Advice about proposed strike please...

Jarndyce

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.

Not illegal to do it but the OP would not have protection from being dismissed for unauthorised absence if they were not a member of one of the unions in official dispute, would they?

cr1mson

cr1mson wrote: »

Thanks SarEl have been misinformed by my previous employer!

C

Actually scrap that was my old union!

bristol_pilot

Either join the union and strike, or don't join the union and go into work (crossing the picket line if necessary).

Union subs are NOT allowable against tax, by the way.

Jarndyce

bristol_pilot wrote: »

Either join the union and strike, or don't join the union and go into work (crossing the picket line if necessary).

Union subs are NOT allowable against tax, by the way.

Er, yes they are, in certain professions, especially where the union is also the professional body eg nursing, teaching, most healthcare areas and quite a few others.

persa

I have crossed a picket line before (not in the UK).

In my case, the people striking all knew I wasn't part of any union, let alone their one and I think deep down they would have felt bad if there hadn't been any coverage that day, so none of them gave me any grief.

If you can't get out of working on the day of the strike, I would spend the next month dropping into conversation about how much you agree with the reasons for striking, but how sadly you can't afford a day off work this time and how you hope no one will think you're against the strike etc.

Those who are planning on striking have been telling anyone who will listen exactly why their cause is just, so a bit of sympathy will likely go a long way, even if your heart isn't in it.

bristol_pilot wrote: »

Either join the union and strike, or don't join the union and go into work (crossing the picket line if necessary).

Union subs are NOT allowable against tax, by the way.

Jarndyce wrote: »

Er, yes they are, in certain professions, especially where the union is also the professional body eg nursing, teaching, most healthcare areas and quite a few others.

For clarity.

Union subs are disallowable on first principles because unlike professional subs, they're not generally necessary to do your job. However, there are exceptions by concession, for example:

HMRC wrote:

[From 2004-5 onwards,] Tax relief is due to members of Unison Health Care Sector within the sectors of Nursing, Ambulance, Voluntary,
Professional & Technical A, Professional & Technical B, Senior and General Managers.

The list is here, if anyone is interested: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/list3/list3.pdf

vax2002

The best Union these days is the "union of looking after number 1 "

DKLS

My wife will be crossing the picket line if it goes ahead, She doesn't do unions, and wouldn't hesitate crossing the line.

bristol_pilot

DKLS wrote: »

My wife will be crossing the picket line if it goes ahead, She doesn't do unions, and wouldn't hesitate crossing the line.

She will do doubt decline any payrise negotiated though collective bargaining then.

Tiddlywinks

DKLS wrote: »

My wife will be crossing the picket line if it goes ahead, She doesn't do unions, and wouldn't hesitate crossing the line.

She sounds like a real team player and you are right to be proud of her.

t0rt0ise

I looked to rejoin the RCN last night and found it's really, really expensive with no reduction for my working part-time. I really can't afford it as I'm part living off savings and have to be very careful. Not that I imagine the RCN will strike anyway if the past is anything to go by but still I feel guilty for not adding my support to the cause.