Urgent advice needed. Would YOU freelance during a strike?

[Spidermama]

I have a dilemma.
I've been desperate to get freelance shifts at a certain BBC establishment. They've finally offered me a shift, but it's during the strike by staff.

The argument for ...
It's good money and they might like me and use me again.

Against ...
It might alienate me from other workers there and they might not use me again.

I wouldn't have to actually cross a picket line as my shift starts before the strike does.

What would you do?

Strike suspended eh? That's a bit unexpected.

Edam I see what you're saying and I used to agree all the way. I turned down the shift because of my old union sympathies but here's the irony ...
I've worked for the BBC on and off for twelve years now. I'm freelance because my dh is and I want us to be able to work out childcare between us. I'm doing what's best for me and my kids, as I think most mums are.
So, I pick up work when it's available. The cuts and redundancies would, therefore, benefit me actually. I also think there are a great many people who don't deserve to have their safe BBC jobs because they're crap and/or not very hard working.

But I've stood on the picket line and listened in to see who's reading the bulletins and presenting the shows and undermining the strike so I know the feeling of unity. I can remember exactly who broke the strike last time as I'm sure plenty of others do.

I'm not comfortable with the idea that there are two sides. Management and union and if you're not in one you're in the other. That's simplistic and wrong. Whether we're talking about the old boy network or the NUJ, neither should have the right to secure people jobs just by because they belong to that particular group. I belive I'm good. Better and harder working than a great deal of people in the BBC with safe jobs.

Anyway I've turned it down now and it's really because though I desperately want to work in this particular newsroom, it's not the way I'd envisaged starting there.

I've had a really interesting day trying to redefine my thoughs about unions and strikes and the BBC. I've had to update my thinking and question old predjudices.

Oh, I know it's not as simple as 'all people below board level good, all board directors bad'. But generally strikers are the ones with most to lose. The people at the top make sure they are OK and have no need for unity. Agree with you re BBC and safe jobs btw, appalling how casuals are treated (and how people are kept on as casuals for bloody years).

spider i'd capitalise on what you've done by phoning them and saying that the only reason you refused the work was because you didn't want to break a strike... get your angelic wings on and flutter your eyelashes some and see if they'll give you your shift back. i know that it was strike cover but pretend you didn't know this. at worst it will make you look good with the person doing the shift rota and maybe bump you to the top the next time. that's what i would do, but then i am evil, as i have amply demonstrated.

Aitch great minds ....
I have a similarly cunning plan. Fingers crossed. I'll let you know.