Advice about proposed strike please...

joyce63

I left the civil service earlier this year after nearly 28 years. I didn't join the union for about 7 years and had to walk through picket lines on more than one occasion - not pleasant but if you're not in the union people do understand that you can't just go on strike - it's a disciplinary matter if you do. I did eventually join the union because I didn't like crossing a picket line.

I get the impression the pickets now aren't anything like as bad as they were in the 80s, in fact I heard the last time there was a strike there wasn't anyone on the picket line outside my old office - not sure if that's true but I think there's a lot more apathy these days. I wouldn't worry too much about it, but you should consider joining the union if funds allow it.

I'm glad to be out of it now - but I feel for my former colleagues being asked to pay more towards their pensions, work longer, get less for their cash, and at the same time having to take a pay freeze. I fully understand why they're going on strike.

Stubert

I joined the union to give myself a bit of protection as a temp working working in the public sector. I can't really afford to strike and 30th now turns out will be my last day as a temp...I don't have a pension, as having never been offered this a temp so don't feel I know enough about the whole thing.

Not so long out of education I've not experienced any strikes or crossing picket lines before....I'm not really sure what to do!

cr1mson

Can you go in early and leave early? My friend works flexi in civil service 7-3.30pm and when there have been strikes the picket line hasn't been in place when she has gone in and disappeared or seriously depleted when she left.

C

DVardysShadow

cr1mson wrote: »

Can you go in early and leave early? My friend works flexi in civil service 7-3.30pm and when there have been strikes the picket line hasn't been in place when she has gone in and disappeared or seriously depleted when she left.

C

Too many people sit on the fence this way. If you agree with the strike, join in. And if you disagree, be brave enough to face the picket line. Legislation has almost eliminated the power of a picket line to physically prevent anyone going to work

cr1mson

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Too many people sit on the fence this way. If you agree with the strike, join in. And if you disagree, be brave enough to face the picket line. Legislation has almost eliminated the power of a picket line to physically prevent anyone going to work

But you may not legally be able to join in even if you do agree i.e. not member of union or member of different union.

C

SarEl

cr1mson wrote: »

But you may not legally be able to join in even if you do agree i.e. not member of union or member of different union.

C

Just because you are not a member of a union does not mean that you do not have the right to strike. Similarly, if a member of another union you may not have been called out on strike, but you have the right to refuse to cross a picket line. It is not illegal to strike (except for certain occupations) - yet.

Wyndham

Just as an aside - your manager is not allowed by law to ask you if you are in the union or not. I realise they were probably trying to be helpful in this case, but they still shouldn't have done it....

Bobl

"pay more towards their pensions, work longer, get less for their cash, and at the same time having to take a pay freeze."

Like the Private Sector has been for years you mean!

Tiddlywinks

Bobl wrote: »

"pay more towards their pensions, work longer, get less for their cash, and at the same time having to take a pay freeze."

Like the Private Sector has been for years you mean!

Eh, actually, no!

But let's not start that argument here - it is not relevant and there are plenty of such discussions on other boards to entertain you.

cr1mson

SarEl wrote: »

Just because you are not a member of a union does not mean that you do not have the right to strike. Similarly, if a member of another union you may not have been called out on strike, but you have the right to refuse to cross a picket line. It is not illegal to strike (except for certain occupations) - yet.

Thanks SarEl have been misinformed by my previous employer!

C