Anyone ever cross a picket line?

[The Great Cornholio]

I had to "cross" a picket line for the first time today. Hardly like the Miner's strike - just a few people waving placards at my car.

Anyone else ever had to cross one?

(Disclaimer - my union told me to cross the Unison picket line as it wasn't our concern - just in case our socialist friends start jumping up and down)

 

[Dave the OAP]

Your union told you to cross a picket line?


That is fecking disgraceful.


Looks like this Blair Government is carrying on Thatcher's policies.

I am ashamed

 

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

never crossed a picket line



never will

 

[The Great Cornholio]

Your union told you to cross a picket line?


That is fecking disgraceful.


Looks like this Blair Government is carrying on Thatcher's policies.

I am ashamed

Not in so many words - they said that they wouldn't support me if action was taken because I didn't cross it. Apparently, Unison said it was OK - or something like that. Anyway, there were 15 or so people waving placards and the rest of the council offices seemed manned - even saw some council vans and lorries about their business - Rushmoor Council this is.

At the end of the day, I was there on non council business visiting non council employees to fix non council computers. Why shouldn't I cross a picket line which has nothing to do with my company and which my union doesn't support?

 

[Franks Wild Years]

"Workers of the world unite".

 

[aftershavedave]

At the end of the day, I was there on non council business visiting non council employees to fix non council computers.

surely you weren't crossing a picket line then?

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Not in so many words - they said that they wouldn't support me if action was taken because I didn't cross it. Apparently, Unison said it was OK - or something like that. Anyway, there were 15 or so people waving placards and the rest of the council offices seemed manned - even saw some council vans and lorries about their business - Rushmoor Council this is.

At the end of the day, I was there on non council business visiting non council employees to fix non council computers. Why shouldn't I cross a picket line which has nothing to do with my company and which my union doesn't support?

Quite right. I've crossed them and will continue to do so. People have the right to strike but they should also respect my right to continue about my daily business. And as I don't belong to a union, and never will, I feel no guilt in crossing the lines. The dispute is between the employees, employer and the unions - nowt to do with me !!!

 

[The Large One]

Scab.

 

[London Calling]

Not in so many words - they said that they wouldn't support me if action was taken because I didn't cross it. Apparently, Unison said it was OK - or something like that. Anyway, there were 15 or so people waving placards and the rest of the council offices seemed manned - even saw some council vans and lorries about their business - Rushmoor Council this is.

At the end of the day, I was there on non council business visiting non council employees to fix non council computers. Why shouldn't I cross a picket line which has nothing to do with my company and which my union doesn't support?

Post Office worker refused to cross a picket line at another of our other offices.

Its a moral thing - SCAB.

 

[Billy the Fish]

If I wasn't at work i'd be tempted to pretend to be a council worker and cross their picket just to prove a point. I've got to work until i'm 60, why shouldn't they.

 

[The Great Cornholio]

Scab.

No - I picked (picketed) it and it fell off!

I worded the original post carefully to see who would bite! To all intents and purposes, I crossed the line as I had to drive past it to park my car and enter the building. The same as people paying their council tax crossed it. My bosses wouldn't have bought it if I hadn't gone to work because another company was striking.

Still a strange experience though - I was half expecting stones thrown and my car rocked. I watched too much telly in the 80's.

 

[London Calling]

Quite right. I've crossed them and will continue to do so. People have the right to strike but they should also respect my right to continue about my daily business. And as I don't belong to a union, and never will, I feel no guilt in crossing the lines. The dispute is between the employees, employer and the unions - nowt to do with me !!!

But crossing the picket line, could be use to undermine that strike action, as I highlighted earlier a post worker refused to cross one at an office of my organisation, thus supporting the strike and ensuring maximum impact.

I hope you won't be whinging about great public pensions schemes and how they should be downgraded to yours "probably crap" pension.

 

[London Calling]

If I wasn't at work i'd be tempted to pretend to be a council worker and cross their picket just to prove a point. I've got to work until i'm 60, why shouldn't they.

All local authority workers work to 60 to a minimum, unless their original terms of conditions agreement allowed them an opt out based on length of service - 42 years of employment.

 

[Billy the Fish]

All local authority workers work to 60 to a minimum, unless their original terms of conditions agreement allowed, them an opt up based on lenght of service obtained.

So what's their problem then?

 

[The Great Cornholio]

Post Office worker refused to cross a picket line at another of of over offices.

Its a moral thing - SCAB.

A nice balanced, objective view. Thanks for that. I suppose come the Glorious Day, I will be up against the wall, eh?

Why the hell should I risk my job for a cause I'm ambivilant about? Esepcially when both the unions at our company told us to cross them and when Unison had said they only wanted members of Unison and other unions who are affected and in support to strike? Because of your glorious workers unite motto? If that makes me a scab, then so be it. Says more about the name callers than me, IMHO.

 

[Cian]

Quite right. I've crossed them and will continue to do so. People have the right to strike but they should also respect my right to continue about my daily business. And as I don't belong to a union, and never will, I feel no guilt in crossing the lines. The dispute is between the employees, employer and the unions - nowt to do with me !!!

Ditto. Not my employer, not my job. They've every right to protest but they have no right to stop me getting on with my life.

(I'm specifically refering to Dunnes Stores and An Post strikers in the past few months, both of whom I walked past a number of times)

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Scab.

Good counter arguement !

 

[colinpants]

yes crossed one today

 

[sully]

Many years ago I had to cross an NUR / ASLEF picket line to get into my office.

Bloody intimidating, but I wasn't about to be told what to do when I didn't agree with what they were striking about (flexible rosters - remember that one?)

Don't agree with strikes and never will. The one today is based on a great deal of mis-information about what is actually changing and why.

 

[Yorkie]

We had lots of votes to strike in the electricity company but never actually got as far as striking although it came close a few times. The management usually came to an agreement before things got out of hand. The metering reading staff had a sit in one morning until the big boss went to meet them and talk to them.