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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Don't want to join the teaching strike

464 replies

SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 19:17

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.

OP posts:
Noodledoodledoo · 05/01/2023 19:49

I was in a union that generally didn't resort to striking, it joined with a union who opt for strikes. I left that one during covid as struggled with their stand point.

I, on the whole don't agree with strike action as a teacher, I don't think it's fair on the students and the press make the public hate us even more, the government are unlikely to budge. Been around teaching too long, personally and from a teaching family.

You do you. I'm not voting however many times I'm badgered to do so.

gawditswindy · 05/01/2023 19:50

I judge union members that don't strike, yes. Those who are happy with collective benefits but are unwilling to take collective action should not be a member of a union.

Puffalicious · 05/01/2023 19:52

Your decision in a democracy, but the union directive is to follow union decisions. A union supports each other.

I'm in Scotland. We've already had 2 days of strikes and there will be 3 more in January. I'm willing to lose pay when I cannot afford to for the longer term recognition of better pay for a thankless job. I am angry at colleagues who will stay in work, not lose pay yet still accept a pay rise if one is agreed. Bloody cheek.

Bard6817 · 05/01/2023 19:52

SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 19:17

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.

Thank you.

I was a teenager in the 80’s when we had never ending strikes and work to rule. The disruption it caused was immense and although i loved it at the time, we missed a lot and i’m pretty sure it contributed to some awfull grades and thus i couldn’t attend uni, until much later in life.

It seemed to go on for 12-24 months.

So thank you for all the kids not being put in the middle.

sunshinealwayscomesback · 05/01/2023 19:52

A union is called that because you are meant to provide a unified front. Saying you get better protection in a large union but you don't need to follow majority voting does not sit right with me. We all don't want disruption. We all will get behind with a day off - what a personalised reason not to strike, why be in something called a union if you only act in your own interests? We certainly will all miss the money we lose. But we are unified in our action to try to achieve long-term goals. At least we are meant to be.

Puffalicious · 05/01/2023 19:53

gawditswindy · 05/01/2023 19:50

I judge union members that don't strike, yes. Those who are happy with collective benefits but are unwilling to take collective action should not be a member of a union.

You said it far more succinctly than I did!

Malbecfan · 05/01/2023 19:53

I've been teaching for 28 years and this is the 1st time I have voted to strike. I have swallowed every change of specification and curriculum, I've taken cuts to my pension and even reluctantly accepted I'll have to work for longer before I draw my reduced pension. But this is now a step too far. This government are a shower of shits. They don't care about public sector workers and they certainly give zero fucks about children. To announce a payrise which is way below the rate of inflation and say it should come out of budgets which were set months earlier is cynical and cruel. My pay has been eroded over the last 12 years and I'm sick of it. If you don't want to strike, join Edapt.

MistressIggi · 05/01/2023 19:54

OP you want to have your cake and eat it - to not vote to strike, still have the protection of a strong union, and not be judged by anyone else in the union!

Redebs · 05/01/2023 19:55

The disadvantages children will suffer in an underfunded education system far outweigh the brief disruption caused by a teachers' strike.
Unless you work in a private school, your pupils will ultimately fare less well if teachers don't stick together and oppose government failings.

It is your duty to take industrial action when called upon by your union. It's the only way to defend education. If you give in to emotional blackmail, you have no power at all.

MistressIggi · 05/01/2023 19:58

Malbecfan · 05/01/2023 19:53

I've been teaching for 28 years and this is the 1st time I have voted to strike. I have swallowed every change of specification and curriculum, I've taken cuts to my pension and even reluctantly accepted I'll have to work for longer before I draw my reduced pension. But this is now a step too far. This government are a shower of shits. They don't care about public sector workers and they certainly give zero fucks about children. To announce a payrise which is way below the rate of inflation and say it should come out of budgets which were set months earlier is cynical and cruel. My pay has been eroded over the last 12 years and I'm sick of it. If you don't want to strike, join Edapt.

Well said.

ilovesooty · 05/01/2023 20:00

Seasidesusy · 05/01/2023 19:27

Why be a member of a union that strikes if you’re not prepared to strike? We have been balloted - your vote is your choice - and we should follow the NEU’s directions. If you don’t like them, join a different union.

Absolutely.

TheMoth · 05/01/2023 20:02

I'm more worried that too many teachers are a bit apathetic and won't vote at all. Especially younger ones.

LoveCillian · 05/01/2023 20:03

Surely you would not stay in the Union if you did not strike ?
Personally I could never cross a picket line

ReginaGeorgeismyname · 05/01/2023 20:03

I must be very fortunate with my colleagues. No one is pressuring anyone either way. To strike or not is a personal decision.

echt · 05/01/2023 20:05

You will be judged, and rightly too.

Others will be going without pay and pension payments to support their union, and hopefully improve T&C, while people like you hang on their coattails.

Hankunamatata · 05/01/2023 20:06

Our primary teachers don't want to strike but they don't have a choice if they want to stay in their unions

Puffalicious · 05/01/2023 20:08

ReginaGeorgeismyname · 05/01/2023 20:03

I must be very fortunate with my colleagues. No one is pressuring anyone either way. To strike or not is a personal decision.

It shouldn't be- it's a union decision. If you don't want to follow union guidance don't be in a union. Simple.

Thatcher has a lot to answer for.

Redebs · 05/01/2023 20:08

echt · 05/01/2023 20:05

You will be judged, and rightly too.

Others will be going without pay and pension payments to support their union, and hopefully improve T&C, while people like you hang on their coattails.

Yes, precisely

CorvusPurpureus · 05/01/2023 20:08

Leave the union. You don't agree with their methods so you would be hypocritical to stay in.

Non striking unions are available. Join one.

Problem solved.

Puffalicious · 05/01/2023 20:09

echt · 05/01/2023 20:05

You will be judged, and rightly too.

Others will be going without pay and pension payments to support their union, and hopefully improve T&C, while people like you hang on their coattails.

Yup.

If you crossed my picket line I'd judge you and never see you in the same light ever again.

RaininSummer · 05/01/2023 20:10

You can vote however you like and your colleagues will not know. They will notice if you don't follow a democratic vote result and support the agreed action. You shouldn't be in the union if you don't believe in doing this.

Fairydustandsparklylights · 05/01/2023 20:13

Join a different union then. At our school, you wouldn’t be viewed very favourably. People would know you haven’t joined.

HarvestThyme · 05/01/2023 20:14

There is no way I would ever cross a picket line of my co-workers. That is low.

TheFallenMadonna · 05/01/2023 20:17

Edapt isn't a union, but it is the alternative for school staff who want an apolitical organisation focused on legal support. The point of unions is solidarity in response to disputes.

DistantSkye · 05/01/2023 20:17

As someone else put upthread - I would judge someone who was willing to accept the benefits of a union without taking part in the action. It absolutely is your choice whether to strike or not but I don't see why you expect your decision not to be judged by others if you end up crossing the picket line.
I'm not in England but I'm sure there are not striking unions there, as there are where I am.