Question about Dunnes Stores Strike

JohnnyBrown

Hello Boards.ie
I've been working at Dunnes Stores for several years now. I'm sure by now you've all heard of the possibility that there will be a strike soon, from Mandate Trade Union members. I'm not myself a member, so I wanted to gather some information.
In the event of a strike, what is likely to happen to myself if I remain a non-member? What if I were a member?
For what it's worth, this is my first job, and I've never before been involved with a strike, either myself or those I know personally.

Uncle Ben

JohnnyBrown wrote: »

Hello Boards.ie
I've been working at Dunnes Stores for several years now. I'm sure by now you've all heard of the possibility that there will be a strike soon, from Mandate Trade Union members. I'm not myself a member, so I wanted to gather some information.
In the event of a strike, what is likely to happen to myself if I remain a non-member? What if I were a member?
For what it's worth, this is my first job, and I've never before been involved with a strike, either myself or those I know personally.

Firstly, there is no onus on you having to join a union. However, the fact that Mandate have balloted and served notice means you have the choice of doing 1 of 4 things. First, you could join the Uniion now and stand on the picket with your mates. Secondly, on the day or days of the strike you could go sick or take annual leave, however, depending on how long this goes on for, you actually could become the one who loses out. Thirdly, you could bite the bullet, shoulders back, chest out, and walk through the picket and go to work. More than likely you won't be alone, management will be there as will some other likeminded person's like yourself. You will get paid and depending on length of industrial action probably the chance to earn plenty of o/t
When this strike is settled, and bear in mind they always do get settled, your mates will decide what will happen to you. I doubt very much there would be physical violence, but at least expect to be sent to Coventry.,avoiding eye contact, smart comments, leaving you on your own at breaks etc. All of this will happen. Over time some of your old pals might forgive and forget and gradually return as if nothing had happened, on the contrary however every new member of staff that joins may be made aware that you are the scab that cannot be trusted, and if that continues you may have to make the fourth choice and look for a new job.

Remember however that the rates, conditions and rights are there because unions fought and won them.

JohnnyBrown

Thanks for the reply. I have heard though that Dunnes employs 11,000 or so but Mandate represents only 4,000 of those, so the vast majority of Dunnes workers aren't members and thus wouldn't be taking part in the strike. I will be talking to people I know are members and seeing what's happening. I suppose I should join, since it was Mandate who did push for pay rises in the last year or two, if I'm remembering correctly. However, I never asked for those pay rises (they were done without my involvement), so that can be interpreted as an unwanted favour owed, or something like that.
Thing is, I'm the kind of guy who just wants to do an honest day's work and not rock the cradle with management. I go in, work, and go home, and as far as I can see, not taking part in a strike is a good way of doing that. So far, I haven't had any issues with management, and I don't foresee any in the future. I keep my head down and do my job.

Magellan2015

Wow, way to threaten the non-union member as to what will befall him if he steps out of line!

Any chance his colleague will be, like, not complete a$$holes? Or that there might be a significant number of other people in the workplace who don't see the point in paying 1% of their wages to a union to get them an extra 1% in pay? The same unions who did absolutely nothing to keep their members in employment through the recession? How many people were happy to see their "old mates" go on the unemployment line rather than take a cut in hours and pay (like they did in Germany) at the onset of the recession? How many unions in the public service fought the government to get them to freeze increments rather than reduce the numbers in employment in the public service by 50,000 or so?

Most of the conditions and rights are there because the EU forced Ireland to enact a tonne of employment legislation. The main Irish unions were dead set against allowing women to be paid the same as men (for example), or letting them work at all if they got married or pregnant. The unions may have fought for them, but they weren't Irish unions.

As a matter of practicality, odds are less than half of your colleagues are in the union— even in the public service union membership is about 30% I think, and around 25% overall nationally (ie, less than 25% in the private sector. And if your colleagues in the union aren't complete pr1cks, they'll understand that you can't afford to be without a wage.

And if your colleagues in the union are complete pr1cks and a$$holes, why would you want to be hanging around with them at breaks anyway? You can take your break with the majority of your colleagues who are non-union members.

JohnnyBrown

Magellan2015 wrote: »

Wow, way to threaten the non-union member as to what will befall him if he steps out of line!

Any chance his colleague will be, like, not complete a$$holes? Or that there might be a significant number of other people in the workplace who don't see the point in paying 1% of their wages to a union to get them an extra 1% in pay? The same unions who did absolutely nothing to keep their members in employment through the recession? How many people were happy to see their "old mates" go on the unemployment line rather than take a cut in hours and pay (like they did in Germany) at the onset of the recession? How many unions in the public service fought the government to get them to freeze increments rather than reduce the numbers in employment in the public service by 50,000 or so?

Most of the conditions and rights are there because the EU forced Ireland to enact a tonne of employment legislation. The main Irish unions were dead set against allowing women to be paid the same as men (for example), or letting them work at all if they got married or pregnant. The unions may have fought for them, but they weren't Irish unions.

As a matter of practicality, odds are less than half of your colleagues are in the union— even in the public service union membership is about 30% I think, and around 25% overall nationally (ie, less than 25% in the private sector. And if your colleagues in the union aren't complete pr1cks, they'll understand that you can't afford to be without a wage.

And if your colleagues in the union are complete pr1cks and a$$holes, why would you want to be hanging around with them at breaks anyway? You can take your break with the majority of your colleagues who are non-union members.

Thanks for that. I have heard through the grapevine that the last Mandate meeting had only a handful of people attending from my store. I cannot afford to be without a job at the moment (we've all got bills to pay) and I honestly don't know if Mandate would offer strike pay, and if so, how much, and if how much I'd get would depend on how long I've been a member. That, and I don't know how long this strike is supposed to go on for - Mandate wouldn't pay our wages long-term, I think.

Uncle Ben

Magellan2015 wrote: »

Wow, way to threaten the non-union member as to what will befall him if he steps out of line!

Any chance his colleague will be, like, not complete a$$holes? Or that there might be a significant number of other people in the workplace who don't see the point in paying 1% of their wages to a union to get them an extra 1% in pay? The same unions who did absolutely nothing to keep their members in employment through the recession? How many people were happy to see their "old mates" go on the unemployment line rather than take a cut in hours and pay (like they did in Germany) at the onset of the recession? How many unions in the public service fought the government to get them to freeze increments rather than reduce the numbers in employment in the public service by 50,000 or so?

Most of the conditions and rights are there because the EU forced Ireland to enact a tonne of employment legislation. The main Irish unions were dead set against allowing women to be paid the same as me, or letting them work at all if they got married or pregnant. The unions may have fought for them, but they weren't Irish unions.

As a matter of practicality, odds are less than half of your colleagues are in the union— even in the public service union membership is about 30% I think, and around 25% overall nationally (ie, less than 25% in the private sector. And if your colleagues in the union aren't complete pr1cks, they'll understand that you can't afford to be without a wage.

And if your colleagues in the union are complete pr1cks and a$$holes, why would you want to be hanging around with them at breaks anyway? You can take your break with the majority of your colleagues who are non-union members.

It wasn't a threat, just life as I've seen it in over 30 odd years, in work places that have been engaged in industrial action. Btw at the moment I am not a member of any union however I do believe that most if not all of the industrial legislation would not be there if it were not for union involvement , and secondly the unions are there to represent their members, not me or the op, and if he benefits even by 1% so be it, however it is rather unwise to impress upon a person that he should just walk by, even one third of his colleagues, in his first job and not get any reactions.

JohnnyBrown

In terms of reactions from my colleagues, I honestly don't care. I'm not exactly the most social of people. As I said, I go in, do my job and go home. I'll act friendly with the other staff members, but I'm not close friends with any of them.

Mrs OBumble

JohnnyBrown wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I have heard though that Dunnes employs 11,000 or so but Mandate represents only 4,000 of those, so the vast majority of Dunnes workers aren't members and thus wouldn't be taking part in the strike.

Those number are irrelevant.

What matters is the proportion of people in your store (or others where you might be asked to work to provide temporary cover) who are members.

Uncle Ben's post reads to me like a good summary of what happens.

These days many people haven't actually experienced being in a workplace during an industrial dispute so don't actually have experience of what happens - or what disciple the union needs to impose on it's members so that things don't get out of hand.

Stheno

Uncle Ben wrote: »

It wasn't a threat, just life as I've seen it in over 30 odd years, in work places that have been engaged in industrial action. however it is rather unwise to impress upon a person that he should just walk by, even one third of his colleagues, in his first job and not get any reactions.

Agreed, union members tend to view those who pass a picket as someone to be shunned ime, and have long memories

stevenmu

You could find out who the Mandate shop steward or rep is for your store and ask if they will be expecting non-members to respect the picket line. Also explain how you do support what they are doing but would find it very hard to do without the pay at the moment.

Sometimes a strike is just about sending a message to management that they are serious about their demands and are willing to escalate the situation, and from what little I've heard on the radio it sounds like this is currently the case with Dunnes. In that case, they might not care much about people crossing the picket line. If it escalated to a more serious strike they might feel more strongly about it then.

Agent Smith

Do you get strike pay if your in the union?

micks

stevenmu wrote: »

You could find out who the Mandate shop steward or rep is for your store and ask if they will be expecting non-members to respect the picket line. Also explain how you do support what they are doing but would find it very hard to do without the pay at the moment.

I was going to post this - best bit of advice here

you say 4000 out of 11000 are in mandate are the remainder non union or other unions? It will all depend on what the strike is about and who is striking
It may get the backing of other unions - it may not. Depending on the details everyone outside mandate could be working on those days or others may pass

I would ask you immediate boss what is expected of you and see your options eg AL/sick/ work etc
Then ask the shop stewards in mandate same what they expect of you explain yourself - first experience of this
you could also ask anyone you know in the mandate

get a few opinions

you will most likely be told its your choice and you're not expected to stay out

I have been on locations where there have been strikes and multiple /non unions involved there has been all sorts of variations when it comes to strikes / disputes inc being told that unions were not recognised by our company and that if we didnt turn up for whatever reason we'd be sacked

Most recently i was with a company that brought about some redundancies 3 unions and a non unions management group - great package 6 wks + lots of extras - the non union group took the company to court for more - unions excepted it hands down

All groups are made up of people - different unions or non union still people
You get all sorts of people

anyway as above talk to those involved as previously said

chrysagon

Dunnes going on strike on Holy Thursday... good on them!

Black Menorca

Please join the union.

Employers in the private sector take advantage of workers as it is.

MANDATE seem to be excellent representatives.

Dunnes workers have a proud history of using industrial action in fighting injustice.

Do your bit, join up and gain strength in being a part of a greater whole.