Don't worry
Betty Girl, I think that many of the public now know that the strike was a classic post 1970s strike by a small group who think that - just because it has been so, thus it shall be.
Given that an article in the BBC this week showed that many working folks think that the idea of retirement, as developed in the latter stages of the 20th Century, will not exist for them - there are enough realists out there.
Those that have been in a safe seat (pun intended) for 20+ years have no real idea what redundancy and unemployment at aged 45 feels like. Yes, it might have happened to their friends but, like divorce and other life changing events - until you have been in it - you have no idea.
It looks like this dispute is going to turn out OK for you that have worked and understood that the good times are over. Hopefully, we can all have some 'not so bad after all' times.
