To be in a union but not out on strike tomorrow?

[ILovePud]

I'm an NHS clinician and my union has called a strike tomorrow. Strikes have not usually been well supported in my work place and I already had a clinic booked tomorrow. We all had to notify our management last week whether we would be striking and I said no. I felt uncomfortable with the idea of having to contact specific patients and cancel their appointments in a way that I wouldn't have done if it was a case of just omitting to book that clinic. I've become increasingly uncomfortable with this decision over the weekend as I've had some contact with colleagues and it seems that many of them will be striking and that there will be a picket line. I'll have to go in now and feel like I'm in a lose lose situation where I'm either letting down patients or letting down my colleagues. My colleagues are lovely people and none of them are going to have a go at me though there may be some more subtle guilt tripping. The strike's been called over the 1% pay rise offer rather than wider issues and whilst I think this is a crap offer compared with some of the other service issues in the local NHS at the moment this seems like small potatoes, for me at least. My reasons for being a union member have always been more about having access to support in the event of potential employment problems rather than collective bargaining, though obviously if they pay offer gets upped I'll feel the benefit of this along with everyone else and I do feel a bit bad about that. Am I being unreasonable to not be striking?

I'd not be at all impressed if you were my colleague.
If you can't support the strike action you should leave the union imo.

YABU. I wouldn't cross a picket line. In my workplace, people who didn't want to join a strike (if one was called) either joined a different union, one that didn't strike, or didn't join one. Not used the benefits of the union, without contributing when collective action was called.

Yanbu the reasons for the strike are ridiculous.

YABU. Why be part of the union then? I wouldn't cross a picket line either.

yabu
your in a union, so you do what a union member does.

Just to add - no way would I cross a picket line.

Is the strike not planned for Tuesday rather than tomorrow??

YANBU.

Your patients are important too, and people who need healthcare shouldn't be made to suffer here, they are probably on your side too.

Do your job with pride, and support your colleagues cause in another way by signing and promoting petitions and writing to your mp.

Only was you would not be unreasonable is if you refused any gains the union made towards working conditions.

Or just don't be part of a union if you can't support the action members voted for.

YABU. I know a pay increase wouldn't be awarded just because people strike, but I bet you would take it. What's the point in being in a union as the PPs have said?

Way not was. Damn autocorrect.

YABVVU. You've joined to have access to their support of you, but where is your support for them? There's a name for that, you know.

I think there are some people who seem to think you can join a union for employment protection and opt out of the strike action if you don't fancy it. Depressing.

arorasky NHS striking tomorrow, local government (councils, schools etc) Tuesday (but this has been called off whilst they ballot members on an improved offer) some of PCS union are out Wednesday

I'm guessing this is Unison and that for many support workers in public service jobs there isn't much other choice.

I know they are the default for a council working DF, who didn't like some of their strike calls at all. She eventually left after witnessing them being worse than unless supporting someone at a disciplinary.

Yabu. Being part of a union is standing together when there is a strike. You don't pick and choose when it suits you. Maybe your colleagues will be fine about it, but in many places you would find yourself ostracised.

It is a shame for the patients but that is the point with a strike. They are meant to affect people. If they affected no-one then what would be the point?

Yanbu just because you in the union doesn't mean you shouldn't have your own opinions!!

YABU and should leave the union if you're not prepared to abide by it's democratic decision.

*its

Thanks custard (panic over).

Many out there feel like you but are still more than willing to take any hard won pay increases or entitlements that Unions fight for. They never support their colleagues, expecting others to do all that for them.

It's quite simple - don't be in a union then.
We were supposed to strike on Tuesday, i'm very glad we aren't. For me on my scale, a day's loss of pay is not something i can be blase about but i would still not cross a picket line.
If everyone did that in the past then we wouldn't have half the benefits we get now as women in the workplace, and we'd still be on a pittance doing the same job as a man.

VVU.

If you are a member and want them to protect you when you want/need them then you must abide by the democratic decisions the union makes. If you didn't vote, that's your own fault.

It is commendable that you don't want to let patients down - but that is what makes a NHS strike so powerful, and what makes it possible for the management/government to emotionally blackmail you.

But now you will have to walk past your colleagues. It is sad that this is what has made you re-think. But that really is a bed you have made, this time.

Maybe you should become more acquainted with the reasons and strength of feelings behind the strike, for next time. You might find that, like teachers, pay and conditions are the only things you can legally strike over - the government likes that, it always makes you look greedy. Like teachers other NHS workers may have voted ostensibly against the pay rise but at heart about so very many other issues.

Good luck going in...

YABU. If you don't want to go on strike when your union votes for one then you should leave that union and join a non-striking union. These people are losing pay and you will get the same benefits and no loss to you. Very bad IMHO.

Well thanks for your feedback . I can understand what you are saying and you have shamed me into supporting the next strike . I think some of the comments are a little harsh though, it's not that I decided not striking because I just want to take my wages for the day and let others fight for the pay rise on my behalf. I work with very vulnerable patients and my decision was made by trying to weigh up wanting to support colleagues and wanting to support those service users who would have been effected. I would have been prepared to help bring pressure to bear on our employers by damaging wait times and contact figures through the strike but I don't think I'd ever be able to bring myself to actually cancel appointments that patients have already had booked in. I know most people seem to think that I should leave the union if I won't strike but any potential improved pay offer will go to everyone regardless of whether they're in the union or not, as it is I pay my subs every month and actively support other union activities. Hey ho I'll have to suck it up tomorrow and be more aware of when strikes are likely to be called and stop booking clinics with more than a couple of weeks notice.

So you'll cross the picket line tomorrow.
Since it's too late seemingly to withdraw your labour would you consider donating your pay for the day to the strike fund?