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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be stressed out about pressure to strike

432 replies

peppapighastakenovermylife · 11/03/2011 11:15

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 Grin) to have really been in this situation before Sad

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 12/03/2011 10:57

I think in teaching, if the NUT go on strike and you're a member, you don't have to go on strike. If you're in the NASUWT and they go on strike, you have to strike. Probably because the NUT are far more likely to strike than the NASUWT.

ilovesooty · 12/03/2011 11:04

As an alternative I'd sooner someone left the union if they don't agree with its democratic vote - crossing a picket line is just not on morally imo. Agree that it might be better not to be in a union in the first place but if I suppose people might not know how they feel until the chips are down.

OP if you don't agree with the unions position then don't go on strike, you don't have to go on strike even if the union has called one.

That's the sort of selfish and irresponsible attitude that makes me sick. If you don't want collective protection fair enough, but if you do, you sign up to clllective responsibility as well. A membership is a body, standing together: it's not a something where you can go mememe if it suits you.

poxoxo · 12/03/2011 11:17

Why does it make you sick sooty, thats a pretty extreme reaction. The OP has presumabley paid her membership fee to the union but that doesn't mean that you have to slavishly follow the union, no matter what. She's paid her money so she can use the union if she wants but she's not obligated to do anything she wants.

NinkyNonker · 12/03/2011 11:21

With rights come responsibilities.

ilovesooty · 12/03/2011 11:23

Why does it make you sick sooty

If you really can't see tht I suspect there is no point in my wasting time trying to spell it out to you. You obviously have no sense of collective responsibility.

What you're saying is that it's ok to cherrypick the bits out of union membership that suit you and not have a moral responsibility to it as a body or to your fellow workers.

She's paid her money so she can use the union if she wants but she's not obligated

Yes, I think to say that that attitude makes me sick is putting it mildly. That's the mememe viewpoint that Thatcher's Britain created.

Ciske · 12/03/2011 11:30

If you don't believe in the purpose of the strike, then don't go. It's important to have a sense of loyalty towards your colleagues, but that doesn't mean you should go against your own conscience. You respect their right to strike, they should respect your right not to.

In my company there was a strike looming a while ago and there were lots of communications from the union and the company that it was a personal choice, nobody should be pressured either way, and your choice would not be held against you.

Most importantly though: if your union runs a ballot for a strike and you don't feel it's the right decision, vote! The union can only make a decision based on the people who let their voice be heard and if you are a member, you should let them know if you disagree.

Kallista · 12/03/2011 11:33

OP, it's a free country so don't strike. Buying food on credit is a slippery slope. If your older colleagues kick up then ask them to pay your food bills so you can strike. Bet they won't!! So keep working and don't feel guilty - if you are in a union then IMO you do still have a choice. If you pay subs they need your subs so i doubt they'll throw you out for not striking. As you work from home you don't need to worry about office politics either. Your priority is your family.

ilovesooty · 12/03/2011 11:36

If you don't believe in the purpose of the strike, then don't go. It's important to have a sense of loyalty towards your colleagues, but that doesn't mean you should go against your own conscience. You respect their right to strike, they should respect your right not to.

What's the point of being in a union then?

Most importantly though: if your union runs a ballot for a strike and you don't feel it's the right decision, vote! The union can only make a decision based on the people who let their voice be heard and if you are a member, you should let them know if you disagree.

Agreed, absolutely. Too many members are simply passive and apathetic. You have the right to vote no and you should do so if you feel strongly.

Once the vote's happened though I think you should be bound by the majority decision.

huddspur · 12/03/2011 11:39

I find some of the attitudes on this thread really strange. Just because an individual member doesn't agree with the collective decision of the union and so choose not to participate in the actions of the union they are beyond the pale. People are even suggesting people should use credit cards to overcome the financial shortfall that going on strike even though they don't agree with the strike and by not going on strike that would make people sick.

I am only 25 and have very little knowledge or experience of the trade union movement

ilovesooty · 12/03/2011 11:40

OP, it's a free country so don't strike. Buying food on credit is a slippery slope. If your older colleagues kick up then ask them to pay your food bills so you can strike. Bet they won't!! So keep working and don't feel guilty - if you are in a union then IMO you do still have a choice. If you pay subs they need your subs so i doubt they'll throw you out for not striking. As you work from home you don't need to worry about office politics either. Your priority is your family.

Another post straight ou of the Thatcher manual. Let others stand up, lose the money yet grab the proceeds of their commitment should action be successful.

ilovesooty · 12/03/2011 11:41

I am only 25 and have very little knowledge or experience of the trade union movement

Why does that not surprise me?

byrel · 12/03/2011 11:53

I'm surprised that people who claim that unions are there to protect its members interests are suggesting that the OP should go on strike and then use credit to counter the loss of income. How is this in the interests of the OP in anyway shape or form. Its a dangerous way of running your finances.

huddspur · 12/03/2011 11:55

Alright sooty there's no need to condescending

onlion · 12/03/2011 11:56

I am in a union not because I want to be involved in strike action but because I want to be protected in case some fucker puts in a formal complaint, bullies or harrasses me or such like.

Being in a union doesnt mean you have to go along with everything they do and decide. Many people are in unions for their own protection.

BuzzLiteBeer · 12/03/2011 11:57

Its not rocket science, and youth is no excuse for stupidity.

Lets break it down a little more simply. You join a union for collective bargaining, to avail yourself of the power of the group as opposed to the individual. Your wage levels, your conditions, your employment rights...all of these cam about with help from unions.

Your union ballots. You vote. The majority wins, you all do what the majority says, because that is the entire point.
You cannot be a member of the union and only take advantage of the bits that suit you thats missing the whole point of the union.

Or leave the union. It's that simple.

onlion · 12/03/2011 11:58

Why not? Its s democracy.

BuzzLiteBeer · 12/03/2011 11:58

onlion is that kind of loathsome creature that is only out for number one and should be drummed out of the union.

It's not all about you.

onlion · 12/03/2011 11:58

I was advised to join the union I am in due to problems I have with a manager. So I did.

BuzzLiteBeer · 12/03/2011 11:59

So you'll use them when it suits you but you will ruin it for others when it doesn't. Hmm

onlion · 12/03/2011 11:59

No-one in our workplace has joined strike action or marched.

ilovesooty · 12/03/2011 12:01

I am in a union not because I want to be involved in strike action but because I want to be protected in case some fucker puts in a formal complaint, bullies or harrasses me or such like.

Many people are in unions for their own protection.

Sadly I suspect that attitude to membership is all too common. People just want to take but are disinclined to give anything back when they're called upon to act in accordance with any solidarity.

No one wants to go on strike for the fun of it.

mamatomany · 12/03/2011 12:01

Please support the strikes, employees lives see to get a little bit worse every day and it's wrong, the public sector employees are the one ones with any opportunity to stand up and be counted.

ilovesooty · 12/03/2011 12:05

Why not? Its s democracy.

Democracy means "rule by the people". It doesn't mean you can do as you like when it suits you.

huddspur · 12/03/2011 12:07

If the attitude to not go on strike even when one is called is common amongst many members then why isn't this choice respected. Trade unions exist to represent the views and interests of their members, then why should the members who don't go on strike be condemned when surely its just a different wing of the union. If refusing to go on strike is so abhorrent then why don't unions refuse to renew peoples membership if they don't go on strike?

ilovesooty · 12/03/2011 12:09

why don't unions refuse to renew peoples membership if they don't go on strike?

Personally I think scabs should be forced to leave the unions anyway.