Patti Encinas has a dream that one day she'll finally land a full time job. She dreams of being able to afford a proper pair of prescription eyeglasses or going to the dentist on a regular basis. A few years ago, she "splurged" and went to see a dentist for a routine examination. But she hasn't been back since.

For almost 11 years, Encinas has worked part time in a hospital with no benefits. She loves her job, the people she works with and takes pride in the work she does.

For the first time since the start of the 24 day old strike, I decided to visit the picket lines and talk to workers and other union officials so I could get a more complete picture of what this strike is all about.

The excessive number of City management staff “monitoring” the pickets was mind boggling. I counted at least 11 staff at one location, all of whom were relaxing in garden arm chairs. That didn’t include the private investigator sitting in his car across the street doing video surveillance. Yet there’ve been no issues at this location since the strike began. So why the need for around the clock security?

CUPE Ontario delegates and supporters gathered Thursday at Commerce Court, in the heart of Toronto’s financial district, to send a message to the corporate sector: Labour is not to blame for the financial crisis. We are the solution. Now is the time to invest in people.

Maria Smith, president CUPE local 3272, spoke about Matthew’s Memorial Hospital, where three part time CUPE staff serves a small, rural community in northern Ontario, near Sault Ste. Marie, of about 7,000 permanent residents. Some people are up to two hours away from a Sault area hospital.