Strike Action Update (We Won!) page 16

[charliebigspuds]

superb Kev and I'm glad you took my advice on threatening the company Directors whilst wearing the FKW mask, knew it'd work

 

[Cellarite]

superb Kev and I'm glad you took my advice on threatening the company Directors whilst wearing the FKW mask, knew it'd work

You should have reminded me not to wear the full kit though Chazza. There's not many blues in Hull.

Thanks for everyone's messages.

 

[fulabeer]

Re: Strike Action - Wednesday

Great news Kev!
You have gained more than you may actually realise right now. Future pay and condition talks should go much smoother and actually prevent strikes.

Just for the benefit of people who may face this situation in the future. Striking is stressful, but stick together.
Note the bit at the end of my earlier post. Back pay/conditions/higher wages can be your reward for staying strong and maybe missing a few days pay...!

Strike, and it gives you the power. Cross the pickets and you hand it straight back.

Nobody wants to strike and lose money. As long as this is the last resort to protect pay and conditions, then you normally have no choice. Sometimes Unions can get too big for their boots, and start calling for strikes at the drop of a hat. This doesn't benefit it's members, and is just the Union flexing it's muscles. in those cases, you have the option to vote no to strike action.

Strikes only happen when enough members vote for strikes. If as a collective you have empowered the Union to call one. Then you need to see it through no matter how much financially it hurts. Striking isn't nice at all. It can be very stressful and causes problems with your bosses. You really learn a lot about yourself, and your workmates.

When I have gone on strike, I contacted the bank beforehand and asked for advice. They agreed an overdraft, that would be payed back later. My mortgage company advised that even if I couldn't make a full payment, to at least make a small one each month. That way I would only show an arrears, and not a missed or defaulted payment etc.

Contact your Union if money is really tight. They sometimes can offer a strike payment. This is money donated from other Unions to cover extreme hardship during industrial action. They can sometimes arrange deferred or very low interest loans with accredited lenders.

After saying all they above, never feel pressured into striking if you don't believe the reasons for it are valid. It will never be nice crossing a picket line, and you are letting your workmates down. This can lead to problems after the strikes, so think carefully beforehand. But if you feel strongly that the strike is wrong, then go with your belief. At least when you are questioned by your workmates, you can explain your reasons. Saying you are skint will never wash. The very reason most people go on strike is because they are not earning enough. The moment you and your workmates decide to change that, you go and weaken everybodies hand by working.

You will be expected to leave or expelled from the Union. This can leave you exposed to the will of the management in future. No Union will represent a strike breaker, so this could effect future job security.
I found that not matter how hard it got during strikes, we always benefitted afterwards. This came as back pay, and higher wages/conditions.

Your choice, but be very careful...