Hi there, my partner is a teacher and with the union NASUWT. It’s likely there will be industrial strike action by the teaching unions following october half term. If my partner is balloted and votes yes – Is he obligated to strike? What would happen if he worked as normal on days his union was striking? On a strike day, is he obligated to go to the picket lines or can he stay home if he decides not to work?
These are just some honest questions as we’re both new to the workforce and not sure how these work – Completely undecided on strike action at the moment so thinking ahead, thanks for the help!
4 comments
If the union votes for strike action you’re not obligated to strike and you can go to work as usual.
This will be seen as absolute shithouse behaviour by your colleagues and will probably lead to you receiving the cold shoulder at work.
If you do strike you don’t have to join the picket line but its pretty poor form to not attend even if just for an hour.
If the union votes to strike, he doesn’t have to join the picket line, he can just stay at home, he’s doing his part by just not working.
It might be seen as a bit of a dick move or belittling the cause by some of those who strike if he crosses the picket line but I don’t think he’d get any aggro.
> Is he obligated to strike?
No not at all.
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>What would happen if he worked as normal on days his union was striking?
He’d be a scab and have to do the walk of shame where he pretends he cannot see the picketline.
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> On a strike day, is he obligated to go to the picket lines or can he stay home if he decides not to work?
No and Yes.
You don’t have to strike, but what’s the point of being in a union if you’re not going to take part in collective action?