Breaking the NHS picket line

helpidkwhattodopls · 2025-10-28T08:40:36+00:00

I work in the NHS, non-clinical. Obviously there are junior doctor strikes coming up and I’m fully in support of them, but I have no choice but to go to work during the strikes. I can’t afford to take time off. Our manager has given us a warning and said that we shouldn’t be taking the main route into the hospital during the strikes as apparently the striking staff can be very angry at you for breaking the picket. But I have no choice, I don’t drive into work so I have to go this way. AIBU to ask what the hell I should do?????

Doyouthinktheyknow · 29/10/2025 19:34

Come on @helpidkwhattodopls, use a bit of critical thinking….you can’t honestly believe that medics abuse staff and patients not in their union and unable to legally strike even if they support the medics🙄

I’ve been a nurse for years so have worked through many Dr’s strikes, they don’t abuse anyone!

latetothefisting · 29/10/2025 19:26

helpidkwhattodopls · 28/10/2025 15:13

Not sure where anyone has got 4 miles from!!!

the bus travels along the main road. The other entrances are along the back of the hospital, but because of the layout of the main road and the roads around the hospital, it’s a right faff to get from the main road (only road served by bus) to the other entrances.

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there's a bit of a difference between "a right faff" and "over an hour's walk" though...

and I still don't get why you can't just walk around the outskirts of the building to get to the entrances on the 'other side, if crossing roads and so on is too much of a faff.' It can't possibly be that big!

youalright · 29/10/2025 18:25

It really is terrifying that they will hire anyone to work in the nhs these days. I would expect anyone in these roles to have at least a tiny bit of common sense and not be so gullible.

BlushingBrightly · 29/10/2025 18:12

helpidkwhattodopls · 28/10/2025 09:20

I fully support the strikes. I feel awful about coming into work while they’re striking, because I would rather be with them. I’ve only ever experienced this type of situation at university where a striking lecturer threw an egg at my bus because they said we were breaking the picket line and they had begged us to stay home in support of them! So that combined with my manager’s warning has me a bit on edge.

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Never mind your manager, your own story doesn't make sense. Your lecturer threw an egg at your bus? Were you on the bus? Did they recognise you through the grimy bus window, know somehow that you were coming to your class and would be crossing the picket line - definitely not going anywhere else! - and, overcome with rage, threw an egg in a way that breaches picket guidelines? Really??

TalulahJP · 29/10/2025 18:07

If you’re in the union and your role is being asked to strike then you should strike. If you dont you will be called a blackleg for breaking the strike.

If you’re not in the union or your role is not on strike you should have no issue going to work.

People don’t want to strike and lose a days pay. It’s a last resort. They generally feel it’s the only way to get the management to understand their issues, pay conditions etc.

sellingtrousers · 29/10/2025 18:00

You aren’t making sense OP. You’re not a doctor. You’re not legally allowed to strike. You have to work as normal. Walk in like normal and give the doctors a supportive smile and get on with your day.

ByeByeThyroid · 29/10/2025 17:46

GagMeWithASpoon · 28/10/2025 09:05

Either your manager is talking rubbish , or you are.

Yeah This

Cleikumstovies · 29/10/2025 17:42

As a non clinical member of staff, do you think and doctor, whether "resident doctor", "consultant", "specialist" or "general practitioner " would give a flying fuck of support for you, if you participated in industrial action for, I'm guessing a meagre wage increase?

MsMarshwiggle · 29/10/2025 17:37

not sure where your manager is finding their information. Clinical non medic in a senior managerial position with direct experience of strikes. Throughout all of the strikes in my area no tension between striking and non striking staff clinical or non clinical. You will be absolutely fine.

Middleagedspreadisreal · 28/10/2025 21:34

You're non-clinical, you're not striking, just go to work as normal, you're making far more of this than you need to

nocoolnamesleft · 28/10/2025 19:39

In the previous strikes, some of our junior doctors (now known as resident doctors) decided not to strike. Do you know how much grief they got from their striking colleagues? None. Some years ago I was part of a demonstration of over 10 thousand doctors marching through London. There were only a handful of police present, and I got chatting to one of them. "Nah, we're not worried about you lot causing trouble, you all need a clean CRB (now DBS) check to work!" Resident doctors are not stupid enough to commit illegal acts on a picket line.

Arlanymor · 28/10/2025 16:05

As people say, you're not part of this strike as it's not about your profession, so you're not 'crossing the picket line'. When I worked in health the hospital negotiated with the unions to agree where the picketing would take place and it was never at the main entrance to the hospital as it's obstructive for patients, let alone other members of staff. Just go into work as usual, your manager is talking absolute balderdash.

QueenClinomania · 28/10/2025 16:02

helpidkwhattodopls · 28/10/2025 08:56

Apparently they’ll get angry at patients too! It just all sounds a bit terrifying to me

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Your manager is full of shit.

YellowCrayola · 28/10/2025 16:01

helpidkwhattodopls · 28/10/2025 08:56

Apparently they’ll get angry at patients too! It just all sounds a bit terrifying to me

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Is that you Wes?

ilovesooty · 28/10/2025 15:57

80smonster · 28/10/2025 14:09

Call in sick - then you are supporting the strikers and not breaking the picket line.

Why on earth should she do that if she's not sick?

randomchap · 28/10/2025 15:29

@helpidkwhattodopls

It's extremely unprofessional for your manager to make up these lies. Especially claiming that doctors will verbally abuse patients.

You need to take this to HR, they are deliberately making you scared to go into work. That's not right. If not HR, are you in one of the non clinical unions?

Do you have any evidence that this is what they've said?

MissyB1 · 28/10/2025 15:19

milkandblackspiders · 28/10/2025 09:13

Your manager is talking absolute rubbish. I regularly walk past the longest running strike action in NHS history on my way into work and not once has anyone been remotely angry at me! I also walked past the previous junior doctor picket line and again, nobody was shouting at people on their way into work.

The phlebotomists? Yes I walk past them too, lovely bunch of people.

OP I’ve never read such rubbish in my life! Your manager is a liar! They are shit stirring!

Original poster

helpidkwhattodopls · 28/10/2025 15:13

Goldfsh · 28/10/2025 14:34

If you are in a hospital that is four miles between entrances, I'm guessing that there are enough staff that the junior docs won't recognise you as a fellow staff member.

Not sure where anyone has got 4 miles from!!!

the bus travels along the main road. The other entrances are along the back of the hospital, but because of the layout of the main road and the roads around the hospital, it’s a right faff to get from the main road (only road served by bus) to the other entrances.

OP posts:

Goldfsh · 28/10/2025 14:34

If you are in a hospital that is four miles between entrances, I'm guessing that there are enough staff that the junior docs won't recognise you as a fellow staff member.

Original poster

helpidkwhattodopls · 28/10/2025 14:33

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Okay? I don’t know why, but you do you

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SisterMaryImmaculate · 28/10/2025 14:29

Somebody somewhere along the line is stirring up shit against striking doctors.

CocoRats · 28/10/2025 14:22

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Original poster

helpidkwhattodopls · 28/10/2025 14:19

Vaxtable · 28/10/2025 14:13

Sorry but you are not a doctor I assume so therefore you are not on strike, and nor have you been asked to go on strike so won’t be losing any money!

as to the entrance, are you seriously telling me you have one entrance into the hospital? Ours has loads, the bus drops you outside one, but it’s a two minute walk to the next entrance if you didn’t want to use the next one. Just walk round the outside of the hospital.

It’s very poorly laid out.

thanks though to everyone who’s been genuine - it does seem a bit like my manager is being a little overzealous with everything. The entire office is very unhappy about the strikes so I’m guessing that’s where it comes from.

OP posts:

ScholesPanda · 28/10/2025 14:15

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Vaxtable · 28/10/2025 14:13

Sorry but you are not a doctor I assume so therefore you are not on strike, and nor have you been asked to go on strike so won’t be losing any money!

as to the entrance, are you seriously telling me you have one entrance into the hospital? Ours has loads, the bus drops you outside one, but it’s a two minute walk to the next entrance if you didn’t want to use the next one. Just walk round the outside of the hospital.