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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:
Delorestormborn · 05/01/2023 20:52

Don’t strike then if you feel strongly about it.
I would never ever comment to another teacher who decided not to strike. They would never know that I think they are truly awful not to join the protest and ridiculously naive to think that there isn’t going to be an insane amount of disruption from continued budget cuts and failure to pay staff a proper wage.
People like you make me rage. The idea that one day protest is going to cause ‘too much disruption’ when loads of kids have weeks off to get cheap holidays or days off for special occasions.
You’re not a scared cow doing magic work you’re a teacher who is underpaid and overworked with crap conditions.

But like I said you’d never know I feel like this so fill your boots!

DistantSkye · 05/01/2023 20:54

@jcyclops that's not ironic, or even remotely comparable.
I'm not a member of the Tory party (as well as not voting for them) so why should I support their policies? Choosing to be a member of a union and accepting the collective gains without taking part in the collective action is not the same thing.

BeGentlePeeps · 05/01/2023 21:03

I joined the junior doctors on strike several years ago- I was a very senior ‘junior’ doctor (over 10 years post led school and pretty much at the end of postgrad training to be a consultant. I joined only once I knew my role was covered by a non training grade (more senior) doctor and out of solidarity with my junior colleagues who needed better and safer work conditions.

To offset ‘the strike’ myself and x3 of my colleagues delivered free paediatric first aid/ resus training sessions on the day we were not at work.

To be fair, the strike didn’t achieve much other than to see Jeremy *unt vanish for several weeks.

I would be similarly uncomfortable OP.
But as a busy working parent with 2 primary school kids I would not judge or criticise teachers for striking (and trying to improve future colleagues work conditions) or not (to support our children regardless of the sacrifices it takes).

It’s a hard time for all but there is no right/ wrong or us/them.

toocold54 · 05/01/2023 21:03

I never said anything to them afterwards and worked with them as before, but I never thought the same about them again and I know others didn't either. I would imagine the non-strikers were unaware of our feelings.

This is something that concerns me.

I love my team. We are very strong and supportive of each other.

In any other job I would strike and not care but I currently work with very vulnerable teens and I would feel guilty if they were not able to come in because of us striking.

I feel it’s going to create a big rift in our unit as I know there’s a couple who are fully supportive of the strike and a couple who would refuse to strike because they think the pupils should come first.
The others have not said either way.

Nik2015 · 05/01/2023 21:07

Would you take the payrise if it changes things though?

Atethehalloweenchocs · 05/01/2023 21:11

Vote with your conscience, but if the vote is carried I think it would be unethical not to abide by that.

Original poster
SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 21:11

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.

Striking is not compulsory to being in any teaching union.

OP posts:
Original poster
SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 21:14

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.

@Noodledoodledoo I feel very similarly to you about striking. I feel like the children have missed out so much due to covid, it's not fair to disrupt them. Just my personal feeling.

OP posts:
Pumperthepumper · 05/01/2023 21:15

SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 21:11

Striking is not compulsory to being in any teaching union.

Show quote history

Is this the only post you’re going to reply to? What about the ones asking if you’ll take the pay rise if it’s offered? Cowardly.

Pumperthepumper · 05/01/2023 21:15

SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 21:14

@Noodledoodledoo I feel very similarly to you about striking. I feel like the children have missed out so much due to covid, it's not fair to disrupt them. Just my personal feeling.

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So will your classes be in if you don’t strike?

Whee · 05/01/2023 21:20

iwantmyownicecreamvan · 05/01/2023 20:42

Am not teaching now but I remember going on strike when certain members of our staff did not strike but attended school as usual. They didn't cross our picket line as they came in via another entrance which wasn't usually open. I never said anything to them afterwards and worked with them as before, but I never thought the same about them again and I know others didn't either. I would imagine the non-strikers were unaware of our feelings.

I agree with gawditswindy about this:

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.

Show quote history

Fair enough. My colleague has already told me she won't be striking, and I won't judge her, so it so depend on the OP's colleagues - your feelings are not universal.

ivykaty44 · 05/01/2023 21:21

Striking is not compulsory to being in any teaching union

and we no long have a closed shop

so just leave

cardibach · 05/01/2023 21:22

VariationsonaTheme · 05/01/2023 20:19

I left the NEU and joined edapt, as many others have said. You have options.

I hope that option is to refuse any pay rise or improvement in conditions which comes about due to strike action, otherwise you’re a massive hypocrite.

Original poster
SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 21:22

baublesandbreakdowns · 05/01/2023 20:47

Furthermore, reps have the right to refuse to represent you. Someone will but in the case of scabs, they often have to bring someone in from regional/head office as local reps aren't going to put themselves out.

@baublesandbreakdowns so for any teacher that doesn't strike, you're basically sent to coventry by the reps?

OP posts:
MistressIggi · 05/01/2023 21:23

I try to be a good person and not be judgemental, but would I be able to know that a colleague in the same union thought it was ok for me to lose a day's pay but not for them to, and not think less of them? Of course I wouldn't.

MistressIggi · 05/01/2023 21:25

Baubles didn't say the rep would refuse to speak to you. But they might refuse to spend hours of their own time helping you if you brought a problem to them that needed union help.
Don't you think that's fair enough, OP?

AnnieSnap · 05/01/2023 21:26

No one will know how you vote will they? If your Union votes to strike and you don’t go on strike, you will be judged and you should be. At a time when the cost of living is through the roof and public sector pay has been kept on the floor for nearly 13-years, I assume you won’t mind taking any benefits won by your striking colleagues, yet they will be won by them staying their case, standing on picket lines and losing pay, whilst you cross those picket lines and lose no pay. You should stand up and be counted. You won’t help pupils medium or long term good by being passive whilst this government underfunds schools and staff. Recruitment and retention of Teachers is awful. Schools are short of basic supplies due to lack of funding. This won’t improve unless Teachers fight for respect. Don’t be a wimp!

ivykaty44 · 05/01/2023 21:26

so for any teacher that doesn't strike, you're basically sent to coventry by the reps?

if a union member doesn't strike and follow the democratic vote of all the members, why would you want to associate with them any further? They've made it clear what they think of the union

HarvestThyme · 05/01/2023 21:27

I honestly don't get being in a union and then refusing to strike if that's the outcome of a ballot. Collective bargaining. Collective action. Did you not understand what a union was when you joined?

Original poster
SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 21:28

I think I will look at other union options and come out of the NEU. I would prefer to remain neutral to be honest and not vote at all.

OP posts:
AnnieSnap · 05/01/2023 21:28

I’m not a Teacher by the way!

cardibach · 05/01/2023 21:30

SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 21:28

I think I will look at other union options and come out of the NEU. I would prefer to remain neutral to be honest and not vote at all.

So then you will refuse any pay rise or improvement in terms and conditions the strike might achieve? How could you justify taking them? It would make you a massive hypocrite.

Workyticket · 05/01/2023 21:31

I teach in FE and did 6 days of strikes before Christmas

Some of my non striking colleagues covered for me by taking my students in with theirs. Typically they threw past papers at my students and moaned openly about us striking. Students expected me to mark the papers on my return (I didn't, no time)

we managed to negotiate a 1.5k payrise which non strikers have gained too. Most said they wish they'd come out with us.

MistressIggi · 05/01/2023 21:31

You want to be "neutral" about your own pay? I don't understand that I'm afraid.
I take it your salary is not the major income in your household, if you have the luxury to feel "neutral" about it being eroded every year!

Pumperthepumper · 05/01/2023 21:32

SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 21:28

I think I will look at other union options and come out of the NEU. I would prefer to remain neutral to be honest and not vote at all.

Good idea. Also set up a standing order to a charity to pass on any pay rise.