Picket lines in Terrace – Paul Johnston, Rock and Tunnel Workers Union

Paul Johnston [00:00:01] A management type at the college attempted to cross in a van, and he was held back first of all by a couple of construction workers. It’s quite interesting actually to talk about that a little bit, because the government employees who were actually manning the picket lines sort of disappeared. Right. And the people that maintained in front of Baker were in fact members of the Carpenters’ Union.

Peter Poole [00:00:29] Is that because they had more experience on picket lines?

Paul Johnston [00:00:31] And got more guts. Absolutely. And I think there’s a different, they had a different reason for being there too. That’s pretty important.

 [00:00:40] But I mean, actually, the situation almost turned ugly when one of our guys attempted to pull the management type out of the van. Fortunately, that didn’t occur, because otherwise I’m sure that individual wouldn’t be, might not be walking as well. He ended up actually crossing the line. But that gives you an indication of how high the level of emotion was.

Peter Poole [00:01:09] But you’re only talking here about a very few individuals that were trying to cross the picket line, you’re not talking about the masses.

Paul Johnston [00:01:15] The reason we were there is because we had word that there was a number of people that were organizing to cross. Mostly, this the college situation, mostly the right wing within the college structure. You know, you can imagine what that is. So we were requested by…

Peter Poole [00:01:34] Too well.

Paul Johnston [00:01:36] Yeah. We were requested by some of the rank and file leadership to show up and basically put 75, 80 bodies on the line.