To be stressed out about pressure to strike

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

Without saying too much, my 'organisation' has announced strike action.

I really do not want to do it but feel awful at not. I wouldnt actually have to cross a picket line or anything (can simply work at home) but feel like I 'should' strike.

The strike is over our pensions. I understand the impact but feel that I can't worry about something now that will happen in probably 35 - 40 years time. I feel pretty lucky to even be able to afford to pay anything into a pension, let alone a company one. The returns are still better than other private pensions. However I understand why some are striking.

It is potentially two days strike. I cannot afford to lose that money. I am the main wage earner and just come off SMP. If I strike food will either be going on the credit card with no clear means of paying it off soon. There are more pressing issues such as redundancy, fuel costs, reductions in tax credits and so on looming. I feel like I need to worry about now rather than way in the future and do not have the 'luxury' that many well paid members of staff might have of not really noticing the loss of a days pay.

Would you strike? Have you gone on strike in the past? I am too 'young' (I wish ) to have really been in this situation before

If you don't want to strike, then I don't think you should feel pressured into it.

I wonder if you work for the same company as my Husband? He feels the same

I feel your pain. The union where I work is calling a strike soon.
I wont be going on strike for several reasons but I am under alot of pressure to.
The union rep is saying I am letting my workmates down etc.
I am not a member of the union btw.
I personally feel it is a stupid idea (in my companies case) It didn't do any good last time and really can't see how it will do anything this time.
Do what you feel is right

Don't feel pressured if you don't want to.

I agree totally that there are more important issues out there than pensions and don't understand the media furore over it when thousands are being made redundant, inflation is rocketing etc.

Pensions feel a long way off if in the short term you don't know whether you'll have a job tomorrow!

If you were balloted you have to strike. If you don't want to do what the union has voted to do, don't be in a union. The clue is in the title.
Apply to the organisation for hardship fund if it's a real problem.
When my union has been on strike my employer has never bothered taking off the days pay. It's too complicated to go through the pay roll.

Well I am a member of a Union and I will be striking soon. I'll also be going down to the march in London on 26th March.

I have every sympathy with you OP but I also think we have to stand up for our rights. We are actually getting a reduction in pay and benefits while the cost of living goes up and up.

Do you really believe you are unaffected by what is currently happening? Soaring inflation, huge hikes in energy prices and food prices, a huge decrease in public expenditure and mass redundancies?

I wonder how we can actually afford NOT to strike in the long term.

Maybe it is different for me. I'm 'only' 25 years away from my pension but both my DH and I work in the public sector and feel very strongly about what is happening.

OP - wait 10 or 20 years and you may not have a pension at all.

Elinor - out of stupidity I didnt fully realise that being part of the union would mean I would automatically have to strike.

smashing - a lot of people my age don't even have a pension, let alone one where an employer pretty much doubles what you put in.

Worral - it is a rather large 'company'

Jimble - I agree, I don't see what good it can do

I think you are being UR if you dont strike. The way they can keep a hold over people is through those who cant afford it refusing to strike, nothing ever changes unless you make a stand, together.

If no one did anything women wouldnt be able to vote and black people would still be sitting at the back of the bus.

Yanbu it is entirely your choice.

Out of your naiveety - stop your union membership then - then you are on your own and don't have to think about striking with others in your union if that is the way the ballet has gone.

but remember, any future problems and you are on your own, no union back up or assistance.

It is still your choice

Stop your subscriptions and get out now

or stay and join in the protests and be part of the collective

I feel like this is the thin end of the wedge. I really think this government will do all they can to take away the rights of unions and make it as difficult as possible for workers to gain anything from their employers.

I know it's a really difficult decision to make when you're struggling financially but a union's strength is in its' members. Apathy will ensure that "it won't do any good" and lack of turn out will give employers and government to remove even more benefits.

Did you see in Wisconsin that the federal government is trying to remove unions right to collective bargaining so they can't fight for pay rises? That's a much more immediate effect on the workforce.

YANBU

In my sector the yes vote has been such a tiny proportion of members balloted I can understand why some union members aren't happy to go along with the decision.

No, you don't have to strike. The union can't make you - it is your own decision.

But don't assume 'it's not about me' or that only the better off will be striking. Pensions are very important - by the time you retire the state pension may be minimal/may not exist. I've seen older members of my own family struggle on a state or minimal pension and it's no laugh, believe me.

Those hit hardest will be those at the lower end of the payscale, as always.

As gallicgirl said this is probably just the thin end of the wedge. Sticking together as a collective is really, really important -sorry.

But if the OP cannot afford to go without 2 days pay, then she can't afford it. As she says, some people won't notice the money, but others are in a very different situation.

FWIW, our branch of the public sector has already implemented pension reforms, and I think they're reasonable.

Ignoring the financial impact on you of striking - do you feel the proposed changes justify strike action? If you don't, then don't strike. I am a member of a union that doesn't strike. (mostly because as a teacher striking doesn't win you any friends anyway!)

A few years ago my husband crossed a picket line and went to work. He wasn't a member of the union striking. They were striking about a small change in pensions arrangements but most of the people on strike didn't even understand the change - they had just been whipped up by union people and each other to think it was all outrageous and an attack on their rights etc.

Strike if you feel it is appropriate - and if you need to then apply to the union hardship fund. If you don't think it is the right response - then don't do it.

"I understand the impact but feel that I can't worry about something now that will happen in probably 35 - 40 years time"

Maybe you shouldn't be in a union then. The whole point is to work as a unit. Pensions may not concern you now, but where would you be without the unions pushing for eg maternity benefits and parental leave. I doubt that directly effects the 60 year old male members.

Yanbu good luck, it's a very tough situation to be in.

If you are in the Union it can be tough if you don't strike as colleagues can make you feel like a cur. I had to go out on strike a lot in the late 80's and early 90's - (we achieved nothing as the press etc were not interested) and our pay was deducted by 1 and about 1/3 for each strike day as it was calculated on actual working days not including holidays - so then we not only lost a days pay but had to work part of a day for free! Like you I was the breadwinner and already struggling financially so I have mixed feelings about it all.
Some of my colleagues joined a different Union that was strike free so that they were allowed to cross the picket line.

However, I think if it is a National strike day and will get press coverage etc then raising awareness of the issues is valid. Pensions are only going to get worse - current pensioners struggle so who knows what it will be like for us and believe me every year passes quicker. It is hard to loose the money but it is not a long term or recurrent strike- so should be a one off pain. Enjoy your day at home.

Grendels - I agree with you. My issue is that I don't agree that these particular pension reforms are catastrophic. I already feel like we are getting a good deal. We pay something like 6.5% and they pay 14% (or there abouts).

It's not that I feel 'it's not about me' just more like I feel there are more important issues right now. We have redundancies looming - I would strike about those but I worry about getting into debt for something I don't really believe in.

knittedbreast - I do agree with you but I think striking should be reserved for unaminous highly important decisions and that in this climate a reduction in pensions is not that. In my opinion we will still be getting very generous pensions compared to some private pensions.

The turn out for the vote was low. It mainly seems those who can afford to have voted (from personal conversations I have had). If you are earning 90k a year, have no dependents, have paid your mortgage then yes a days pay loss is annoying but doesnt really affect you.

I just look at the amount of pay I would lose, our debts, what our DC's need now - add to it the fact it is not a key issue for me (not saying it is not an important issue) and I do not know what to do.

I am not sure what I will do - it is very confusing .

I would definitely strike and buy food with my credit card - ( 2 days is nothing )

Stand by your fellow workers - if you don't it will leave a mark on your soul.

Bloody stupid being in a union then.

There were things I wasn't happy about striking about 3 years ago but it wasn't about me. I had my vote in the union and it didn't go in my favour. However the point is you support the majority agreement.

You can't cherry pick which bits of union action you choose. eg don't go on strike because it doesn't suit you and then go and see a rep for help over a work related issue when you need them. It doesn't work kike that.

Losing pay affects everyone in some way.

If you don't want to strike cancel your subs now.
If you want continued support from your union start preparing for it now.

Sorry but that's the way it goes.

Have you ever had the union help you personally on any matter, whilst you have worked for your organisation? If yes, then I would feel that you probably should strike. I know that union reps get really peeved when those they have helped walk through the picket line.

Otherwise, if it really would cause you financial hardship to strike, don't do it.

lessnarky - I do understand your point, I really do. However we are also in a situation within our area where redundancies are happening. No one is striking over that as we are such a small area. In fact most people are ignoring it.

People don't always do what is best for the wider group. If it was just me I would get on with it but I have 3 DC's dependent on me. It has come at an awkward time.

And also in reality our job load won't reduce so we will still do the same amount of work just for less money. And I also think of our 'customers' who will be negatively affected by this - already at a time when they are stressed out.

I guess it is a question of morals versus finances.

Personally, as a member of a Union, if a strike was called I would support it. But there again, I would also make sure that I voted on an issue - either for or against. I have respected a strike before and would do so again.
I can sympathise with your situation and it is hard to justify when you don't think it will make a difference.
Is it up to you, but a Union is only as strong and as effective as its members.

I think if nothing else I have had an important lesson in union membership

2 days pay isn't nothing when you are already struggling - and I will still have to pay childcare costs