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?

YANBU

I'm in a Union (NHS, Unison) and did not agree with the last round of strikes (which cost those striking dearly and which achieved precisely nothing) - I crossed the picket line and was happy to do so. Unless I felt very, very strongly about the issue then I wouldn't strike - and anyone who called me a scab or similar would get short shrift.

Ahhhh makes sense now
I'm emergency services but not on shift. If I was, I would be striking

What WooItsAGhostCat said again and again.
You are hiding behind the excuse of 'caring' for your patients than your colleagues do. How despicable.
Definition of Scab - 'A strikebreaker - a person who works despite strike action or against the will of other employees'.
How is it bullying to tell it like it is?

YABU

You want the union as an insurance policy, you'll happily take any pay rise or improvement in working conditions that comes your way, but when it comes to it you're a scab.

Unions should also support a democratic view, IMO.
I'm all for Unions, was a Union rep myself for many years, back in the 70's. However, they can also be a bullying force in their own way. I grew up in the days of the Steelworks and Miners' strikes. Horrible, horrible things happened in those days, on both sides, a lot from the Unions themselves (Arthur Scargill et al).

OP - you cannot only belong to a Union to protect yourself. Think of all the hardships other people have suffered over the years to get you to this point. You do have to give something back in return, and stand up for your colleagues, at times. Comrades have fought in the past, and still fight now, to protect the beleaguered and downtrodden person. People like you and me!

However - sometimes, the Unions can be a bullying force in their own right (and my family has been on the receiving end of that too). All well and good "fighting for the rights", but that should take into account everyone's viewpoint - the UK is still a democracy, thank goodness, and isn't that part of what a Trade Union is all about?????? Rights and views of ALL people

It is particularly hard to strike if you are in a caring profession, because you have entered that profession as a vocation, and it is very hard, if you know you are letting those people down.

Rock and Hard Place

I am a massive suuport for trade unions and have already said I think the op is being unreasonable.
I really dont like the use of 'scab' though. The days of unions increasing their power through intimidation and name calling are over, I believe we have to convince people to join in collective action because it's the right thing to do, because its what we believe in. Not through being unpleasant and rude.
members of unions should join together to take action together because we are strongest together, not because we'll turn on anyone who doesn't agree.

YANBU at all

Can't believe the comments some people are making

Such a terrible person for caring about the patients

That should say massive supporter.

The way I feel is thy if I believe go to a union then I have to take the tough with the smooth.

I am a union member incase I ever need support.

But in return that means I have to listen to my union at other times. Even if I don't vote to strike if my union calls us out then I should go out on strike and support my union.

If I didn't feel I could so that then I have no right to be in that union and should leave. There are usually alternatives, and some who have no strike action policies in place.

I don't think you should pick and choose which bits suit you, and then Still be happy to pick up the benefits of everyone else's collective action.

So if you don't agree with your unions call to strike- leave the union and find one that matches your beliefs.

Those saying that the op is right not to strike....

Do you think that those choosing to strike care less about their patients and care less about their job/career?

Do health workers, TAs and many junior council employees have a non striking alternative union?

Also would you be calling scab at strike breaking teachers if they were running a trip for your six year old!

My DDad is due to have treatment to preserve his sight on Tuesday (it's time sensitive). I certainly won't be calling anyone who chooses to run that clinic rude names.

Unison, is too big to respond to local conditions, sometimes workers should make their own decisions and be respected for them.

Elephantsneverforgive - I think VOICE are non striking

Last strike my union was involved in, I couldn't afford to lose a days pay, because ex had walked out and I was financially pushed.

I did resign from the union and told them that it was because I couldn't cross a picket line as a member but I had to work.

Local reps understood my situation. I'd been a union member for over 20 years and had been on strike on previous occasions - some I agreed with and some I didn't. But as a union member, you go along with the vote, or you leave.

For me it was a point of principle as Hulababy says.

I was appalled and disgusted when I was the only member of staff (out of a possible 10) who went on strike recently (education). I know that my colleagues would be only to quick to contact their union if they had a contractual problem, yet not one of them was prepared to go out on strike called by that same union.

As such OP, I think you are being completely unreasonable. If you don't want to strike, then either don't join the union or join a union which doesn't strike.

I presume you will be refusing to accept any advantages in pay or working conditions that union negotiates if you feel unable to support this strike?

That's what it reads like doesn't it Hula?

And how can anyone be actually happy crossing a picket line?? This is not directed at OP.
I actually can respect someone not in a Union, that is their choice. But to cross a picket line and give 'short shift' - away, and give your head a wobble!

Elephants - I wouldn't send my kids to school if their teacher was scabbing, and I'd tell the teacher why.

My Dad was a Steelworker, in the 80's. Big strike, that lasted for a number of months. He could not cross the Picket Line, for fear of being labelled a "Scab", even though he disagreed with the strike. He was a supervisor and made sure he filled out all the forms for the people below him, so they got their strike pay. No-one did the same for him.

We had our car repossessed and eventually lost our home, because he couldn't manage the mortgage payments, because he was on enforced strike, by the Union.
That's what the Union did for us. Not always good!

I felt quite saddened at the recent strike at my work by the number of union members who shuffled past the picket line into work, heads down not making eye contact, these are people I have worked with for years and have lost some respect for now. However I would never ever call them a scab, because as I said I think we have to behave with a bit more decorum than that and have to show people that we are actually right, i mean thats the crux of it surely, the only real alternative to collective action is rolling over and letting the government take us up the arse.
I will be at the london march on saturday too, hope theres a good turn out.

Elephant, yes, a teacher breaking a strike to take six year olds on a trip would be a scab. In my school they would certainly be called it and be treated with hostility. Taking six year olds on a trip is not an essential task. On the other hand, teachers who have been given permission to break the strike because they performed essential care to severely handicapped pupils were not called scabs, and they were given exemption from strike by the union. From what members of the union that is striking now are writing here, the same considerations are been giving in the strike the OP is involved in.

Littlefish, I was in a very similar position to you (in education), one of a minority on strike. In fact a fellow union member did my work while I went on strike and wondered why I was upset! Many staff now have no pay rise due to performance related pay. Some justice?

But to cross a picket line and give 'short shift' - away, and give your head a wobble!

Should that not depend upon certain circumstances, though, as mentioned previously. Why would one wish to "wobble" their head? What does that actually mean? Is that new-age derogatory speak, for those of us who have actually gone through major Union "Actions" over the years? Really, genuinely interested

Sorry Sonjay but providing fun for children in the joyless education system that Ofsted are trying to bring about is far far more important than striking.

One teacher cannot, make any difference to the national situation, but they can bring joy to a small child's life.

Be very very careful which you choose. One day that small child might be yours!

providing fun for children in the joyless education system that Ofsted are trying to bring about is far far more important than striking

In your opinion..

Ive never actually heard anyone use the name scab in real life at school and no one is made to feel bad. but when a strike is called it is always discussed and if anyone mentions not striking it is pointed out the issues re not striking. We tend to agree that if you belong to a union you take the rough and the smooth, and that in Education working with children it really is essential to be in a union, just incase. But there are non striking unions if people feel strongly.

What's more we also agree not to cover each other's work. So TAs don't cover for teachers, teachers don't cover for TAs and non different and/or non union members don't cover for each other either.

Fortunately our ht is very supportive and she herself was an NUT union member all the time before being a ht and went on strike when called to. She's now in a HT union but always supports those who strike and gets up to date advise from any unions involved.

This thread demonstrates the reasons why there is one union member in my workplace out of a potential 200 or so.

If union members are going to be 'disappointed' with non-members and call non- strikers scabs, that is likely to reduce union membership at least as quickly as anything the govt might do.