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.

My question was purely, if people think it is fine for a union member to cross their own picket line during a strike that has been called after a democratic ballot, would those same people defend me if I chose to reject a democratic decision not to strike and carried out my own choice to strike?

The problem with this is that it would not be a lawful strike and therefore you would not be protected under employment law and your employer could fire you for failing to carry out your duties. It would be your choice as to whether you wanted to do your own individual strike, but it would probably be seen as insubordination rather than industrial action.

Support the union or leave the union. Don't cross a picket.

You have to laugh at the hypocrisy.

What about, Support your employer or leave your job. Don't join a picket.

Well yes, that's why I said it doesn't cut both ways legally. And therefore it seems hypocritical to support people who work when their union colleagues are striking if the reverse isn't an option.
Mind, it's all a moot point as strikes will be so difficult under the proposed legislation and there'll be no picket line to cross anyway.

JeremyCorbyn
Did you hear the one about the women forced to wear heels and make up at work?
I could go on...left to their own devices, some people are shitty. And sometimes those people take money out of the pension fund. Or live it up while their lowest paid workers are on benefits.

People dont strike for the hell of it. This is not the 1970's any more.

Not voting to strike should be voting not to strike. If there is not a majority of members voting for a strike there should be no strike.

Great, can this apply to elections as well? Not voting for the government is voting against the government. Happy days!

EveryoneElsie, seriously?

I remember the the recent doctors strikes were all about patient safety, shortages of staff, poor work-life balance forcing doctors to quit or go to Australia. About everything except money, in fact.

Just yesterday I learned that the Union were in fact striking for the hell of it.

Yes, doctors are prone to such fripperies.
You've made your anti union stance very clear. Theres no need to labour the point.

Clearly a GF

No: there has to be a government (and a council) but there does not have to be a strike.

However when my union (GMB I'm a nurse) went on strike 2 years ago my manager purposefully didn't cover my shift with a non striking staff member (rcn didn't join the strike) so I had no choice but to break strike otherwise I was putting patients at risk and my own professional registration in jeapordy

There is absolutely no way whatsoever that the NMC would have you struck off for going on strike.

Also, staff ratios are the responsibility of your manager, not you. If it's a ward you're working on, I also can't see why you would be held accountable for something happening to a patient when you aren't there. If you're not on shift, you're not on shift.

You're probably right ipity however show me a nurse who would knowingly leave a ward without a single nurse on it. My manager forced my hand (he was an OT so couldn't cover the ward) since I felt I had an obligation to cover the ward since no one else would.

Thankfully I don't work there anymore, I think the words toxic environment would fit it perfectly.

And therefore it seems hypocritical to support people who work when their union colleagues are striking if the reverse isn't an option

Well, I or the union could 'support' you all I want but it's the employer who is allowed to fire you. Your loss of employment would not have anything to do with the union. Employers aren't allowed to fire legitimate strikers according to the law. The union has a vote for or against strike action and will strike if there is a majority vote. If you decide to breach your contract by refusing to work for some reason, you can't call that a strike.
Understanding the perspective of those who do not wish to take part in the action isn't necessarily hypocritical. People are allowed to make that choice and the union also needs to realise that the financial impact of strike action (when they have demonstrated in the past that they will settle for a very low pay increase and therefore calling into question the whole reason for the strike) is prohibitive for some members (given that they already pay a significant amount to be members).

Yes. I understand the legal issues. I'm not asking if I can. It's a hypothetical question.