Industrial Action 10th July

fluffy70

Hi

I was made bankrupt on 5th June this year and have recently heard from my OR that my IPA will be £134 - better than I had hoped at least.

My major worry now is that I work for local government, and being a member of the trade union we have been balloted and the decision was that Industrial Action is to take place on 10th July. It has just occurred to me that as this means that I will be deducted a day's pay for the action by my employers, this means that my salary for August will be reduced by that amount pre tax - about £79. This obviously means that disposable income falls and will affect me adversely.

Am I permitted to take industrial action if it affects the disposable income?

I know that some people will say that I should cross the picket line and work so that my income doesn't fall.... we're striking for a £1 an hour payrise for everyone in local government so it is needed but now I'm totally confused

TheGardener

If this is going to be a massive problem - you have the right to ask the union to consider your 'exemption' from the strike. At my place of work (which is mostly Unison) we have received an email stating that if it will cause hardship - you can speak to the Union Rep for an exemption and requests will be dealt with on a case by case basis. You could have booked paid leave but usually once the announcement is official - leave will not be approved. Remember striking will also cost you a days pension.
I would ask the OR if you can have a single reduced payment - or go to work.

jacques_chirac

Strikes rarely achieve anything other than giving you more work to do when you get back. Do what is best for you and your family and go to work, and you don't need to ask for an exemption from the union to do this - you are your own person, not a sheep

TheGardener

jacques_chirac wrote: »

Strikes rarely achieve anything other than giving you more work to do when you get back. Do what is best for you and your family and go to work, and you don't need to ask for an exemption from the union to do this - you are your own person, not a sheep

Sheep take the crappy 1% after a 5 year pay freeze and a reduction in their pensions and ...I could go one but I wont...Being BR does not mean you have to give up values and beliefs ...It was my public sector pay being worth nearly 20% less than it was in 2010 that was one of the factors (along with my bank) in my BR in the first place.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

No worries chaps, when Millipede gets in, those in private enterprise will have our pensions raided again in the name of ...


http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4138142.ece


http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ianmcowie/100022060/balls-to-another-tax-raid-hands-off-our-pensions/


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1082511/Browns-17-000-tax-raid-EVERY-private-pension--value-cushy-public-sector-schemes-soars-1trillion.html


And when I did my apprenticeship, if the union organised a strike, it was all out. And no pay! Findus, Pelham Rd Cleethorpes, 1978 to January 1980.

RuthnJasper

fluffy70 wrote: »

Hi

I was made bankrupt on 5th June this year and have recently heard from my OR that my IPA will be £134 - better than I had hoped at least.

My major worry now is that I work for local government, and being a member of the trade union we have been balloted and the decision was that Industrial Action is to take place on 10th July. It has just occurred to me that as this means that I will be deducted a day's pay for the action by my employers, this means that my salary for August will be reduced by that amount pre tax - about £79. This obviously means that disposable income falls and will affect me adversely.

Am I permitted to take industrial action if it affects the disposable income?

I know that some people will say that I should cross the picket line and work so that my income doesn't fall.... we're striking for a £1 an hour payrise for everyone in local government so it is needed but now I'm totally confused

You don't have to strike. I'm in the union, but I can't afford to lose a day either. It'll be OK. x

esmy

I trust those union members who aren't going to strike (excluding those with a union exemption) will resign their membership and turn down any union negotiated pay rise???

thegrind

How would you feel if you lost a days pay striking for your fellow co-workers while a select few decided to go to work, earn their money then come and demand their agreed £1 hour that you sacrificed a days pay for?

The government likes people like yourself who are so chained to the system that they have no other choice but to accept the status quo.
(no offence)

alastairq

Firstly, the OR has absolutely no say, or interest, in how, where or when income is acquired, or not, as the case may be.

There is no [legal or moral] compulsion to maintain an income of any sort, whilst Bankrupt, or having agreed to an IPA.
An IPA can be varied up, down, or reduced to zero, should the BR's circumstances change.

If the OP feels strongly enough to want to support their colleagues in this protest strike, and a reduction in income ensues, this change-of-circumstance should be communicated to the OR within 21 days.

Any IPA payment should then be adjusted accordingly. The relevant pay slip may have to be forwarded to the collectors.[whoever they may be these days?}

And for those who feel self -righteous about Unions, [and strike action,] bear in mind almost all of the benefits we workers have enjoyed over the past 50 years [holidays, overtime , minimum wages, pensions, and a myriad of other benefits] have all come about because of workers protesting, in solidarity.

What is often forgotten is that strike action is, like bankruptcy, a last resort.

It is arrived at, out of frustration over a lack of interaction, or, communication/negotiation , with a management.

Very definitely so in this instance.

BTW, most Unions also have an Emergency [strike] fund, whereby any member who can claim a hardship can receive payment from the Union itself.

At least, that applies to me, as a member of PCS.

But I also respect the right of Union members to avoid a strike if they so wish.

I would not like to think colleagues supported strike action out of moral fear.

[just remember, if taking strike action, don't do compensatory overtime in that same week, if one is subject to 'conditioned hours?'

And, definitely don't 'clear' backlogs!!]

Thrugelmir

fluffy70 wrote: »

I know that some people will say that I should cross the picket line and work so that my income doesn't fall.... we're striking for a £1 an hour payrise for everyone in local government so it is needed but now I'm totally confused

We're continuing working to keep our jobs. Better an income than none at all.

alastairq

We're continuing working to keep our jobs. Better an income than none at all.

And, as long as that attitude is maintained, the employer will continue to keep incomes suppressed.

The fact is, you are worth more than that!

Wage suppression really is nothing but an excuse. Especially in the Public sector!