Strikes?

LegacyUser

I am a public sector worker working in a dublin university. I am not a union member, and I don't even agree with the strikes. I think the public sector is overpaid. However I am only on 22,000 euros (temp contracts worker also) and have had huge paycuts already, I couldn't afford to join the union. Now I have found out they are striking on the 24th. What happens during a strike? I don't know what to do - I have no experience of strikes. Will they patrol the university and if so how will I do my days work? If I don't attend work will I be fired? Can I just book a days holidays to avoid the whole thing? So worried and stressed over this.

ParkRunner

There should be no problem taking annual leave hopefully for those not involved in the union. Speak to your manager about it. I dont think it would be a wise move to come in though and try cross the picket to do your days work. It is a shame it has come to this...The strikes may still not happen too, but there are no positive signs so far to say they wont

iguana

In your position I would definitely try to book the day as leave. If you cross the picket line your life will become a nightmare at work, feelings are running very high at the moment. On the other hand when you don't even agree with the strike risking your own job isn't fair on you either. It's a tough spot to be in. Either book leave or see if you can work from home on the quiet.

mikemac

If you're not in the union then you don't follow their instructions.

All the same, I wouldn't realy advise that you show up. Only the brave among us would cross a picket line. While you might not get any hassle on the day you may be ostracized afterwards.

Talk to your boss, of course they may be in the union too and try to recruit you

Firetrap

I think you should try your best to take a day's annual leave on that day. Be aware though that some employers won't let you take annual leave on that day so a chat with your boss might be a good idea. Failing that, take a sick day. Crossing that picket line could bring trouble on your head.

Overheal

A Picket Line can not force you to do anything. A Picket Line is there to try and sway opinion and deter business sure. But they cant Force you to do anything. If you feel like you are being forced, then you are being Threatened/Coerced by the definition. I greatly call into question the legality of Union workers to later scorn and harrass you for crossing a picket line.

If you need to work then you need to work. And you dont even agree with their strike action. By staying at home, you're bowing to the situation.

I would cross the damn line. Cross the harassment bridge when you come to it. You are within your Rights.

Im not qualified to comment on Ireland's current affairs so I have no political opinion on this either way. I am however virulently against Bully Tactics.

anniehoo

My union (university based too) told us that if we attend we wont be paid for the day in question (a work attendance will be taken)and we cannot request that day as an annual leave day. If the day was previously requested it has to be upheld and if you are out sick a doctors note is mandatory even if its just for the one day.

I feel for you OP, everyone is dreading next months budget. Even if you're not in a union you can still support the protest if you want to. Personally, if you support the unions opinions then you can join in regardless but your HR department should be able to inform you of what you can and cant do.
PM if you want to discuss which university and its policies..

iguana

Overheal wrote: »

Cross the harassment bridge when you come to it. You are within your Rights.

Bear in mind that the OP's superiors are also very likely to be in the union and the OP is on temp contract. There is exercising your rights and displaying pragmatism and diplomacy to ensure the best outcome for you personally.

John Mason

go to work as normal, dont let these bullies intimidate you. they cant do anything to you and the next day at work if they attempt to bully you or make your life hell report them for them for bullying behavior in the work place

i will passing the picket line, i am far to busy for that kind of crap

iguana

irishbird wrote: »

they cant do anything to you and the next day at work if they attempt to bully you or make your life hell report them for them for bullying behavior in the work place

Yes they can. The OP is on a temporary contract and there is a strong likelihood that the person responsible for renewing this contract is in the union and will be participating in the strike. The OP needs to be very, very careful here. This isn't the time to take a stand when there is (hopefully) the easier option of just taking a holiday and avoiding all future aggression.

anniehoo

irishbird wrote: »

dont let these bullies intimidate you. they cant do anything to you and the next day at work if they attempt to bully you or make your life hell report them for them for bullying behavior in the work

irishbird you've used the term "bullying" numerous times in your reply and its not helpful to the OP at all. Unions are there for a reason-to protect workers rights. The public sector has a valid reason to strike(we wont get into it here) and the OP hasnt stated that there is anyone in work pressurising them to do anything they dont want to. To be honest, it sounds like the OP just hasnt been informed and/or informed themselves of what the procedure is and is just looking for advice.

The OP needs to contact their HR dept, in a university their most certainly is one and ask what will happen.

Zaph

I've only one personal experience of unions and strikes, but it may give you an idea what you could face OP. Like you, I was on a temporary contract at the time, working for one of the main banks in the mid-1980s. There was a strike threatened and one of the union reps, with whom I was good friends, called me aside to let me know what was going on. Basically he told me that as a non-union worker the bank would expect me to cross the picket line and work as normal. Failure to do so would probably mean my dismissal. However, if I did this he told me that when the strike was over the union members would probably refuse to work with me, so management would have only two options, move me or let me go. However moving me would achieve nothing as I'd be working with other union members who would also refuse to work with me. So basically if the strike went ahead, which thankfully it didn't, I'd be out of a job before long. My advice is to take a day's leave or go sick, basically anything to remove you from the firing line.

Overheal

Zaph wrote: »

I've only one personal experience of unions and strikes, but it may give you an idea what you could face OP. Like you, I was on a temporary contract at the time, working for one of the main banks in the mid-1980s. There was a strike threatened and one of the union reps, with whom I was good friends, called me aside to let me know what was going on. Basically he told me that as a non-union worker the bank would expect me to cross the picket line and work as normal. Failure to do so would probably mean my dismissal. However, if I did this he told me that when the strike was over the union members would probably refuse to work with me, so management would have only two options, move me or let me go. However moving me would achieve nothing as I'd be working with other union members who would also refuse to work with me. So basically if the strike went ahead, which thankfully it didn't, I'd be out of a job before long. My advice is to take a day's leave or go sick, basically anything to remove you from the firing line.

Surely that kind of practice is illegal

iguana

Overheal wrote: »

Surely that kind of practice is illegal

Not if you are on a temporary contract, like the OP and Zaph is and were. All they have to do is let you finish out your time and not renew.

And if the OP's supervisor is in the union he/she could end up with a crappy reference too.

Overheal

Its still cohersion and extortion though!

anniehoo

Lads i think you're getting a bit carried away here talking about "extortion" "cohersion" and "bullying".

The OP works for a university as do I and as ive said before the HR dept will have policies and procedures in place for all staff regardless of contract status.The OP hasnt mentioned any form of aggressive or intimidating behaviour from colleagues, a boss or union members. Ive stated already what my universities policies are and id pretty much be certain theirs is the same. Universities are covered by many many employment laws and are alot more regulated and controlled than some work places so i dont think theres any need for dramatics tbh.

Firetrap

It's easy talk but at times of strike, people can behave surprisingly nastily. My dad knows someone who crossed a picket line and was effectively ostracised by his workmates. The day everyone returned to work, he went into the canteen to get his lunch and everyone else walked out of the room. I'm not trying to scaremonger but that's potentially what the OP is up against. It might be worth a chat with some colleagues to sound them out.

Piste

Jesus Christ, are these people grown adults or children? This sort of petty carry on sounds like the set up of a bad teen comedy.

Moomoo1

worriedworker09 wrote: »

I am a public sector worker working in a dublin university. I am not a union member, and I don't even agree with the strikes. I think the public sector is overpaid. However I am only on 22,000 euros (temp contracts worker also) and have had huge paycuts already, I couldn't afford to join the union. Now I have found out they are striking on the 24th. What happens during a strike? I don't know what to do - I have no experience of strikes. Will they patrol the university and if so how will I do my days work? If I don't attend work will I be fired? Can I just book a days holidays to avoid the whole thing? So worried and stressed over this.

public sector is overpaid? Uni workers are overpaid? What planet are you living on mate?

I'd join in. Uni's are ripping off the students big time, so why aren't employees seeing any of this money?

LegacyUser

It's worth considering two things:

- IFUT which represents staff in third-level institutions is pretty ineffectual and is far less belligerent/successful than many groups such as those representing primary or second level employees.

- Union membership among third-level staff is not that common in many institutions. For many third-level workers it will be business as usual. These people generally are extremely unlikely to even think of consulting HR for permission to do their job.

The demands of unions essentially favour existing long-term employees at the expense of less established employees like the original poster. There's no reason he/she should take time out of their job to help those who make their life more difficult.

Zaph

Moomoo1 wrote: »

public sector is overpaid? Uni workers are overpaid? What planet are you living on mate?

I'd join in. Uni's are ripping off the students big time, so why aren't employees seeing any of this money?

OK, if we could just leave the politics of the situation out of it and just concentrate on offering advice to the OP it would be greatly appreciated.

Overheal

anniehoo wrote: »

Lads i think you're getting a bit carried away here talking about "extortion" "cohersion" and "bullying".

The OP works for a university as do I and as ive said before the HR dept will have policies and procedures in place for all staff regardless of contract status.The OP hasnt mentioned any form of aggressive or intimidating behaviour from colleagues, a boss or union members. Ive stated already what my universities policies are and id pretty much be certain theirs is the same. Universities are covered by many many employment laws and are alot more regulated and controlled than some work places so i dont think theres any need for dramatics tbh.

Right, so this isnt some ad hoc management sort of place. Thanks for clearing this up.

All the more, I'd feel safe enough crossing that picket. And things like leaving the canteen? Its extremely childish. Not nearly as Bad as Zaph's former situation anyway, as I read it. Fortunately Zaph, it didnt happen. If you had asked me though, I would have told you to get legal counsel.

Thats another matter. /shelf

Speaking with your managers or the Union Rep - thats debatable. Calling attention to yourself beforehand, then acting either way, implies a political action on your part. I would do my best not to acknowledge the situation at all if you havent already, and just go in.

Or, you know, heat of the moment: If you find on Day Zero you're swarmed with dread you could always call in sick and go to a GP that day for stress related queasiness.

LegacyUser

Firstly, I am amazed at some of the attitudes on this forum. People seeminglt determined to accuse public sector workers of bullying, coercion etc when the OP has indicated no such thing is happening.

Not all workers will be taking action on the day. I would imagine that your colleagues will not expect you to take part in action if you are not part of their union.

However , most striking workers will take a different attitude to people who do 'their' work while they strike. This is considered strike bereaking. You do not say what you do exactly, but i would suggest, if you want to work, that you continue to do your work as normal but do not try to do the work of any striking colleague.

For someone working within the public sector however, you display an considerable ignorance by stating 'public sector workers are overpaid. In fact evidence from Benchmarking 2 contradicts this and inposition of a 7% pay cut ( called pension levy) means public secotr workers are paid lower than their private sector equivelents.

Finally, as has been already said, ask your manager or HR dept, what is expected of you. They will give you what is the official position of your emplyer.

LegacyUser

I'm in a similar position to you. I'm a contract worker (a lecturer) in a Dublin university. I also cannot afford union dues (though many unions won't take on contract workers like us because we are too much of a liability).

I know UCD has sent out a message warning people about pay being deducted. However, last year when there was a threatened strike universities sent out an annoucement closer to the day saying they would be closed. This will likely happen this time - which means you can't be deducted money because your workplace was closed.

I have to lecture a few classes on the day but I have no intention of showing up in the unlikely event that the uni's don't close.

And you should not be crossing the picket line here. These people are striking for you as well! As you pointed out, you're on **** wages man! You have no job security and will likely not get your contract renewed next year because of what the government has decided. It is in your OWN personal interest to support this strike.

Overheal

And you should not be crossing the picket line here. These people are striking for you as well! As you pointed out, you're on **** wages man! You have no job security and will likely not get your contract renewed next year because of what the government has decided. It is in your OWN personal interest to support this strike.

Temp contract workers to not in any way get the same benefits/pay package as full time employees. I dont know how valid your point is.

The_Conductor

The instruction given to Personnel Officers from the Department of Finance- and communicated to Line Managers is that no leave of any nature is to be granted for that day (the 24th of November). Any sick leave is to be certified- regardless of whether its only 1 day.

In the case of certain grades who may not have had valid ballots communicated or counted on time (in the civil service- the PSEU for example)- staff are expected to honour any strike being conducted by other unions and not pass pickets. Staff who have queried working in locations that are either not unionised or have predominantly voted against industrial action (which are more widespread than you'd imagine), may find buildings closed and locked if they turn up for work as normal- and regardless of their being available for work- will also be docked a day's pay.

Lecturer- I don't understand why you'd get paid if the place is physically closed (as has been communicated elsewhere in the public sector)? Everyone else has been told they're loosing a day's pay?

My understanding is- if you do attend- the place will in all probability be closed up- and if it isn't- you won't be paid anyway......

Someone in the Department of Finance was laughing- that they save EUR78m for every day the public sector goes on strike......

Meh.......

Best thing to do is accept you're going to loose a day's pay- and hop on the website for one of the local cinemas- and do a cinema marathon for the day...... they're not on strike (I hope!!!)