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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would I be a scab

245 replies

Badlands1 · 28/06/2023 10:00

NC
My union have voted to strike. I have voted not to - am I scab if I work? I don't disagree with the unions requests but I am not happy with the effects the strike will have.

OP posts:
NEScribe · 28/06/2023 13:00

I am SO sorry to hear this. Did you get in touch with your regional office if the local branch wasn't helpful? It's awful that this happened to you - but after a lifetime of work (in journalism and now in HE) I have always had excellent help and support (and given the current climate, I would not risk being non-union).

Salmakia · 28/06/2023 13:00

Yes. How is this even a question. Your union votes to strike, you strike. End of.

Medstudent12 · 28/06/2023 13:01

So yes I am begging you, don’t undermine our strike action, for me this is my last shot at staying as a doctor in the uk. If we lose myself and many others will leave and patients will suffer far more in the long run.

NEScribe · 28/06/2023 13:04

Any abuse of people who don't join the union action is not allowed - in the same way that it's unlawful for employers to target people for being a union member/joining industrial action. If it happens (on either side) then it should be reported.

Zodfa · 28/06/2023 13:06

Striking developed amongst workers in often genuinely terrible conditions being exploited by super-rich capitalists. Senior public sector workers wanting a top-up to their already plentiful salaries aren't really in the same boat as that, and I'm not sure strike breaking in the second context is morally equivalent to strike breaking in the first.

Workingmum321 · 28/06/2023 13:07

Badlands1 · 28/06/2023 11:09

Thanks everyone
I have been in the union for years since qualifying and never actually had any benefit so maybe I should leave.
My feelings are mixed - I am a Dr and fully supported the juniors Dr and nursing strikes ( I think the nurses should have held out!). I realise the consultants have had a similar pay erosion ( and have had to pay shedloads out in pension tax) but virtually everyone now a consultant didn't pay university fees to the same extent. The salary is not huge if you consider the training, expertise and responsibility but is reasonable and a lot of people are on a fraction of this and are really struggling.
I also feel very bad for patients - many of them didn't vote for the Tories either, they can't afford private medicine and are having appointments and operations repeatedly cancelled as a result of the strikes.
I just wish Steve Barclay would engage, make a sensible offer and everyone could move on

But the juniors of today are the consultants of tomorrow. They have had their pay eroded too... but also 100k student loans, training bottle necks, highrer cost of living. Restoring consultant salaries is important so "juniors" do not leave or CCT and Flee. Strike to support them.

FuckTheLemonsandBail · 28/06/2023 13:10

This thread is full of so many childish responses.

OP, if you don't agree with the strike you're under no obligation to join in, even if you're in the union. Being in a union isn't just about blindly going along with the majority regardless of your own views and morals.

NEScribe · 28/06/2023 13:10

Then how would a union - or any other organisations make decisions? The idea is that you're a collective - and undermining the democratic decision made by the majority is wrong. Leave the union if you don't agree with the decision (but remember that without unions, we wouldn't enjoy many of the workplace rights that you now have). And any victory for the union will apply to all staff - whether it's in terms of salary increases or improved workplace conditions. Why would anyone want to undermine that? Discuss with your union. The idea of action is to disrupt so if you genuinely can't afford/don't want to strike then there is often a solution - eg salary sharing where you pledge financial support to those who are losing income in the interests of everyone.

CleverLilViper · 28/06/2023 13:11

Do what is best for you and what sits right with you.

let me give a hypothetical situation here: your union proposes a strike lasting a month. The union members vote on it and agree. No strike pay will be paid except to those most vulnerable members. You don’t qualify.

knowing you won’t receive a months pay- do you strike? For many, this wouldn’t be a choice as few can realistically survive without pay for a month. Yet, as per the people of MN, you have to or you’re a scab.

Nanny0gg · 28/06/2023 13:12

Enterthewolves · 28/06/2023 10:17

Yes you would be. If your Union membership has voted to go out and you don’t strike you are breaking the strike and the collective decision making of your union. If you are a doctor I understand your moral concern but I’ve gone out when I disagreed (and had voted no) because being a union member means being part of a collective, for the good stuff like negotiated pay, and funded legal help but also for the less good (striking without pay).

^This

Bluebellsbells · 28/06/2023 13:13

A scan specifically refers to those who crossed the picket line during the Miners strike so no you wouldn't.

It's a moral dilemma and up to the individual, don't bow to peer pressure.

CleverLilViper · 28/06/2023 13:13

Many people join unions not to negotiate for higher pay. Or to join industrial action. They do it in case something goes wrong at work and they need support from someone in the know.

To get that support you pay your monthly subscription. I wasn’t aware that there was some document that you signed when joining up that says “do as we all say or else you join scab nation and are exiled to the realms of Siberia!”

justteanbiscuits · 28/06/2023 13:14

I have Doctor friends who have volunteered to help cover acute services rather than strike so that all the Doctors in the acute services can 'work to rule' (ie, work their contracted hours on strike day) - this way it ensures that patient care doesn't suffer, but they get their message across.

MsPavlichenko · 28/06/2023 13:15

Weekends, annual leave, public holidays won by unions. Maternity and paternity leave and pay. Salary, sick pay, holiday pay, pensions. Unions got you that. Yea breaks/lunches etc. Unions. I could go on.

You may not have had call to use their services at an individual level but you have benefitted from the collective struggle unions have made and are making. I assume you’ll take any salary increase they negotiate after you stop paying dues?

User163876621 · 28/06/2023 13:15

I wouldn't get opinions of this on Mumsnet as many on this forum called children scabs for going to school in the strikes

Viviennemary · 28/06/2023 13:16

Yes you would. Thats the point of the Union. You go with the majority vote

GP75 · 28/06/2023 13:16

Yes sorry you would be, awful position to be in ❤️

ConstanceL · 28/06/2023 13:16

FloweryName · 28/06/2023 10:32

We aren’t in the 80’s anymore and it doesn’t matter if some people think you’re being a ‘scab’.

Your priority is yourself and your service users so you should do whatever you are comfortable with. Other people don’t have to know that you’re in a union or what union you’re in anyway.

I work in education and there are plenty of teachers coming into school on strike days.

I agree. I work in a university and not everyone in the union goes on strike each time. Who can afford to lose a day or multiple days pay at the moment for what is a probably futile gesture anyway?

SummerBaby23 · 28/06/2023 13:18

I didn’t strike when my union voted to. No one felt differently towards me, where I work it was very much treated as a personal not forced decision. I also couldn’t afford the docked pay for repeated strike days and when I said that everyone said fair enough.

NEScribe · 28/06/2023 13:18

It sounds like you need new union reps. They should be working for the good of all staff. Did you vote in the elections for your reps? If you are unhappy with things then you need to use your vote - or even stand as a rep yourself?

Enterthewolves · 28/06/2023 13:18

But that’s not what a union is or is for, it is a collective of workers that makes decisions democratically to support all union members - if you want to be an individualist get a private insurance policy

User163876621 · 28/06/2023 13:18

Medstudent12 · 28/06/2023 12:59

@Badlands1 fellow doctor here. Yes I’d say you’re a scab. We work in unsafe conditions every single day, we watch patients be out at risk due to poor pay and working conditions for staff meaning that we cannot retain safe numbers.

During strikes there are more staff than ever before. Emergency care will be maintained.

Sadly some elective work will be cancelled, I’m desperately sad for patient who this affects. But not taking action means more pain for patients in the long run, not taking action means we wait and watch the nhs collapse. This is the only way the govt will listen, if we sacrifice pay and walk out.

I’m not just striking for fair pay, I’m striking because we are haemorrhaging staff and we cannot have a health service if all of the future consultants have left.

Of course you are not desperately sad, you couldn't care less.

LaSalleRoom · 28/06/2023 13:18

EarringsandLipstick · 28/06/2023 11:57

People aren’t always going to agree on everything.

No. So that's why there's a vote. And the vote is accepted by members.

There's no other way to run a union - if you're not willing to accept the democratic vote, you have to leave. You can't make individual choices in a union.

‘ you have to leave.’

what you mean by have to? You get kicked out?

Enterthewolves · 28/06/2023 13:20

Seriously?!

sigfey · 28/06/2023 13:20

NEScribe · 28/06/2023 13:18

It sounds like you need new union reps. They should be working for the good of all staff. Did you vote in the elections for your reps? If you are unhappy with things then you need to use your vote - or even stand as a rep yourself?

If it's the BMA consultant strike, then 86% voted for industrial action.

It was never going to be 100% agreement but it's pretty high.

I ag