Strikes next week

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Permalink Reply by matt on July 12, 2008 at 13:16

Tricky decision for you Rahman. Do you go with your collegues, who you have to continue working with? Or are your clients more important to you?

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Permalink Reply by Liz on July 12, 2008 at 14:04

With regard to rubbish, it depends whether they are in Unison or if as members of other unions (often GMB) they are prepared to cross picket lines. (yes, I know technically illegal to support another union's strike but rarely pursued ).
Rahman, you should not join any union unless you feel that you want to and not because of pressure. I was a union rep for 9 years (and so my feeling is that everyone should be in one) but I also appreciate that individual conscience should be respected.
Being the manager, I would be surprised if anyone though worse of you for not going out particularly if you work with the vulnerable. It may not need to be as black and white as Matt potrays it above, depending on your colleagues I guess, maybe explain that you fully support their campaign, but, as you say above. feel someone needs to be around for the clients. (our 'bosses' used to bring tea and biscuits out to the picket line to show solidarity, always appreciated).
Have sent an email to the Neighbourhood manager to see if he can find out more from Accord. Could be a bit of an nightmare on Green Lanes if there is no timed collection for two days.

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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on July 12, 2008 at 21:45

Oh dear... the government, desperate to control inflation, will be screwing their public sector workers with insufficient pay rises. Although I note with some happiness that the Guardian leaked a World Bank report this week that blames the 40% rise in some staple crops entirely on biofuels. Maybe they could drop their "biofuel" targets. Public sector workers are in for a very tough time.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on July 14, 2008 at 15:42

While I would agree wholeheartledly with the sentiment expressed that it is important to work for better pay and conditions for public sector workers and that the use of strike action to do so is a powerful and necessary tool for doing this, I feel that the second reason given namely that staff relations might be damaged if she does not join is why many people reject trade unions and misunderstand their work. I would be appalled as a union rep to think that a colleague may be, in effect, bullied for not going out on strike and possibly suffer victimisation for not doing so, as this is just the kind of behaviour we campaign against in the workplace. Rahman has clearly considered the issues and is aware that either way there are ethical dilemmas. Ultimately she must go with what her conscience tells her to do, but I would not want someone to join up because she feared being ostracised because of it, but because she has been persuaded of the rightness of the cause. In the long run, this will ensure a long term committment to workers rights and avoid any feeling of resentment that she has been forced to bow to pressure. I certainly wouldn't join anything because everyone else did if I wasn't ready to...and nor should anyone else.

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Permalink Reply by rahman on July 16, 2008 at 15:53

I traipsed all the way in to work (an hour away) and ended up being convinced by the picketers that i shouldnt go in..... so i am now working from home with no pay.

grumph!

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Permalink Reply by Liz on July 16, 2008 at 16:03

Rahman, you have my admiration. I think you probably did the best thing, because as you say you spoke to the picketeers and were convinced not to cross the picket line. If you and Alan come to the next HOL drinks, I will make sure he, Matt and I buy the drinks for you, eh Alan :)

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