To not want to strike ?

[Idontwanttostrike]

Nurses strike tomorrow and I'm not doing it. I know I'm being selfish but I don't want to lose money before Christmas plus still have to pay childcare to stand in the cold. My job is actually ok but I know others are suffering.
Feeling guilty now , anyone in same boat ?

Fuck off.

Are you working on the strike days? Ie walking in, that might be tough I hope work isn’t too difficult after

Yep. Agree with this, as a retired union rep myself.

If nobody will want to work as a nurse anymore, perforce wages will go up. That's how the marketplace works.

I've left a job because I wanted more and they wouldn't give me. As an independent contractor I've refused and been refused because of my price. As an employer I've had an employee quit for the same reason.

You decide how much you want to be paid, the employer decides how much the position is worth to them. If you're both in agreement, fine. Otherwise you look for other work and they'll look for another worker.

Striking is inherently unfair as it tries to force the employer by holding Joe Public to ransom.

@RambamThankyouMam

No.

Could you strike on one of the days rather than both?

Some of these comments are disgusting.

How would those who called the OP a scab suggest she pays her gas bill?

It is completely understandable and sorry you are getting nasty responses.

It must be very difficult. Although I support nurses in so much that they deserve better working conditions, and understand why they’re striking I fail to see what the strike will achieve. The NHs will save a load of money tomorrow and waiting lists will just grow by another day more. They’ll still have all the catching up to do. Strikes are only really effective if you can affect the bottom line of a company.

That's fine, and looking at the language of some posters, its a shame they can't put forward an intelligent and reasoned argument without name calling and hysteria.

I'm not a nurse, but I'm in a different profession that had strikes recently. I didn't vote for strike action and I didn't strike.

Withdrawing your labour or leaving don't sound that different to me as negotiating strategies.

It takes years to train nurses, so waiting for everyone to leave before putting up wages seems a bit risky to me.

@Ringneck you can tell you haven't been briefed very well on this. Nursing is already facing massively shortages of labour and more and more qualified staff leaving every year, so your plan doesn't work clearly when you have pisstaker's in government.

Striking is the only way. Nurses haven't aasked for this, neither have the trade unions . It is the fault of the Tory government.
To those saying that they are going to scab- are you going to cross the picket line ? That is shameful if you are.

God, what a nightmare some people are. I'm sure OP would be more than happy to strike if she could afford to. Those that are striking what is the financial loss you will be taking? Can you afford to without your family suffering..and I don't mean you not having an extra bottle of wine over xmas/getting nails/hair done etc. Do you have enough to ensure your bills are paid for the next month or so?
I'm sure the OP has made the decision she feels is the right one for her personal circumstances and nobody has the right to judge.

Wow. Horrendous comments on both sides. Everyone should have a right to strike, and a right not to strike, without being subject to abusive behaviour.

The NHS isn't run for profit, so that's not the lever here. The impact is on the public, which then puts pressure on the government.

She can refuse to strike - that is her right. She doesn't have the right to expect others to approve of her decision.

No one compelled her to post about it.

This. I personally know people who work for the NHS on strike who have left in order to save lives. Wouldn't call them scabs, I'd call them heroes.

I'm on two weeks leave but I'm still striking for my colleagues who are on £13 an hour.

I've been very careful not to use emotive language, except to refer to strike breakers. That's factual - the OP is one.

Did you remain in your union?

If you're in the union and they have the majority required for industrial action then you should support the union and strike. I'd be embarrassed to cross a picket line as a union member. Not to mention nervous!

Not wanting to lose 2 days pay is understandable, especially at this time of year. I'd imagine there will be a lot of nurses in the same position.

It's been a while since I was in a public service which was looking at striking. But from what I remember, some essential staff are allowed to work, I was as a SW working with extremely vulnerable people. So it's not the case that the patients will suffer additionally.

There was also the option to join a non-striking union or not join a union. To be in a union, but reject the basic premise of collective action with your peers, seems dim at best. Collective action only works if union members are willing to accept short term hardship for long term gains.

Frankly, the OP sounds like a wind-up.

OP just leave the union. There's no way you should accept the benefits of membership without understanding the responsibilities to your union brothers and sisters.

@MrsTerryPratchett spot on.