My manager has denounced non-strikers but I truly can’t afford it

[Strik]

In the office today the topic of upcoming strikes came up (public sector). My manager is as left-wing as they come and was not shy in sharing her contempt for people who don’t choose to strike. I’m really worried because I can’t afford to go on strike and she’s (obviously) going to find out that I’m not striking. I’m worried it’s going to damage our relationship. Has anyone been in this situation before?

It's no one else's business if you are striking or not and what your reasons for either are. If your manager cannot behave in a professional manner then report her to HR

I think being a union member is a protected characteristic, including whether you strike or not. Your manager cannot mention it, or mark your performance down in reference to it.
you do you. You can agree with the principle of a strike without being able to afford it in real life.

I was brought up with that mentality as well but guess what times change, the closed shop no longer exists and people are free to make their own decisions. I was occasionally balloted about strike action in the 1980s and 1990s but always voted no to going on strike as was my right.

No.

You are forcing people who can't afford it but have a better moral code to go on strike. Utter dick move.

If you don't want to strike then either don't vote or vote no.

It's outrageous that you voted to strike fully intending not to

I voted yes to strikes because that way it enabled people who want to/who can, go on strike

While I understand your intentions were good, this is almost the worst thing you could have done.

By voting for a strike you didn't intend to honour, you have essentially voted to have a weak, poorly observed strike, with less chance of success.

If you feel the immediate hardship of a strike outweighs the possible benefits (which is a completely legitimate view btw)..the time to express this is in the ballot.

In your position, I would be approaching the union and asking whether they have a hardship fund. Maybe even ask your manager. If she's such a massive lefty, she should know. Or, at least be prepared to find out.

Next time: don't vote for something you aren't prepared to see through.

Absolutely. And I totally respect that you at least voted according to what you wanted.

I'd be more understanding with op if she'd voted no. But she wants a strike so she gets a pay rise, just doesn't want to do it herself.

Personally I'd leave the Union if I was you.

I'm in one and have voted to strike and so far I've lost 5 days wages.

It's not great, but it's what I voted for and I would never cross a picket line.

Where I work it would pretty much ensure I was never spoken to again.

This!

I don’t think you should be in a union if you don’t support them and you don’t understand the premise on which they operate. You didn’t vote to allow a strike, you voted to strike, which means that others who do support collective action regardless of how they voted. I don’t really agree with strikes in my line of work (public sector) and I have voted against them when balloted. But if I’m outvoted and we’re called out, I will strike. If I was unwilling to do that, I’d leave the union.

Incidentally I am also in a management role and I don’t know which of my team members are union members unless they volunteer the info. So if they attended work, I’d not know whether they were ignoring the ballot or ineligible to strike. And I’d keep my opinions on their decisions to myself be used to do otherwise would be unprofessional and inappropriate.

Leave the union. You aren't in tune with their values, which is fine. Just leave.

I would also rather go hungry than cross a picket or not strike alongside my union.

I understand that others see things differently, but don't have much time for fair weather friends. If you don't understand how unions work, it's not compulsary to be in one.

The hardship fund is £50? Not close to a the loss in wages, especially with multiple strikes over several days.

I disagree that strikes should be adhered to if you choose to be in a union, they offer far more services (especially to nurses for protection etc!) than balloting for strike action for my £16 a month.

In my opinion tho, don’t vote to strike if you don’t intend to. It’s like asking others to suffer whilst you reap the benefits of days wages and any pay rises resulting from the action.

I think the Tories have us right where they need us to be. A world were striking is only possible for the wealthy and middle class.

Sorry but I think both of you are in the wrong.
Your manager should not be encouraging or discouraging people to strike.
However as a member of a union it was your choice whether to vote for strike action.

You voted to strike & you should therefore follow through on that other we use you are just taking advantage of other people losing a pay. Your action or in fact lack off just weakens the power of the union. You could have voted no.

Agree. It’s a really low thing to do. You basically lied to your colleagues, said you’d support them but didn’t mean it. All the people saying it’s nobody else’s business are deluded!! You really ought to leave the union ASAP, if you want to hold your head up.

I worked for a company that had big strikes a few years ago. People still hasn’t got over it a decade later, still weren’t speaking. A few people actually killed themselves. It was horrible.

I know you, as a profession, are struggling due to low salaries. But if you don’t stand up now you won’t get any improvement. And won’t be able to complain!

Is it possible to take annual leave that day? Or at least say you will be striking, or might be striking so they have to plan for your absence, they then have to pay you when you come in but the intended disruption has still occurred - they’ve had to plan for your absence etc (depends a lot on the job I appreciate!).

No, you are putting others into the same situation as yourself.

There is a vote for a reason, so the union can judge the members feelings on the matter, and usually there has to be a certain percentage voting Yes before a strike can take place. So doing what you have done, albeit with the best of intentions, is the worst thing you could have done.

Just vote how you feel is appropriate next time.

The hardship fund is £50? Not close to a the loss in wages, especially with multiple strikes over several days

£50 will be the strike pay. There may be an additional hardship fund, which OP should ask about.

If things are really tight OP might also speak to her mortgage provider about a brief mortgage holiday (with the missed payment to be added to the capital sum). Or contact utility companies/creditors to negotiate a break in payments.

A short term gap in income, with a defined end in sight can often be finessed with some proper financial advice.

IMO Unions should be employing financial/debt advisors to help members with this sort of thing, especially with the cost of living crisis. But that's another thread in itself......

It’s a very divisive situation and I sympathise. It’s incredibly difficult to take industrial action during a cost of living crisis. I’m doing it myself, and it’s unbelievably difficult. I’m also a manager and I take the view that people make their own decisions for their own reasons (one colleague is dealing with hideously expensive dry rot for example), so I don’t hold anything against my staff whether they strike or not. But, of course, I’d rather see everyone come out on strike.

If you really can’t strike, can you at least donate to your local fighting fund? I think you need to show some kind of solidarity, even if striking is impossible for you right now. If you’re in the union there’s a moral imperative to support your colleagues in some way.

Really? You’re a hypocrite really. Happy to reap the benefits but won’t put your money where your mouth is.

OP, you are being put under social pressure irl and on here. it is the nasty side of collective action - basically bullying.

You are free to vote how you like and strike or not strike as you like. Do whatever you want. There is no law or obligation otherwise.

If it's Local Government, then I don't think you can take leave. We had to either be on strike or at our desks. Those who normally worked from home had to come to the office as well.

If the leave had been approved before the strike days were announced, it would be honoured.

If you want to strike then contact the union and ask if they have any way to support you. Like someone said previously,
many have hardship funds. Honestly though if you are struggling that much probably be in your worth while to strike alongside others for higher pay.

Hmmm I was part of a strike 4 or 5 years ago. It was a bit of a financial hit at the time but a drop in the ocean compared to how much I and my colleagues have benefited from the pay increases that came as a result.

That said, if you really can't afford it then you don't have much choice.

You should not have voted for strike action if you didn't intend to carry it through as it weakens the strike

You've really fucked other people over here. The whole point of being in the union is collective action. If the union strikes, you strike. You don't only strike if it happens to be convenient and you fancy it that day, that's not the point.

Voting to strike, not actually going on strike, and then reaping the benefits of the pay rise that results from your colleagues collective action of striking is really, really morally dubious.

I'm sorry but regardless of intentions voting for strike and then not doing it is pretty poor! I'm in public sector and voted against but as the majority did I still supported it. Generally I try not to judge or pressure anyone but I would have been furious if I found out a colleague had helped put me in that situation and not followed through themselves!