Breaking the NHS picket line

[helpidkwhattodopls]

I work in the NHS, non-clinical. Obviously there are junior doctor strikes coming up and I’m fully in support of them, but I have no choice but to go to work during the strikes. I can’t afford to take time off.

Our manager has given us a warning and said that we shouldn’t be taking the main route into the hospital during the strikes as apparently the striking staff can be very angry at you for breaking the picket. But I have no choice, I don’t drive into work so I have to go this way.

AIBU to ask what the hell I should do?????

Sorry, I don't understand. There's clearly more than one way into the hospital, so why do you have to go in the main way?

the only other ways in aren’t on public transport routes - so I’d have to walk over an hour to get to them

I've been a striking junior doctor (back in the 2016 round of industrial action) and am now a consultant covering the strikes. I have never seen anything like this and don't know where your managers have got this from. Of course the striking doctors realise that the vast majority of hospital staff are not striking and have to go to work as normal. You're not crossing a picket line if your role is not on strike! I've heard of some antipathy from members of the public towards the picket lines, but never from the strikers towards workers. This isn't the 80s with miners throwing rocks at "scabs."

In my hospital the picket is away from the main clinical entrance and usually very small.

This is what she’s said, having experienced other strikes at this hospital

You're not breaking the picket line if you're not a doctor. I work in the NHS and have never received abuse even from colleagues when walking past their picket and I doubt you will either as you are not on strike.

If you’re non clinical then you’re not breaking any picket line. You’d only be doing that if you were a non striking junior doctor. It may not be pleasant but I’d not be intimidated and just go in my normal way. Strking staff should not interfere with others going into work who are not part of the industrial action.

Rubbish!

Can't you just wear normal clothes and then change in the hospital into work clothes? Assuming you wear a uniform. How would they know you're not just a patient or visitor? Seems a bit ott.

Apparently they’ll get angry at patients too! It just all sounds a bit terrifying to me

I'm extremely sceptical, to be honest. Pickets might be larger elsewhere, but it's generally a couple of rows of young adults with placards and orange beanies standing around. There might be a bit of chanting, but that's about what they want from the strike, not hurling abuse at others. Even on MN, where the are some robust opinions about the strikes, I've not heard reports of any intimidating behaviour by picketers. You can bet the Daily Fail would love something like that!

Just go to work. Give them a smile and a wave. You will be fine.

This is rubbish. Just walk into work as normal. You’re not “crossing the picket line”.

Apparently they’ll get angry at patients too! It just all sounds a bit terrifying to me

That sounds like absolute nonsense. Being angry at patients would be an extremely quick way to lose all and any public support.

Sounds like your manager is being very over dramatic

I very much doubt doctors are going to be angry at patients for seeking medical attention while they are on strike.

The resident doctors striking are usually charming and enthusiastic shouting slogans against the government not fellow staff . I buy them a Costa card on my way in :)

Total nonsense

Why would they be angry at patients? Just think about it for a minute instead of taking what your manager says as gospel

I've been on many picket lines in my time, and never ever have I seen a striking union member be unpleasant to a member of staff or a member of the public coming into work, even members of our own union who crossed the picket line were reasoned with, asked to reconsider, and then left to go on their way.

Honestly, I would be astonished if professional junior doctors were any different to the civil servants I worked with. Go in as normal, take a leaflet or sign a petition if you want to. Make small talk if you wish, but no one is going to harrass you for going to work.

You’re not a doctor, therefore you’re not breaking the picket line. Your manager is talking rubbish. If you were a doctor, in the same union, who crossed the picket line and went to work while all your doctor & union colleagues are outside, that’s a totally different (immoral) situation imo. But this doesn’t affect you. At all.

Either your manager is talking rubbish , or you are.

Well she's daft and they are fucking thick as mince.

Ignore.

It's a non issue.

I work in hospital and have always just given them a beep as I drive past or a cheer or encouragement as I support their strike.
clinical member of staff, but not a doctor.
never seen any trouble/abuse/hassle from any striking NHS staff.

I have taken part in picket lines previously and I can confidently tell you we couldn’t care less about who enters the hospital and for what reason… strikes are 100% not about preventing anyone to access care at all. Not to mention that we were not directly next to the entrance anyway. Also - any medical professional getting angry at a patient for coming to hospital sounds absolutely crazy. Your manager is losing it

You’re not a doctor so you’re not breaking the picket line. Why on earth would they be cross at you or patients? When someone is on strike they’re not expecting those who aren’t on strike to not go to work or to use the hospital- that would defeat the point of the strike.

I have worked in the NHS for over 29 years, at times I have been on strike and other times I have chosen not to (or not been part of the profession that is striking). I have never seen anyone being abusive to anyone else during the process.

Im curious what hospital you’re at if it takes hours to walk round to another entrance.

Unless you are a junior doctor then no-one would expect you to be on strike.

I'm confused too. Any hospital I've worked in has multiple entry points. Yes, bus A might drop you are the entrance, but it surely wouldn't take 1hr to walk around the block to another entrance! Or get off 1 stop earlier and walk from there.

And that is IF the people with placards are SO intimidating you feel unsafe. Wear a winter coat over any uniform and just walk in. Do you honestly think they will be blocking the door and manhandling patients, staff and relatives out!!!

You are making this far more complex and stressful than it needs to be!

Your manager is talking absolute rubbish. I regularly walk past the longest running strike action in NHS history on my way into work and not once has anyone been remotely angry at me! I also walked past the previous junior doctor picket line and again, nobody was shouting at people on their way into work.