A Memoir of Resilience, Friendship & Finding Joy on the Picket Line
by Lucy Toppetta

What this book is about

A day-by-day diary written from the picket line by a single mother navigating precarious work, documenting the lived experience of a labour dispute through the lens of community, resilience, and unexpected solidarity.

This is not a political analysis or institutional critique; it is a firsthand account of what happens when livelihoods are threatened and people come together to support each other.

Presented in a diary format, the text captures the lived experience of a campus-wide labour disruption through the lens of a participant. Told with equal parts humour and respect, the narrative highlights themes of solidarity, interpersonal dynamics, institutional tension, and the ways communities negotiate uncertainty and change. Readers should expect levity sprinkled throughout – a candid, often witty account — rather than a heavy, dark treatment.

Excerpts

“What follows is a human story. What originally began as daily rants, concerns and inspirations on a private social media page, I now lay out, Dear Reader for a wider audience to witness.  I’ve changed the names of the people I came to know – many of whom have since become dear friends but have preserved the official names of the locations involved, with permission.“

“This book will not examine the politics of a labour dispute nor attempt to denigrate the reputation of a world-renown institution. This is not a post-mortem. It’s a pulse check.“

“… Union reps rallied us with encouragement, grit, and more than a few fighting words. It was a call to action. The ballots were cast. The result: a quiet, but resolute YES.“

“As I sat in my seat at the convention centre my heart was heavy, and I was mentally running through my grocery list. I wondered how far I could stretch my savings as I did single-mom math. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one thinking that.“

WHY IT MATTERS

• Human Story: Written in real time by someone living it, not reconstructed years later. The original voice of uncertainty, humour, frustration, and hope remains intact.
• Community Impact: Highlights the support and solidarity of students, professors, staff, local residents, and unions.
• Historical Record: Provides a contemporary glimpse into a pivotal labour action in Montreal, preserving its spirit for current and future readers.
• Accessible & Relatable: Offers a perspective that anyone interested in work, community, or human resilience can appreciate.

Through its mix of daily entries and later reflections, Strike Diaries shows how one person experienced, recorded, and made sense of a pivotal moment in her community.

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WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR

• Labour groups and unions
• Student organizations and campus communities
• Local history enthusiasts and archives
• Anyone curious about real-life stories of collective action
• Readers drawn to memoirs of resilience, humour, and community

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BOOK DETAILS

Formats: Paperback and Digital
Author Perspective: Frontline striker, single parent, daily chronicler
Tone: Personal, immediate, and unpolished — the real experience, not a sanitized version
Privacy: Individual names changed; institutional names and locations preserved with permission

ISBN (Paperback): 978-1-7389367-7-9
ISBN (Digital): 978-1-7389367-1-7

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AVAILABILITY

Formats: Paperback | Kindle | EPUB
Price: $7.99–$21.95

Where to purchase

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“At the time, my daily posts appeared on our private Facebook group under the heading The Mac Report. In shaping this edited story for a wider audience, I chose to title each entry Strike Diary, followed by the date. After some thought, I felt this better reflected the broader movement while still honouring the roots of those original posts.” – Lucy

December 2, 2025 marked the fourteenth anniversary of the strike’s end — and the beginning of the retelling of this story.

This book ensures that this community’s story isn’t forgotten.

Order Via Author – Amazon delivery (Longer wait time)