Crossing picket lines when in a trade union

[Kiddiewinks2008]

I'm a public sector worker in a trade union who is currently out on strike. I didnt vote for the action but feel that if I am in a union, then I have to support their decisions. I have had to use them in the past for bullying in work for which they were invaluable.
My manager is also in the trade union, has been lecturing non union members all week about the pay dispute and how the employers are in the wrong. And then crossed the picket line and went to work.

I'm really cross about it- I have lost pay etc but feel collective union power is undermined if we all dont support their action.

AIBU to be pissed off about manager crossing the picket line? I have no idea about the etiquette of strike action anymore but surely its defeating the object of a picket line.

Trade unions (and UCU are no different) will not always choose to support a member, so members are not at all obliged to support strike action called for. They can be encouraged of course, and it's a fair argument to say they shouldn't cherry pick the bits of membership that suit them, but they can't be coerced to participate nevertheless.

I've never crossed a picket line when my union (UNISON) was on strike, but I've gone in when informed by my union that they have the agreement of the striking union/s that we could work.
I worked as support staff in education, so there were at least 4 different unions where I worked (UNISON, NUT, UCU and ASCL), and I could never understand why they didn't all agree on a day to strike, as otherwise, it had little effect on our organisation, because members of one or two unions were always working, so the place 'ticked over'...!

Do you know he's definitely UCU though and not in another Union? I work at a uni but very little effect in the bits I work in because we're mainly Unison or Unite. Especially non-academics, haven't heard of anything happening bar one email.

I think also, if there is something absolutely crucial for the students sake at this time of year (eg exam related) them it can sometimes be acceptable to cross if it really would badly disadvantage students

YABU

A union should not be a dictature for its members. If a union member is against a specific strike, then of course he should be able to go to work even if it means crossing a picket line.
Members in said picket line should show respect as well, and not start a fight as I have seen in the past.

Definately UCU as manager told me. I also don't get why all the unions can't get joint action sorted though! Well, I am glad I stayed away, despite not agreeing with the action!

I'm surprised to see this post

There are many reasons to vote for or against strike action. If a person doesn't agree with the reasons for striking, they aren't going to strike. Seems logical and fair. I wouldn't belong to a union if I felt they were dictating to me.

if youre in the union taking action, you dont cross the line

other unions lines- carry on

I was on a UCU picket line this morning, and we had to let loads of people through - most not in USU but Unison who weren't joining this one, and they tended to make some indication of apology/support/embarrassment.

I'm surprised your manager went on about it and then crossed the line though - that seems inexplicable.

If you aren't prepared to abide by the democratically-expressed wishes of the majority, then you should leave the union. Then you're free to go into work as you please.

I wonder how many of these strike-breakers will refuse to accept the (still paltry) additional pay rise the employers will no doubt offer after a few months of action?

its a difficult one, I am a union member, voted against the strike and came in. I agree with aspects of the strike but overall feel HE needs an overall. Too many people at the top of the pay scale drifting through till retirement (these tend to be the most vocal in calling for a pay rise). It will be interesting to see how much support there is (from staff, students and parents) if the strike action continues, we have been told the next possible targets are graduation ceremonies and clearing.

It's a dumb time for a strike here as the students are gone and in effect all it means is we'll be marking through the weekend (which also breaks the union's rules) because the exam board won't move. I support this strike less than any we've had but.... hey ho.

Work to contract Seek! No weekend working - particularly as the employers have stipulated that they will be docking pay on the basis of a 5 day week. If the marking is late, then the exam board will be disrupted. That's the whole point.

My lot stay at home but still mark, just sit on the marks and don't hand them over to admin until the strike is over, otherwise the backlog just gets too much. I'm support staff but could join UCU, but haven't, so am here. The picket line was fairly small this morning.

Maud I know but there are particular reasons why that would be very difficult. I am inclined to work to contract and just submit what's there, but I think most people just broke their arses getting it all done before the strike to avoid working over Bank Holiday Weekend....

If a politician always voted with their party no matter what their own personal views it would make a good democracy.

I really whole heartedly disagree with this.

Sometimes democratic decisions can be morally wrong. These are the ones we most need personal, moral convictions for and have individuals prepared to break with the party line.

Progress is usually made by those who stick their head over the parapet in defiance of the current school of popular thought.

We need to also remember that democratic votes are the outcome of only the people who ^actually* vote, and many people don't vote for whatever reason (perhaps they think all options on offer are unrepresentative and morally wrong). The 'majority' might actually only have 30% of the people illegible to vote leaving 70% who effectively abstained or voted against it.

Sometimes it is right to act independently, if its for the right reasons and is done in an appropriate manner.

Whether that includes crossing a picket line or not is open to debate for me.

I'm sure that there are some situations where a democratic vote has been made but individuals feel it is necessary for a few people to cross a pick line in order to maintain public safety for example and they morally feel they can't abide by the majority decision on a single issue but support the union on all other action.

Forcing individuals out of a union as a result is therefore cutting your nose of to spite your face. That person would have crossed the picket line as a non-union member instead. Your union however would be one member down on all other agendas and thus eats away at the bargaining power of the union.

If many people are doing it, it raises questions about how the union have handled the issue and just how representative the union are actually being and whether what they are expecting their union members to do, is a) reasonable b) in their best interests after all

The vast majority won't cross a picket anyway. If you do, you have to have a damn good reason because you know you will get abuse for doing so. If someone is prepared to put up with that abuse, then actually maybe you do need to stop for a second and consider just why they feel so strongly that they have to defy the union.

Its not an easy or straightforward decision to come to and I think perhaps people are too quick to make the assumption that it is.

So no I don't think you should leave the union by default or be thrown out. I think its a very stupid way to deal with the problem tbh. Unions don't 'win' anything or achieve any more power by doing so.

People saying that they could not lose a days pay but quite happily call the union in when it suits them are disgraceful in my opinion.

No one knows the the circumstances behind why the manager crossed the line despite agreeing with the strike. Sometimes circumstances occur in your life where you have to make a very difficult choice and others looking from the outside can be left wondering what on earth your playing at. Maybe the manager has something personal going personally where this has happened and simply whats those who can to support it whilst she concentrates on something else which nobody else knows about because its simply her tough decision to make and it would be just to hard to explain.
The point I'm trying to make is that life can sometimes put you in a difficult position and there is no easy answer and no keeping everyone happy.

People saying that they could not lose a days pay but quite happily call the union in when it suits them are disgraceful in my op

It actually hadn't occurred to me that not being able to afford to lose a day's pay might be an issue. But some of our RAs etc are on shit money, and if you can't afford to pay your rent or eat (which I have no doubt would be an issue for some staff) then you can't afford to have issues.

The pay award was absolutely derisory though wasn't it? Something like 1.1%?

Our branch would rather pay you from our fund than have you cross a picket line. There is no excuse for crossing your own unions picket line. Leave the union.

*leave the union if you wont support the strike by staying away from work

It's two days we're losing, not just one - it's not inconsiderable. And yes, the offer was 1.1%.

change your ringtone to this whenever he calls you

Unions will advise any pregnant members to go to work when the union is on strike, as if you are on strike then the employer could manage to escape paying maternity pay (something to do with what is counted as consecutive service, which a strike would break).

My union used to have a fund for people who would face undue hardship from losing a day's pay on striking, but they almost never had a strike anyway - I don't know if other unions do? Would cost the RMT and other regular-striking unions a fortune, unless many employers are like the civil service and can't be bothered to calculate a day's reduction in pay.

Bill "It actually hadn't occurred to me that not being able to afford to lose a day's pay might be an issue."

oh. I would have thought that would be a big reason for not striking.

Do most unions have a fund for those who can't afford it - when I last didn't go on strike (sorry, terrible grammar), my union rep was very understanding but didn't tell me anything about having an option to get that salary back from the union. Maybe I should be questioning how mine works!

We donate a days pay instead if not striking eg if a day off anyway as pt, or as in your example notcitrus if pregnant or about to take retirement. That goes towards the fighting/hardship fund

1.1% was the offer yes.

What really mobilised me about the strike (while I was previously unsure) was a communication from UCU pointing out that last year's pension raid was justified by employers on the basis that they couldn't afford the previous pension arrangements because we would all be getting pay rises of 4.2% each year. The FIRST YEAR after that, they offer us a derisory 1.1%.