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 ?

I’m in the RCN but working in the private sector so I don’t have to strike. I don’t agree with all these strikes and I really feel for you OP. Do what is best for you and your family.

You should feel guilty. Loads and loads of people are struggling, to be in a union, refuse to be inconvenienced then reap any benefits is atrocious behaviour.

I’m not working tomorrow but wish I was as I’m not allowed to strike if I’m not on shift (I am taking flasks of tea to those who are).

@Idontwanttostrike you going in may help someone else to exercise their right to strike so I don’t think badly of you.

YABU. But there are always those like you. I went on strike for pay rises that those that didn't enjoyed. It's your right not to strike, but i can judge you.

I'm so up for strikes. But I totally understand if you can't afford it.

Have you ever wondered why nurses in Just about every other country gets paid significantly better? Because they are prepared to go on strike and fight for their pay and conditions.
I despair at nurses here who constantly work themselves to death and then leave because of poor pay and conditions and then patients suffer anyway.
Nothing will ever change if we don’t fight and the government is taking advantage of the goodwill of nurses and I’m sick of subsidising the nhs for the Tory government.

Nurse in a very acute setting. I voted to strike but our Health board didn't reach the mandate.
If things don't change I fear for the future of the NHS. We get to breaking point then things get even worse and we are stretched even more.
Short staffing is normal. Nursing patients in corridors is normal. Even leaving poorly patients in plastic chairs or fractured hips in the back of trucks is normal.
How can that have become the norm?
We hate it. We apologise constantly. We go without breaks, don't drink enough, leave late (unpaid) or lie in bed panicking about what we might have missed. I don't know anyone who hasn't rung back to check on something.
We cannot go on. Sickness is high, morale is low, people are leaving.
And this is why I voted to strike.

1- so you’re struggling to pay your gas bill- does that not show you the need for collective action? You deserve a pay rise. Do you think the Tories will give you one out of the kindness of their hearts?

2- you choosing to cross a picket line undermines the sacrifice being made by the other union members. I’d feel terrible doing that to my colleagues.

I sympathise with your position, but I’d be going everything I could to find the money from elsewhere to pay the gas bill before crossing a picket line.

Patients will struggle yes if there's a strike, but far more will struggle in the long term if nursing isn't a desirable career and there are major recruitment issues leading to chronic short staffing.
Every member of staff struggles with the loss of money.

I’ve been a scab once. I was in local government. It was my first job. I joined the union as I thought I might need support at some point due to disability. I didn’t really understand how a union works- no one had explained collective bargaining.

I was intimidated because no-one in my department was striking. I had had quite a bit of sick leave due to mental illness and was at a stage where could go to capability.

The union reps would not have known that at the time. Those of you reps that would hate to represent a scab would that include me? Or would it just have made you look down on me until/if you ever found out?

Been teaching 25 years. Have been out on strike 3 times (the only times there have been strikes in that time despite what the right wing press may have others believe). It was easy for me to strike those times as I had no dependents. I have now a mortgage, two children, I use my salary to feed my pupils - I have still voted to strike. Change doesn’t happen without sacrifice and I fucking hate the Tories.

It’s your decision. I think people in your team will view you differently though. Most people can’t afford to strike.

You do what you need to do, OP. I wouldn’t judge you for it.

Personally, I completely disagree with strike action, so would never take part in strike action… but then nor would I ever join a Union. It’s a bit like having your cake and eating it IYSWIM? 🤷‍♀️

YABU. It'll be a difficult time for a lot of people to strike. I say this as it's AIBU and I presume you want honesty - I think you're (alongside the others who won't strike but will happily accept the pay rise etc.) utterly disgraceful for still accepting the benefits bought by those who make the sacrifice to strike for the greater good.

Yes you are being selfish - you can claim strike money back from your union to support. It's the governments fault and you're letting your colleagues down.

Sounds like you are actually coming from a position of privilege- many don't have the luxury not to strike

The OP has a right to strike and a right not to strike.
Clearly paying her gas bill this month and feeding her kids is her immediate problem.
Are all those calling 'scab' going to club together and pay her bills? Thought not.
OP, I think you have your priorities right. Your family must come first.

I would never call anyone a “scab” bit I would leave your union if you’re aren’t prepared to stand for the collective. I am in the NEU (the more vocal teaching union). There are other teacher unions but that is the one I chose. If I didn’t like their way of thinking I would leave. I advise you to do the same.

And are those who dislike the use of the word ‘scab’ going to give their share of benefits/pay rises to the striking workers who won them those benefits?

My grandad died in hospital when there was a nurses strike in Ireland.
It may have been a coincidence.
However I truly believe nurses and carers don't get paid enough in the UK or Ireland.
In Ireland they work 12 hr shifts which is nuts but the nurses voted for that here so they could work less days.
Is it the same in the UK ?

This.

Why would you have joined a union if you weren't prepared to abide by their decision to take industrial action? I feel strongly that if you aren't prepared to support industrial action that has been agreed following a proper ballot process, then you really have a moral obligation to resign from the trade union.

I'm not striking either - literally only joined the RCN for the indemnity cover!

Not everyone has to want to strike? It’s not compulsory to strike nor be in a union? No one, but no one, not rail workers nurses etc are having 20% in this economic climate so stay at home.

So you're going to remain a union member for the benefits?

I’m guessing this is doable otherwise it wouldn’t be an option. People vote to choose surely