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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Original poster
Happyhappyveggie · 25/01/2018 20:47

I voted for action short of a strike. I voted against strike action.

As I have said all the way through this post, I can’t afford to take strike action and I don’t take that decision lightly.

I am not being short sighted- I appreciate the issues at stake.

My point is that at the moment, I can’t afford to look to the long term when I’m struggling to feed my kids and keep a roof over their heads. Looking long term feels like a luxury at the moment.

OP posts:
Tapandgo · 25/01/2018 20:57

Ballots are needed for strikes and from that decisions about collective action are taken.
If you don’t want to abide for the vote and take the collective action as voted on by the majority ~ leave the union. Simple really.

Tapandgo · 25/01/2018 20:58

‘abide by’

WitchesHatRim · 25/01/2018 20:59

I'm also disappointed to read people's comments. A lot simply don't seem to understand how unions work

Fully understand how they work. Fully understand that for some losing money would literally mean bills or rent not being paid and that is something people have to consider.

One colleage (a) once had this discussion with another (b) saying it was wrong for them not to strike, how could they not that they were traitors etc. It was then pointed out to (a) colleague who as a family didnt need their wage but that for (b) colleague to strike they couldn't afford bills or food. They softened their stance a bit.

Striking and unions are quite emotive subjects however It doesn't excuse the language used by some on this thread.

c3pu · 25/01/2018 20:59

If you pay your union subs OP, I would feel no shame in accepting any deal "won" by industrial action, even if you were unable to carry out the industrial action that you didn't vote for.

Mouikey · 25/01/2018 21:00

Sorry if you have answers this, but do contact the your union about the hardship fund, it is absolutely there to support families in the position you find yourself.

By leaving the union you will also loose your ‘insurance’ for support at work if things go wrong - don’t undervalue this element of your subs because to me this is the most important bit that you are paying for.

I’d also like to think that unions (apart from maybe one I can think of in the transport field in London) don’t call for strike action lightly because many of their members are some of the lowest paid.

I am also aware of the backlash that can come with crossing the picket line - this in one instance I am aware of was tantamount to bullying and the effect lasted for a number of years.

I don’t envy your decision as I would not want to strike either, but then I also signed up not just for protection but knowing that a strike could be a possibility

taskmaster · 25/01/2018 21:02

I would. Feel shame that you won something because other people suffered for you. You think everyone else can easily afford it? Of course not. They will suffer and you will take what they won, without putting yourself out at all.
You should feel shame for that.

WitchesHatRim · 25/01/2018 21:02

Sorry if you have answers this, but do contact the your union about the hardship fund, it is absolutely there to support families in the position you find yourself.

RTFT OP has already said they have.

Lovesagin · 25/01/2018 21:19

I'd feel no shame at all. It's unfortunate that op cannot afford to strike now, perhaps in the future she can. She's paid her subs and is entitled to their protection.

tentative3 · 25/01/2018 21:19

I’d also like to think that unions (apart from maybe one I can think of in the transport field in London) don’t call for strike action lightly because many of their members are some of the lowest paid.

Hmm

Your union's cause is more valid than theirs is it?

ilovesooty · 25/01/2018 21:29

Lovesagin so unions to you are nothing more than insurance policies?

Mouikey · 25/01/2018 21:33

*hmm

Your union's cause is more valid than theirs is it?*

Not at all - there is a particular union who seemed to always be striking and the reasons to me weren’t the big stuff (like pensions etc) but things that had happened to one or two workers following some unfortunate circumstances. How their members coped with regular walk outs I will never know.

Following a change in leadership I don’t hear of the same level of strikes - and if there have been it’s been for the big stuff that has impacted workers or customers. I’m not sure whether there was a correlation with the leadership but I suspect so.

As a steward on the executive at our branch I consider this particular unions approach in the past to have a significant and detrimental impact on how the wider public have perceived unions more widely. What you rarely hear in the press is about all the good work all unions do at the local level to support individuals.

Also apologies for not reading the full thread I know this is a mumsnet faux pas.

taskmaster · 25/01/2018 21:36

She's paid her subs and is entitled to their protection

She isn't , if she doesn't be part of that protection. The union is the members, they protect each other. If OP says no, I will not support my union, I will not support the members, I will not help them use the withdrawal of labour as means to win concessions, then she is absolutely not entitled to their protection any more.

JacquesHammer · 25/01/2018 21:38

I felt absolutely no shame whatsoever. My priority was the child I had agreed to support and therefore I continued to give him that support

Mouikey · 25/01/2018 21:39

ilovesooty. Many members view membership as an insurance policy to give support if they are subject to a grievance or disciplinary - or they have some interest in the formulation of local policies. However many don’t actively engage unless they have a specific problem so comparisons are often made to insurance policies.

Cavelady67 · 25/01/2018 21:39

14 days over 4 weeks is a hell of a long time and I wonder how many people can really afford to lose that much pay. I certainly couldn't. Fortunately the union I am in never votes to strike, and the one time they did I was on Mat leave anyway.

Although I sympathise with the cause, I just wouldn't strike for 14 days out of a month. I'd understand if you decided not to, although I suspect you will get a hard time from those who do go out on strike.

MaryWortleyMontagu · 25/01/2018 21:42

It is a hell of a long time but the point is that we've done one or two day strikes in the past and it hasn't made any difference. This issue is too huge not to try and put up a serious fight.

k2p2k2tog · 25/01/2018 21:46

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

I'm shocked that people still use language like "scab". Are we back in 1983?

Lovesagin · 25/01/2018 21:47

Confused no, obviously, but op is clearly struggling at the moment, I certainly wouldn't judge anyone in her position for putting their family first and it's clear it's not a decision taken lightly. Maybe in future if more strike action is taken she will be able to support it then.

I guess I'm just trying to show a bit of support to the op, some of the replies andnattitudes on here are really bizarre

taskmaster · 25/01/2018 21:49

They aren;t bizarre, they just understand what a union is.

I have sympathy for OP. It's very simple for her: she does not agree with her unions decision and will not support their action. So leave it, go to work, get paid.
Why aren't you supporting that if you feel sorry for OP? It's the easy way to deal with her issue.

ilovesooty · 25/01/2018 21:51

Mouikey I'm aware of that. I think it's very unfortunate.

Perhaps people who feel like that could consider taking out legal protection with their home insurance or joining a non striking association if that is available to them rather than undermining their fellow union members who want to fight for better conditions.

HollaHolla · 25/01/2018 21:51

This is indeed an enormous (and emotive) subject. I’m in a post-92, and in UCU.... but am also in USS, as are about 25 of us at my institution, as they honour the transfer in of the scheme.
I’m on my own, single and childless - I am relying on my pension to keep me in old age. My 13% (I think) of salary will add up over 40-odd years. I want there to be enough for me to live on.
If I were entitled to strike (I’m not in this case), I would be doing so. It would cause me fairly significant hardship, but I’d feel a fraud not doing so. As it is, I’ll be contributing to the UCU strike fund.
The thought of the whole thing makes me feel ill. Sad

anonymice · 25/01/2018 21:53

Please chase the hardship fund. Email your regional rep and ask. I have been on every strike UCU has called, even as a grad student living on very low wages. It really is worth doing if you possibly can. Unions just collapse if we don't carry out the action voted for by the majority. You'll get no hard time from me though, I understand that that is too much money to lose.

Lovesagin · 25/01/2018 22:02

I agree I'm no union expert, I only worked with one for around 2 years so not very long and no real complex issues or negotiations really required as we had an excellent working relationship. And I was a member of one for around 3 years and had them assist me with a redundancy situation. never had to strike but i probably would have as back then my outgoings were minimal and I was single, no kids. This was a good few years ago so things have probably changed to be fair.

Doesn't it depend on the union whether op has to leave? I might be wrong there I admit. If op doesn't have to leave then surely it's a moral decision. And morally surely shouldn't be made to feel they should leave because striking could cause financial issues.

If op does have to leave because rules, then i think that's shit but fair enough.

Moussemoose · 25/01/2018 22:02

When your pension is shit who will you blame?
When working conditions are eroded who will you blame?
When your children have worse in work benefits than you who will you blame?
When you lose the right to strike who will you blame?
When you are sacked with no recourse who will you blame?

All the benefits you have were fought for: sick pay, holiday pay your pension. They weren't given to you by benevolent employers they were fought for. Fought for by people with children and houses and bills.

You want the benefits and the money others fought for and now it is your turn to take action to help yourself, others and your children you don't want to.

All of you posters who are criticising unions you want what others fought for but you won't fight for your children's rights. Shame on you.