Strike question

[ZeroFucks]

I'm not in UCU but I feel bad about crossing picket lines. I know that as a non-union member I can strike and be protected from dismissal.

I intend to stay away from work during the strike period, work at home on writing which is counted as working normally at my university.

I have three lectures scheduled over the strike period. I don't want to cross a picket to deliver them so I was going to add audio to my slides and post the slides online. This means students don't miss content but I'm not physically there delivering it. But this isn't different from lecture capture really.

So I'm finding myself in an in-between state, not physically at work but also not striking because students won't lose those day's content

From an HR/HoD perspective, what do you think of this? Is this a terrible idea? Will I get into all sorts of trouble for this?

I'm a fairly new lecturer.

Thanks, Pota ... yes, some high profile UCU accounts are very nasty.

Thanks again for your support. I should have said that going in early isn’t an option for me because I commute and the earliest I can physically get to work is 8.30am!

Then, in your place, I’d cross the picket line. It’s all well and good trying to maintain relations with striking colleagues but it’s not a good idea to do it if you aren’t in the union.
I highly doubt you’ll be the only one crossing it, you won’t be doing it on all the days, and people have pretty short memories. I know colleagues who didn’t take part in the 2018 strikes and they weren’t shunned or excluded by others. The 2018 strikes had more support too. You can tell people you can’t afford to strike either and lots of people are in that position.

Hi zero You probably would be fine putting stuff online and working from home. Are you the module lead? That makes it easier. However, you have a reason to be annoyed with the Union then voice it ( by that I mean, act on it) and walk past the picket line with your head held high. Smile and say Hi!
It's a tough gig being a lecturer and going outside your comfort zone is good battle training. ( take it from me, Im currently a HoD)

I am on study leave so this is not a dilemma I need to face this time around. However, I did cross the picket line last term and so did most of my colleagues. Most of the people I've spoken to are utterly fed up with UCU and its unrealistic, ill-defined and poorly-timed demands. I have joined another union now because it was painfully obvious that to me they would treat me the same way zero has been treated if one of my students complained about me not toeing the line of gender issues, and I wanted to ensure that I would have some chance of representation if I ever found myself in that situation.

Personally, I just take a flyer, and say "Hi" if they're acquaintances and stop and chat if I know them well. I had some lovely chats with colleagues I don't see very much passing them on the picket line last time. I haven't felt any bad feeling back from them (and one even started talking about work, which I half thought about asking if was appropriate, but he started it and he was the one on the picket...), although I admit to being reasonably socially obtuse.

Also had some Union colleagues that were only striking some of they days in the autumn, and it was interesting in that they felt the need to explain to me why there were available for meetings on some of the strike days :) I think they were feeling weird about it, though I had read enough in places like here to figure that most people weren't doing all days anyway.

@GCAcademic do you mind saying which union you've joined instead? I'm currently with UCU, will be crossing the picket line, but increasingly disillusioned with UCU (both in general and with our branch). I've felt hounded by the constant emails demanding to know if I've voted etc. However, not sure of alternative options to UCU. One I looked at is GMB. It feels like a big step to not be in a union at all.

@maxmaxmaxmax
Sure, it’s GMB. I’ve only just joined so have no direct experience of what they are like, but another GC academic on here is a member, did need to get support from them when she was accused of TERFery, and said they were extremely helpful.

Thanks @GCAcademic that's good to know. I finally resigned from UCU. It all just felt too I comfortable. It'll be interesting to see what Thursday brings at work.

Interesting goings on in the Socialist Worker, which ‘accidentally’ used a photo of a Women’s March in 2017 to illustrate the latest UCU rally (link to Twitter) Was this because there’s too low a turnout? Does anyone know?

Is saw that. I don’t know what possessed them to do it but it’s made them look even bigger idiots than they already did

Indeed. Seems to be a bit of a damp squib my way. Though lots of people working from home so they don’t have to run the gauntlet at work.