NEU Hardship | Mumsnet

countdowntonap · 2023-04-06T19:20:39+00:00

I’m reluctant to seek hardship funding for my recent strike days as DH and I have a reasonable income. However, I have colleagues with household incomes of £130,000 and anther college currently holidaying in New York - claiming hardship! Am I being too altruistic about this? I’d rather my funds go to supporting members having difficulties affording the strike action but if everyone is claiming hardship maybe I should too.

HubertTheGoat · 06/04/2023 21:09

I'm on one of the county WhatsApp groups and there are constant messages about the hardship fund which is annoying me. None of us wants to lose a few hundred quid but that's the way it is. I can't believe that every person on the WhatsApp group sending these messages is truly experiencing hardship.

Easterrabbits · 07/04/2023 10:30

I was under the impression hardship couldn’t be claimed for striking. Has that changed?

Original poster

countdowntonap · 07/04/2023 11:47

Yes a document to claim has been sent out by our area rep. It does state ‘Give reasons why you are experiencing more hardship than other NEU members’ (to paraphrase) but I know lots of people claiming with comfy lifestyles. Surely if you’re on the leadership scale and go to NY for Easter, you’re not enduring more hardship than other members.

OP posts:

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 07/04/2023 21:13

Easterrabbits · 07/04/2023 10:30

I was under the impression hardship couldn’t be claimed for striking. Has that changed?

The national hardship fund can't be used for strike pay. Branches have been encouraged to set up their own local funds for hardship, which is for those who have been striking and suffered hardship above and beyond another member.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 07/04/2023 21:16

countdowntonap · 07/04/2023 11:47

Yes a document to claim has been sent out by our area rep. It does state ‘Give reasons why you are experiencing more hardship than other NEU members’ (to paraphrase) but I know lots of people claiming with comfy lifestyles. Surely if you’re on the leadership scale and go to NY for Easter, you’re not enduring more hardship than other members.

Have they actually had their payments approved though?

FWIW, I sort of agree that members on the leadership pay spine who can afford holidays etc shouldn't be claiming, but their claims of "hardship" will be assessed by the local union committee- and perhaps there are reasons they've submitted which show hardship? Holidays might have been paid for before strike dates were announced?

I think most local union branches are quite healthy in terms of funds, and new members bring in more funding, so the branch may not see it as a big deal.

If you're concerned, you could always ask? Obviously not about an individual person's case, but about how hardship is determined and are funds being put to the best use?

Youreatragedystartingtohappen · 10/04/2023 13:29

I claimed. My income is reasonable but my childcare costs are huge and my mortgage is sizeable. I'm the main earner. Had it not been authorised I would have had to cross the picket line and go in. Part of our reason for striking is the fact our wage has decreased in real terms. I didn't think twice about applying and hope others do too

HubertTheGoat · 11/04/2023 18:17

Youreatragedystartingtohappen · 10/04/2023 13:29

I claimed. My income is reasonable but my childcare costs are huge and my mortgage is sizeable. I'm the main earner. Had it not been authorised I would have had to cross the picket line and go in. Part of our reason for striking is the fact our wage has decreased in real terms. I didn't think twice about applying and hope others do too

I'm just curious - do you think the strikes caused you hardship? It's a big chunk of money for me (also pay big childcare bill etc) and my household will provably be in a deficit for the months we strike. I just don't think I'm unduly effected and if everyone claimed the strikes just wouldn't happen. I appreciate you might be in a worse situation.

Youreatragedystartingtohappen · 11/04/2023 18:38

I would say that as the money that was missing from my pay packet would mean I would have to go into an overdraft to pay my outgoings then yes it did cause me hardship. And as my application was accepted it would appear others in the regional office did too

Changechangechanging · 11/04/2023 21:03

Surely if you’re on the leadership scale and go to NY for Easter, you’re not enduring more hardship than other members

to be fair, holiday could have been booked and paid for months ago - my summer holiday this year was paid for in October last year.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 11/04/2023 21:12

HubertTheGoat · 11/04/2023 18:17

I'm just curious - do you think the strikes caused you hardship? It's a big chunk of money for me (also pay big childcare bill etc) and my household will provably be in a deficit for the months we strike. I just don't think I'm unduly effected and if everyone claimed the strikes just wouldn't happen. I appreciate you might be in a worse situation.

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I think most people determining the allocation of funds would rather pay out, and have people strike, than not pay and have them cross the picket lines.

Union funds are generally pretty healthy right now- so your point about the strikes not happening are not correct.

I think you should claim- speak to your local branch about how much is currently left in the hardship fund first if you want. It will likely be thousands.