To be seriously irratated by the remarks of this colleague regarding strike action?

[lecce]

I work in a sector in which there are several trade unions. The one I belong to is balloting members for strike action and this seems likely to go ahead.

Last week I attended a meeting and the possible strike was mentined because it affects the dates on which we can plan certain activities (obviously). When it was mentioned a colleague shreiked (and I mean shrieked) "Great, I love it when X union strike, means I don't have to work but still get paid!" She was giggling and jigging about in her seat like an over-excited toddler. Another colleague, also in non-striking union, said "Well of course, you could donate a day's wages to charity but that's between you and your conscience." (She seemed to be serious, I've never heard of anyone doing that, though I don't have much experience of strikes.) The first woman replied "No way, it's going in my "New Car Fund"! Ha ha! he he!" and so on.

AIBU to have wanted to slap her and tell her how stupid and shallow she is being? Of course, if people do not agree with strikes then that is their right (though not sure they should belong to a union if they know they will not ever strike.) That isn't the issue here, she is happy for other people to lose a day's (maybe more in long-run) pay for her. She will happily accept any concessions the action wins though, won't she. She knew that people in the room were losing money for her and she made these crass comments.

Aside from her insensitivity, I am angered by her ignorance and apathy. She seems unaware of the impact government proposals will have on her. If what they want goes through, she can probably forget her new car, yet she seems utterly unaware. Not once did she ask what the strike was for.

Sorry, it's a bit of a rant but she has seriously riled me!

YOU DONT GET PAID WHEN ON STRIKE!

THE WOMAN THE OP IS REFERRING TO IS NOT GOING ON STRIKE, HER COLLEAGUES ARE.

Not sure why you have to shout though.

It wasn't me who suggested she give her day's pay to charity but I agree with the poster who said they would not cross the picket line and would therefore lose a day's pay that way - that is what I would do if I was in the non-striking union. It's not on to say that it's not my business because she will reap the benefits if the action is successful.

Niceguy- what is this about free money? I earn my money and other benefits associated with my profession.

you are not being unreasonable, OP. Tbh your colleague sounds like a childish bubble-head.

MrSpoc is that a carte blanche condemnation of ALL strikes then? without exception?

I thought that if you were not in the union that was striking and refused to work, you could face disciplinary action for not working rather than merely just losing a day's pay (if you wanted to do that, you could just join the striking union).

At my school when the NUT last went on strike, members of other unions were expected to be in school, which was only open to exam classes. We were not expected to cover any work or classes of a striking teacher, which seems fair. I didn't support the strike and so expecting me to somehow martyr myself because members of a different union (which I deliberately didn't join because of their militancy) did, is unreasonable.

I'm NASUWT and I fully expect to be going on strike later on in the year when if the negotiations end unsatisfactorily.

Surely if you aren't a member of a union that is striking then refusing to go to work will surely get you in trouble.

I've just noticed the spelling error in my title - am very . In my defence, look at the time I posted - I'd had barely any sleep due to teething ds!

Sorry.