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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:
Workyticket · 05/01/2023 22:16

MistressIggi · 05/01/2023 21:33

That's shocking, @Workyticket
I know we were told that even if it was a different teaching union that was on strike (and so we were in) we should not cover for a striking colleague. That was low.

Yup. One even rang me whilst I was stood on the picket line asking where she could find past papers for my students. She was given short thrift

I'm lucky that we lead a cheap life. North East, bought a house for £80k whixh is paid off now. I'm top of the scale, blah blah. I was on strike mainly for colleagues who are on way, way less

Fucked me off royally that the phone call came from one of those who moans the most about her wage slip

Workyticket · 05/01/2023 22:17

Actually that was nasty of me. Sorry, anyone is allowed to complain about wages. She's a friend - a lovely friend. But she put me in a really shit position 😒

cardibach · 05/01/2023 22:18

primeoflife · 05/01/2023 22:12

My husband has been treated awfully but isn't allowed strike. Strikes do no good. I initially had sympathy with train drivers but I'm now fed up with them due to the impact on my daughter's education.

@cardibach if strikes worked then maybe but they don't. They will not result in a pay rise. Teachers are already thought of as lazy and this just adds to it.

Of course strikes work. How do you think we got all the rights we have? Proper pay reviews in the past?
If your husband isn’t allowed to strike he’s in one of a handful of roles and knew that when he started the job. Not that I think it’s right to treat people in that situation badly.

cardibach · 05/01/2023 22:20

@saraclara you say Though I have joined teachers strikes in the past -
when? I’ve been a teacher since 1989 and have been on strike a handful of days in that time. It’s really rare.

Honeyroar · 05/01/2023 22:21

noblegiraffe · 05/01/2023 19:28

I've voted no to a strike before that has gone ahead, and gone out on strike in solidarity with my colleagues who did vote to strike, because that was the majority decision and that is the whole point of a union. You'd hope your colleagues would stand with you if you needed it.

This is the honourable, correct behaviour for someone in a union. If you don’t want to vote to strike, be honest, vote no. If the majority vote to strike and you don’t want to you should leave the union, join one that doesn’t strike.

primeoflife · 05/01/2023 22:22

@Pumperthepumper I know teachers aren't lazy I am one!

bellac11 · 05/01/2023 22:22

cardibach · 05/01/2023 22:11

It was on the ballot paper this time too. Action short of strike action.
We’ve tried it before. Too many say that doing the club/display/whatever is essential and they won’t give it up.
Teachers are their own worst enemy.

Show quote history

Yes and no. Im with unison and wonder if that will come out soon to us

But I was thinking as I wrote that out, I had an emergency (as usual) after hours which came after another case which had been running all day and took me over hours

Both children at risk. We are a statutory service. What would I say, that Im finishing at 5 with one child unseen when concerns have been raised and another sitting in the office with no where to go. How would I just finish?

cardibach · 05/01/2023 22:24

@bellac11 ypu aren’t a teacher though, so work to rule would look different. Ours was supposed to be just directed time, no working lunchtimes, no clubs after school etc. wouldn’t hurt anyone. Teachers still wouldn’t stick to it.

LetsDoThis2023 · 05/01/2023 22:25

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.

Good for you. And thank you!
Although I think we should all be rioting in the streets about our public services!

MrsHamlet · 05/01/2023 22:27

LuluBlakey1 · 05/01/2023 19:38

You will be asked to leave the union I think.

You won't.

ilovesooty · 05/01/2023 22:27

SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 21:11

Striking is not compulsory to being in any teaching union.

Show quote history

That's not the point.

RambamThankyouMam · 05/01/2023 22:31

I suppose you'll be accepting the benefits that the strike will hopefully bring?

Don't be a scab.

Pumperthepumper · 05/01/2023 22:32

primeoflife · 05/01/2023 22:22

@Pumperthepumper I know teachers aren't lazy I am one!

And are you happy with your own kids’ education?

AnnieSnap · 05/01/2023 22:35

@cardibach You believe strikes don’t work? Unions and strikes are the things that won paid holidays, paid sickness and maternity pay. Before Unions fought for them, there were no days off. Workers worked 7 days a week. The term ‘weekend’ didn’t exist before that. Furthermore, our modern employment laws were established in the EU. The Tory Government have stated they want legislation to essentially have a bonfire of them. I am a retired public sector worker, so it won’t affect me personally, but I care about the common good. You are very naive. You should be fighting!

baublesandbreakdowns · 05/01/2023 22:39

@SweetRascal not sent to Coventry, no but I won't put myself out for someone just acting in self-interest.

Do you think it's fair that I strike, lose my wages for that day, campaign and negotiate on your behalf and you don't support your colleagues and union?

Should I spend my limited rep time representing you in a grievance? I have refused to represent people but they were persistent scabs and would often leave and then join the union again when they had wind of trouble coming.

wonderstuff · 05/01/2023 22:40

Probably very much depends on the school, but last time there was a strike several of my colleagues went to work, they weren’t prepared to lose the money and were quite open about it, it was a school were politics were rarely discussed.

saraclara · 05/01/2023 22:42

cardibach · 05/01/2023 22:20

@saraclara you say Though I have joined teachers strikes in the past -
when? I’ve been a teacher since 1989 and have been on strike a handful of days in that time. It’s really rare.

I've been a teacher (recently retired) since 1977.

Murphs1 · 05/01/2023 22:50

The opinions on this thread surprise me. I’m a different profession but the majority have voted to strike this month. I have decided not too and voted not to. That is my choice and my colleagues respect that, as I respect theirs.

baublesandbreakdowns · 05/01/2023 22:51

Murphs1 · 05/01/2023 22:50

The opinions on this thread surprise me. I’m a different profession but the majority have voted to strike this month. I have decided not too and voted not to. That is my choice and my colleagues respect that, as I respect theirs.

Even if you vote against industrial action, if the ballot goes the other way you should respect that.

cardibach · 05/01/2023 22:54

AnnieSnap · 05/01/2023 22:35

@cardibach You believe strikes don’t work? Unions and strikes are the things that won paid holidays, paid sickness and maternity pay. Before Unions fought for them, there were no days off. Workers worked 7 days a week. The term ‘weekend’ didn’t exist before that. Furthermore, our modern employment laws were established in the EU. The Tory Government have stated they want legislation to essentially have a bonfire of them. I am a retired public sector worker, so it won’t affect me personally, but I care about the common good. You are very naive. You should be fighting!

No Annie. I quite clearly said they do to someone who told me they didn’t.
no need to rant at me. Have a look at what I actually said.

bellac11 · 05/01/2023 22:55

Murphs1 · 05/01/2023 22:50

The opinions on this thread surprise me. I’m a different profession but the majority have voted to strike this month. I have decided not too and voted not to. That is my choice and my colleagues respect that, as I respect theirs.

I agree. I wouldnt cross a picket line but I dont judge those who do because they each have their own reason

This is what annoys me about the refrain about 'families being torn apart' during the miners strike

Yes they were, through their own volition because they decided to call people things like 'scab' (like another poster on here has) and virtually act like its a hanging offence and also ostracise and commit violence to people who didnt want to or couldnt strike. Disgraceful behaviour.

And to what end? Did it continue the mining industry? No

cardibach · 05/01/2023 22:55

@AnnieSnap not sure if you get notified when you are quoted. You have completely misrepresented me. Strikes do work. That’s what I said. Someone else said they didn’t. Please don’t rant at me without actually reading what I’ve written.

Murphs1 · 05/01/2023 22:55

@baublesandbreakdowns Someone needs to look after the patients. We can’t just close the hospital.

cardibach · 05/01/2023 22:56

@Murphs1 its different in the health unions. They have an agreement about a minimum service. Fulfilling that union agreed duty is not being a scab.

cardibach · 05/01/2023 22:58

No, @bellac11 they were torn apart because some people chose not to stand together and support their colleagues. It was tough for everyone. The damage was done by those breaking the strike, nit those justifiably angry about the strike being broken.