Don't want to join the teaching strike

[SweetRascal]

I'm a primary school teacher of 12 years and with the NEU. For my own reasons, I don't want to vote yes to striking but will this be judged negatively by other teachers? I just don't feel comfortable with the disruption it causes.

"We do feel guilt for not striking but every person we have spoken to in the real world has been wonderful and supportive."

I think you are right to feel guilt. You are in a union for the security and benefits it affords, yet will not accept the results of the ballot or act on their direction. Teachers in the NEU who go into work are weakening our bargaining position and playing into the government's hands. Look how much unionisation has achieved for teachers in recent decades to see how important it is that all members act for the common good. To reap the benefits as long as others make the sacrifices seems morally bereft to me.

"The reality is at least 50% of members didn’t vote for this strike."

No 50% either didn't receive their ballot paper or couldn't be arsed to return it. Anyone who was against striking returned a no vote and there were very few of those.

Yeah if they didn't want to strike they should have voted accordingly

You really shouldn’t be in a union if you aren’t prepared to strike when the majority of your union votes for it. You are actively working against your colleagues. It’s really shameful in my view.
If you can’t or choose not to strike then you should leave the union not cross the picket line.

Perhaps unions need to give civics and history lessons before membership.

I’m astonished at some of replies on here - the naïveté of adults who have never considered the implications of union membership! It’s a collective bargaining institution- if we don’t act together it’s pointless. I didn’t get a democratic say in the laws of the land but I’m not about to start breaking the ones I dislike. Unions are for workers who are willing to be part of a mutually supportive community. If you don’t intend to act collectively with your union, please leave it. The time and energy of hard-working reps should not be spent on people who look out for their own pocket, and go against collectively agreed strike action.

Apply to the union hardship fund.

Don’t understand what you mean? My union (not teaching) has a hardship fund you can apply to if you’re struggling as a result of pay deductions from strike action.

I bet you'll accept the pay rise OP if the strike wins one. It's your decision OP but ultimately you will be letting others do the fighting on your behalf. If you don't think teachers should get a pay rise and you'll donate any extra money you get back to the school that's another matter.

For what it's worth i also don't want to strike and worry about the disruption. I'm therefore going to give my students the work they'll miss in advance so they don't miss out too much.

I'm not a teacher and support strikers generally but get school closures can be disastrous for some families.

I'm curious though, are you happy with your pay and conditions?

Your vote is private, but your colleagues will see you scabbing when you cross the picket line.

HTH

Really dislike teachers setting on other teachers when we should be focusing on the real enemy.

Why be a member of a union that strikes if you’re not prepared to strike?

To stand on the shoulders of those who do strike and make sacrifices I’m guessing.

I’m guessing won’t be turning down any pay increase the strikes may bring about.

Well, neither will members of the NASUWT or non union members.

Three days works out as a lot of money and I am sympathetic to those who can’t afford it.

But don’t people understand that these strikes are to help improve your situations so you will have better conditions and be able to afford more?? Yes it makes life difficult in the moment, but isn’t that worth it for a better future?

It sounds straightforward but it isn’t.

It’s like the argument that it’s better to spend £6000 on a reliable car than £600 on one that will keep breaking down. If you do the sums of replacing old bangers, taxi fares or public transport when it does break down, garage costs, then you probably spend more than £6000 over a five year period. It doesn’t mean that you can just find £6000, no matter how sensible it might be.

A loss of around £300-£500 from a normal salary isn’t going to be one everybody can afford. It may or may not give results in the future, but it doesn’t make it affordable now.

I only know recently which unions people are in so would not label any colleague a scab as I do not know this info about them to make this judgement. In the grand scheme of things I know very little about this info about most of my school - just my department really, plenty of other teachers in the school I would have no clue about - I know a rough idea of the number of NEU in my school as the rep is in my department.

Also the assumption that those who don't strike do nothing is fairly narrow minded, maybe they do other things to make their opinion heard.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/eis-nasuwt-scotland-teachers-scottish-government-b2266120.html

Strike breakers have the right to be scabs if they want. Union members have the right to respect them less.

Yes I would absolutely judge a teacher that crossed a picket line especially if they were a union member. Strikes are hard and they involve sacrifice but they ultimately benefit all workers. Think yourself lucky you’re not a bloody miner!

I am also a union member. Being a member doesn't remove your right to think for yourself. Although reading some of these replies makes me wonder.

Jesus Christ. I am a teacher of 10 years+. I am already struggling MASSIVELY at the moment, financially. I would go under if I went on strike for all the days pitched. I would default on my mortgage and the hardship fund just wouldn't cover it. I am a single parent on a single income. What on earth am I supposed to do? Potentially lose my child's home that I've worked my arse off for?
I completely understand it's for the greater good and the long game, but I'm afraid I have to live in the here and now. And it's HARD.
People that are so hard line about striking when part of a union it seems are in a more privileged position than I am. It's just not an option for me.
I cannot afford it.

@Getinajollymood is exactly right. We wouldn't be shaming people struggling in any other difficult financial circumstances, this is no different.

As an ex teacher honestly, really sorry but yeah I would judge you. No one wants to strike no one feels great about it. You would still enjoy the benefits of anything gained from the strike which is unfair. My husband is a teacher and is not in that union, we are relieved as we can’t lose the days pay but if he had been called out he was duty bound to do it. I think maybe you should join a non strike union, it might suit your needs more and you wouldn’t be in a hard position now.