, and I am so proud to have been part of the collective action that made it happen. The solidarity demonstrated by this whole process has been overwhelming; I have learned so much in the past several months and despite the windburn (it was in the 30s on Tuesday while we picketed, and ridiculously windy - it ain’t spring in Michigan yet!) and the fact that I have a ton of stuff to do before going to Amsterdam next week for Sociolinguistics Symposium, I feel totally invigorated - I’ll get it all done.

If you are interested, you can check out some parts of the GEO website (which I’ve shifted much of my energy toward this semester, to PC’s detriment!): news coverage, pictures, pictures, and more pictures. Here’s the basic gist of the walkout:(rally; note the great support expressed from undergrads on the building!)(strike HQ)(THANK YOU to all the construction workers who respected our picket lines!)(the good-lookin’ Anthro picketers)

And this is what you would’ve heard if you were in the room with us when we found out we were on the verge of an agreeable agreement: