I climb cranes in the shipyard for a living. There's a pretty good view from up there and I see many things as I work in the air. Although there is much activity below, I see the crippled postures of so many of my union brothers and sisters beaten by our last strike against General Dynamics this past summer.

I became a union activist during the Strike of 2000. I worked for $100 a week for two months as a provider of hot meals and hot music on the strike line at the Harding Plant and outliers. I made sure that every picketline saw me driving by in a gorilla suit to remind them of what the company thinks of their talents and expertise. "Any ape can weld," said by one foreman. He's toast now.

We'll be out on strike again in 2004, you can bet your toolbox on that. If anything was gained for me in this last strike, it was a deep sense of compassion for the lives of my fellow workers here. I got to know many people I have worked with for 20 years, finally, on personal level in a consolidated effort. Too bad GD couldn't harness this force with better benefits, pay, and respect.

I see so many things as I work in the air. There is a song for everyone of my union brothers and sisters.

wdyat12