New union member. First ever strike

[Mumteedum]

As a first time member of a union and my first ever strike, I am feeling a bit anxious about it.

One of the dates falls on an activity for my students that can't be postponed. I'm guessing they could do it without me but I'd need to know if the technician is on strike too and I'm not sure it's the done thing to ask.

Also do we have to tell anyone or will uni just know who's involved and they will tell students?

Feel v torn. Want to do right thing but in honesty wish it wasn't happening. Our uni is one that just said yes in reballot.

I think it’s courteous to let your students know in advance if you are planning to observe the strike, but I wouldn’t be telling your head or anyone in management. They can wait until the strike notification forms go in.

Hi mumteedum,

You don't have to tell anyone in advance - you only have to tell the university after you've gone on strike (HR will normally circulate a form to report this). In practice though, most people tell students in advance. As for the technician, it depends whether they're a member of UCU or not (they might be in another union or in no union at all) and again they don't need to tell you or the students in advance whether they plan to strike.
In the past when I convened modules that other people contributed to I sometimes sent them an e-mail asking them if they'd like me to communicate their intention to strike (or otherwise) to students? My rationale was that some colleagues (esp. teaching assistants) might be nervous about telling students directly, fearing a negative reaction, and so I'm happy to do that myself. But it can also be seen as an attempt at extracting information from them for the purposes of breaking the strike so I felt I had to be careful with how to phrase it - rather than "please tell me" it was "please let me know if you'd like me to commmunicate with the students on your behalf".

Thanks both. Forgive my naivety but when you say "observe the strike" its not really an option not to is it? I mean, if you're in the union then you strike? That's what you sign up for when you become a member. To go along with democratic decisions and support fellow members?

Of course in practice you can do what you like. Some people strike part of the time if they can't afford the whole strike. Is there a moral obligation? That's a different question and I think there is, which is why I have resigned from the union as I'm not prepared to go out for a fourth time in two years.

Watching this thread with interest as I'm in the same situation at mumteedum. It's a long old strike for 14 days isn't it? At our uni ucu are saying there's a hardship fund after 3 days of striking which you can apply for of either £50 or £75 per day of strike. I'm nervous about telling students too.

It’s really inconsiderate not to tell students in advance.

I also think it’s a good idea to let students know but you don’t have to do this. Around one third of UCU members took part in the last strike so many do clearly see it as optional. I won’t be striking this time as I left the UCU over the Nov/Dec strikes but when I was a member, I felt obliged to strike.

Pota, have you joined another union? (& Which one?)

Yes, I have joined GMB who are a general trade union. I am a brand new member so cannot say much about them at the moment but I have heard good things from others who were similarly disillusioned with UCU.