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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be cross with colleagues who have decided to go to work on strike day?

102 replies

natation · 30/11/2011 14:35

I am a UK civil servant who has witnessed rapid deterioration of working conditions, whose department has been many times in the news recently for failing to fulfil its security obligations (mainly down to the 25% target to sack staff). It appears the south east branches have shown pretty solid support for the public sector strike, except where we are. I find it unexplainable why every single union member decided to work this morning!!! AIBU to be really cross with them? I feel quite betrayed.

OP posts:
slavetofilofax · 30/11/2011 23:09

YABVU.

I agree with the strikes, but I cannot tell you how grateful I am that our local hospital was functioning normally today, thanks to the nurses that put their patients first. Because of them, I get to be haapy tonight instead of spending God knows how long worrying about something. I have a huge amount of respect for them, and I'm in the public sector too.

Thruaglassdarkly · 01/12/2011 02:21

Yep, YANVU OP. My husband went to school today along with the majority of his teaching colleagues at his school because (in his words), "You shouldn't impose yourselves on others and take money out of their purses to further your own interests." His kids got taught. Taxpayers have paid for our kids to get taught and today they didn't - will we get a rebate - I don't think so!
And I too am a teacher (of 12 years) on a break to look after my own kids. We are well paid and our pensions are still better than most. Shame on you OP! Go do what WE ALL pay you to do!

Thruaglassdarkly · 01/12/2011 02:26

Sorry - I meant YABVU of course. My laptop is playing up still...

echt · 01/12/2011 06:21

YANBU. I'd be cross with such colleagues, too.

I wouldn't show it, unless they brought it up.

I never contribute to the leaving gifts of scabs. I don't make a fuss or say why, unless asked.

troisgarcons · 01/12/2011 06:28

33% of my union bothered to vote.
3 in 4 voted to strike.... so roughly 1/4 of my union gave a toss one way or the other.

Not one of my collegues who did strike went on a rally, had picket line, waved a plaquard. They all declared their intention to go Christmas shopping.

Why would I have striked faced with such apathy?

Had they bothered to have a picket line (and I tried to organise one) I would have shown solidarity. They couldnt be arsed.

timidviper · 01/12/2011 06:40

Agree with trois it was a very apathetic strike but then that is society nowadays. The british public have gone soft and will grumble and tut rather than demonstrate or strike.

There is too much of a me first attitude now IMO. I understand some people can't afford to strike but imagine those who chose not to will be quite happy to accept any gains the unions win for them despite not putting themselves out.

echt · 01/12/2011 06:45

troisgarcons and timidviper, I agree it's better if they attend a picket line or march, but at least they're not working.:)

troisgarcons · 01/12/2011 06:48

On the other hand - I remember the 70's and 80's. MY DH was (as was) the old GPO and they were a highly militant union - "out the gate for less than 8 (%)" was their mantra...... they striked at the drop of a hat ...... but they also bullied "scabs" to the point one of my DHs collegues committed suicide. I've always remembered that. That was no union, it was just a collection of very nasty bullies who didn't respect a persons right to choose.

I tend not to judge peoples circumstances as to why they may choose not to strike. And it won't be brought up by me at work today who did and who didnt.

I don't really like the term "scab" either - that smacks of an uneducated twat forcing their beliefs on another.

echt · 01/12/2011 07:47

I'm very high-educated, thank you very much, and have a twat.

Saying someone is scab isn't forcing your beliefs on anyone, it's what you think of them.

Scabs.

Familydilemma · 01/12/2011 07:59

Our view when deciding whether dh would strike was that he has taken the benefits and support of his union for nearly twenty years. Therefore he needed to support the strike too. Otherwise he would have left his union. You can't opt out (unfortunately!) of the government you vote for even if the majority view wasn't yours. So you go along with the government or leave the country. Same with unions. When you sign up you need to read the t and c very carefully. I joined one with non compulsory strikes. So, op, if your colleagues opted out of a strike where the ballot made the strike mandatory for union members, yanbu. If your union's strike was left optional, yabu to complain.

echt · 01/12/2011 08:09

Well said, familydilemma. I remember my dear old dad picking stones out a potato field to make some money when his union was out on strike. Crossing the line was never an option.

Oddly, three of my siblings have been active union members and teachers.:o

slavetofilofax · 01/12/2011 08:12

I agree that scab is a disgusting thing to call someone, especially when that someone is putting children or sick people ahead of their own financial gain.

Using a term like that says a lot more about the person using it than the person being called it, and not in a good way. And perhaps if it's what you think of someone, then your thoughts would be best kept to yourself.

kellestar · 01/12/2011 08:20

I'm now a sahm but still keep in touch with my colleagues. Quite a few PT members of staff crossed the line as today is one of their full days of pay, they have kids and my colleagues were sending them vicious fb comments and text messages. One person was doing tgat to her line manager! I am gobsmacked at their behaviour, not on to bully others like that at all.

I was also disgusted that some of those that didn't turn up to picket but were on strike went out on a christmas jolly, shopping, lunch out, massage at a local spa, with lots of wine and chocolate!! They invited me to come along, but didn't agree that they should be doing this when they are on strike. Inappropriate in my opinion.

echt · 01/12/2011 08:34

slavetofilofax read the post, why don't you?

I've been at pains to point out I keep my thoughts about my scabby colleagues to myself.

dancingmustard · 01/12/2011 08:37

Militant rhetoric like scab does nothing to endear yourself to joe public.

I don't understand why pension ages for all citizens weren't fought for yesterday.

That way the public sympathy would have been greater.

Takeresponsibility · 01/12/2011 08:43

I amn a civil servbant who was on strike yesterday, as was DP (and ex H). I am also a "boss". Anyone who who takes any sort of action (ostracises, verbally abuses) another member of staff for not striking will get serious grief from me and if they do not stop will be disciplined under the bullying and harassment policy.

We had almost 100% support fort strike in our workplace so the few who worked whether on moral or financial grounds will be completely outnumbered.

Is it not the job of the unions to support those in weaker positions who cannot fight for themselves?

Takeresponsibility · 01/12/2011 08:44

Aaargh - note to self - don't type when cross.

echt · 01/12/2011 08:44

I'm not interested in endearing myself to the public, it's how I describe such people.

Why don't you get it it that I don't call the scabs scabs to their faces?

And dancingmustard, don't whine about why wasn't it done then, because, you know what, the same yadda yadda arguments about selfishness would have been awarded.

If you feel so bad get out and do something.

dancingmustard · 01/12/2011 08:46

I'm not striking Echt.

I'm paying your wages so you can fleece me some more and retire earlier.

But that aside.

Your strike is futile welcome to the real world.

Grandhighpoohba · 01/12/2011 10:27

For those who say they are disgusted with those who were on strike but didn't demonstrate...

I came out on strike yesterday. I'm not in the Union, and I don't actually believe that in my job a strike is effective - the workload remains the same, I will have to do the extra work next week, and any delays will only have a negative effect on some very vulnerable people. However, I believe that if the majority of your colleagues are striking, you should show solidarity.

So I have sacrificed a days pay, which is a big deal, for my colleagues, and now I'm being told I should have to be on a demo too? I am willing to support them, at some personal cost, but I think I have the right to hold on to my own opinions.

porcamiseria · 01/12/2011 10:34

maybe they dont share beleifs, maybe they understand that there is not enohgh money in the pot to sustain penions as they are?

SarahBumBarer · 01/12/2011 10:44

What is it about some public sector employees that they don't seem to understand that contractual T&C are NOT set in stone forevermore. They can be changed. "What gives them the right" to make the changes? Erm - employment law does! Otherwise you wouldn't "need" to strike, you would just take your employer to a tribunal and win.

OH an OP - YABU.

slavetofilofax · 01/12/2011 10:44

I wouldn't have thought you would say it to their faces, I was disagreeing with your opinion, not saying that I think you are rude to people.

I just don't understand why you would think so badly of someone who simply disagrees with you and does what they choose rather than what you would prefer them to choose.

SusanneLinder · 01/12/2011 11:01

YANBU-If someone is in a union, they should strike. You can't pick the bits about unions they like. IMO if you don't come out on strike with your colleagues,then you should get representation from the union in disputes.

If you don't agree with the strike, then come out the union and go to work, as others have said they have done here.

It's not rocket science.

SusanneLinder · 01/12/2011 11:01

I meant they can't pick the bits they like

Pffft