INDUSTRIAL ACTION - MYTHS AND FACTS!
DO I HAVE TO STRIKE?
As a member of a democratic union we would hope that you would participate in strike action. You cannot be force to do so, but it is part of belonging to a democratic union in which decisions are made collectively. We recognise that taking strike action is very serious, which is why UNISON asks you and every member to observe the strike. Every member who does not undermines our bargaining power and makes it harder for us to protect all our members.
DO I HAVE TO TELL MY EMPLOYER IF I AM GOING ON STRIKE?
NO, the day of action is confirmed in a ballot. We will officially inform your employer and they should assume all members will be striking. It is up to them to ask for any exemptions and to provide emergency cover.
Your employer might ask you if you will be taking industrial action. You are under no obligation to inform your employer in advance as to whether you will be taking part in strike action. UNISON is legally required to give employers some statistical information about UNISON members taking industrial action but we do not give individual names.
I CAN’T AFFORT TO STRIKE, MONEY IS SO TIGHT AT THE MOMENT
UNISON understands your concerns. Education workers have already had to put up with a great deal and we are well aware there may be other pressing difficulties you are being faced with right now on a local or personal level. But it’s important to think about what you could gain and the money you need in retirement to support yourself.
Any pay gained through an increased offer may not offset what you lose in the immediate term through strike reductions. However, it will be ‘paid back’ quite quickly because:
• It means that the starting point for any future pay rise is higher than it would otherwise be.
• The value of any future increment is higher than it wold otherwise be.
• The value of the pension pot accumulating is higher than it would otherwise be.
The employers are relying on workers and Unions being too weak and too scared to put up enough of a fight against this attack on your pay. We have to show them that they are wrong. If we aren’t able to make them re-think their stance, the employers and government will continue to cut your pay and conditions and we may never be in a position to recover the ground we have lost. Falling pay also means loss of pension, which could affect you for the rest of your life.
MY EMPLOYER IS SAYING THAT A ONE DAY STRIKE WOULD BE SEEN AS A BREAK IN SERVICE AND THAT MY CONTINUITY OF SERVICE WOULD BE BROKEN – IS THIS TRUE?
During a strike your continuous employment is treated as ‘postponed’. This means that the period you were on strike for will not count towards your continuous employment, but it does NOT break the continuity of your period of employment.
I AM A PREGNANT WORKER, WHAT IMPACT WILL TAKING STRIKE ACTION HAVE ON MY MATERNITY PAY
Pregnant workers are not asked to take part in strikes if it puts them at a disadvantage. UNISON exempts pregnant members from taking strike action for example where their maternity pay would be affected.
MY MANAGER DECIDES WHETHER I SHOULD BE DEROGATED ON STRIKE DAYS?
We decide which services are derogated and the numbers of derogated staff. That is why you should always ask your manager to show you the UNISON derogation response for your area or service. Some services are completely derogated. REMEMBER, BEING DEROGATED DOES NOT AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO STRIKE.
I’M IN THE UK ON A WORK VISA, AM I ALLOWED TO STRIKE?
If you are absent from work as a result of lawful industrial strike action then this will not affect your work visa. Home Office guidance to sponsoring employers confirms that taking lawful industrial action does not affect sponsoring arrangements. For further information please see the government’s sponsor a skilled worker guidance.
I’M NOT A MEMBER YET – CAN I JOIN NOW AND STILL TAKE PART IN THE PROPOSED ACTION?
New members can join UNISON and join the strike right up to and including the day of action. So, if this is the case the answer is very much YES, you can join the strike. You just need to fill in an application form and hand it to your rep or you can join by clicking THIS LINK HERE.
