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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not support strike action

297 replies

Happyhappyveggie · 25/01/2018 15:03

I’m in a university trade union and we have been called to take strike action over our pension.

The action is 14 days over 4 weeks, starting at 2 days a week and then escalating over that month to a full week.

I simply can’t do it. It will put my children and family security in trouble but now I am thinking should i leave the Union rather than strike break.

I am finding it all very stressful and upsetting actually as I support the need to protect pensions but it feels like my immediate circumstances are more important- as in keeping a roof over my kids heads.

Aibu? Can you be in a trade union and not support action? I find morally I am struggling with it.

OP posts:

araiwa · 25/01/2018 16:20

If as an individual you want to not strike, i have no problem with it.

But you cant be an individual in a union.

If you want to be an individual then you leave the union. Its all about the collective

WitchesHatRim · 25/01/2018 16:24

Im shocked that there are people who think being a scab is acceptable behaviour

I'm shocked that you a) think that's an acceptable way to talk about people and b) that you don't seem to accept that people have fully justifiable reasons for not striking

taskmaster · 25/01/2018 16:25

b) that you don't seem to accept that people have fully justifiable reasons for not striking

they don't. there is no justifiable reason for not striking and staying in the union.

stevie69 · 25/01/2018 16:26

But you cant be an individual in a union.

Of course you fucking can!

worridmum · 25/01/2018 16:26

You follow through with the majority of the union or you should leave it, what do you think would happen is all unions across the board had more people willing to break the strike then actually strike? In that case the unions would be powerless and we would all be up shit creek without a paddle.

You cannot cherry pick the bits you like (the positive stuff) while avoid any of the obligations aka actually striking and helping your fellow union members.

So YABVVVVVU if you do not want to strike leave the union.

WitchesHatRim · 25/01/2018 16:28

they don't. there is no justifiable reason for not striking and staying in the union.

At times yes there can be.

worridmum · 25/01/2018 16:29

I really hate sociality as a whole now its all about me me not about the anyone else, do you think woman would have the rights we have now if people back in the 50s, 60s and 70s broke the strike and continued to work undermining everything the unions were attempting to accomplish.

araiwa · 25/01/2018 16:29

I have no problem with people not striking as clearly stated previously.

But they need to hand in their membership card first

nietProblem · 25/01/2018 16:30

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Dipitydoda · 25/01/2018 16:30

Its up to you and the fact that you have to ask permission to keep a roof over your children's heads is indicative of the bully tactics that strikes represent, effectively holding people to ransom - if you don't like the terms of your job move to something else. Do not hold customers or colleagues to ransom, affecting their job security (SW trains I'm looking at you in particular), working and personal lives, all for your own pecuniary advantage. OP I applaud you for your bravery, if anyone bullies you over this report them to HR.

BishBoshBashBop · 25/01/2018 16:30

@araiwa sorry but you lose any argument you had when you started calling people scabs.

nonevernotever · 25/01/2018 16:31

I changed union precisely because of this issue, although I felt compelled to stay and go on strike for those occasions I'd been balloted on.

VivaLeBeaver · 25/01/2018 16:34

I’m a uni lecturer but not in this union. If I was I would strike or leave the union. Though interestingly I’m not in the pension scheme where the issue seems to be, our university is in the Teachers Pension scheme for some reason.

araiwa · 25/01/2018 16:35

Of course you can be an individual in a union but in the context of group action you go with the group or you leave

Kursk · 25/01/2018 16:38

Non union people- Another topic to add to the “things MN hates” list.

OP, family comes first.

Having worked in a heavily unionized industry, I very much dislike unions. They always seemed to prevent me from working every step of the way. To the extent it was cheaper and quicker to employ external contractors.

morningtoncrescent62 · 25/01/2018 16:42

You cannot cherry pick the bits you like (the positive stuff) while avoid any of the obligations aka actually striking and helping your fellow union members.

This. Your salary and your working conditions would be immeasurably worse if your older colleagues, and previous generations, hadn't fought (and lost pay) for your salary and pensions. As I understand it, UCU is going on strike to retain Defined Benefit pensions. It would be utter madness to give up DB without a fight - you'll stand to lose tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands in retirement.

If you decide you really can't afford it, then yes, I think you should leave the union. But have you investigated other alternatives? Is it possible to take a break from your mortgage payments, or have you a landlord who will be flexible for a couple of months? Will your union branch be setting up a food bank or similar so that you and your family don't go hungry? (If they haven't mentioned it yet, you could suggest it.) Given everything that unions have done and continue to do for us, not to mention the benefits that will accrue to you from other people's sacrifice, I would say leaving the union should be a very last resort, after you've exhausted all other possibilities to get by in the short term.

araiwa · 25/01/2018 16:43

I dont hate non union people or union people everyone is free to choose if they want to join or not

But i think if you choose to join, then you either support them or leave

PinkHeart5914 · 25/01/2018 16:44

Crossing the picket line is lowest of the low No a rapist or murderer would be the lowest of the low not someone generally worried about how the strike will effect there family.

OP your family’s needs of course come first so if you feel you can’t cope with the strike then don’t do it.

taskmaster · 25/01/2018 16:44

Non union people- Another topic to add to the “things MN hates” list

Stupid list since mn is not a thing and can not have a list of hates, but also noone has mentioned non union people. Its union people crossing a picket line that is the issue here.
No-one in their right mind can think that is ok.

WitchesHatRim · 25/01/2018 16:47

Its union people crossing a picket line that is the issue here.
No-one in their right mind can think that is ok

If they have a genuine reason to then it is OK.

Shouting 'scab' at people as has been done on this thread, or acting threatening towards people who cross picket lines, which I have seen, is pathetic, bullying behaviour.

taskmaster · 25/01/2018 16:47

Its not OK. If you have a genuine reason not to strike, you leave the union. That's ok.

Iggi999 · 25/01/2018 16:54

Won’t everyone striking need the money? Surely the hope is that you might strike for the first day or two and then they will give in or cut a deal... It’s not a foregone conclusion that all 14 days will happen.

WitchesHatRim · 25/01/2018 16:56

Won’t everyone striking need the money?

Well everyone has a different 'need' don't they. Some can manage quite easily without it, others it would leave them unable to pay rent.

Iggi999 · 25/01/2018 17:00

Hence, application to hardship fund before strike breaking.

InternetHoopJumper · 25/01/2018 17:03

If you don't stand with your coworkers during a strike you are telling your employer:

"Lower my pay! I am perfectly okay with it."

Your bosses won't thank you for not having a backbone. They may even distrust you after this.

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