TALKING COLLEAGUES OUT OF CROSSING THE PICKET LINE

[POSTPERSON50]

Quite a rumble of voices talking of crossing the picket line this last week.

I've had to persuade 4 separate members to resist this temptation.

I sympathise because of the frustration they feel with losing money, and the prospect of losing more.

Striking over a long period is the toughest part. It's a mental struggle. Action should have been stronger and more swift. It's been dragged out for too long. The negotiations are a sideshow, nothing will be resolved.

Find a way to get through this. Talk about it with your workmates. People are there to help.

Don't cross. Show our strength.

[Ppat98]

Agree with you that we should continue to strike to get some sort of compromise even if it's a small compromise on RM's part but if you think nothing will be resolved from the negotiations, what's your motive for striking? & Did you say that to the colleagues you persuaded? lol

[guardianangel]

Quite a rumble of voices talking of crossing the picket line this last week.

I've had to persuade 4 separate members to resist this temptation.

I sympathise because of the frustration they feel with losing money, and the prospect of losing more.

Striking over a long period is the toughest part. It's a mental struggle. Action should have been stronger and more swift. It's been dragged out for too long. The negotiations are a sideshow, nothing will be resolved.

Find a way to get through this. Talk about it with your workmates. People are there to help.

Don't cross. Show our strength.

,I've found over the numerous strikes i have met life long friends with our brothers in arms,no money could replace that,we are always there for each other and something i'll cherish for the rest of my life.

[LaggyBand]

This Thursday will be the first time our office is open. We think there will be two guys who will cross. I’m going to have to say something if they do. It’s allowed isn’t it?

[Chaz25]

Sorry all, I completely disagree- this needs to be an individuals decision, at the end of the day, it’s their livelihood that’s at steak, if you are unable to afford to strike and its having an impact financially that’s causing you to struggle to either pay your mortgage, rent provide for your family,pay bills,then what should really stop you from coming into work? If that’s the best decision for you, everyone needs to ease up, no one else is going to give you a days wages because you have stood at the picket line… by all means show your support, strike if & when you can, I’m not against it, but if you need to cross the picket line, that’s a individuals decision and they should be respected regardless of what they choose to do- especially in these tough time, just put yourselves in their shoes for a little…

[SpacePhoenix]

Sorry all, I completely disagree- this needs to be an individuals decision, at the end of the day, it’s their livelihood that’s at steak, if you are unable to afford to strike and its having an impact financially that’s causing you to struggle to either pay your mortgage, rent provide for your family,pay bills,then what should really stop you from coming into work? If that’s the best decision for you, everyone needs to ease up, no one else is going to give you a days wages because you have stood at the picket line… by all means show your support, strike if & when you can, I’m not against it, but if you need to cross the picket line, that’s a individuals decision and they should be respected regardless of what they choose to do- especially in these tough time, just put yourselves in their shoes for a little…

Given all the stuff that RM are trying to get through I wouldn't put it past RM to have everyone on minimum wage and axe ALL allowances (at least the axing of all allowances), could they survive on minimum wage?

[macthejaffa]

Sorry all, I completely disagree- this needs to be an individuals decision, at the end of the day, it’s their livelihood that’s at steak, if you are unable to afford to strike and its having an impact financially that’s causing you to struggle to either pay your mortgage, rent provide for your family,pay bills,then what should really stop you from coming into work? If that’s the best decision for you, everyone needs to ease up, no one else is going to give you a days wages because you have stood at the picket line… by all means show your support, strike if & when you can, I’m not against it, but if you need to cross the picket line, that’s a individuals decision and they should be respected regardless of what they choose to do- especially in these tough time, just put yourselves in their shoes for a little…

Given all the stuff that RM are trying to get through I wouldn't put it past RM to have everyone on minimum wage and axe ALL allowances (at least the axing of all allowances), could they survive on minimum wage?

I think you’re missing the point, getting zero pay for two days strike is too much for some people to afford, myself included, as I’ve barely scraped by after taking every strike so far. I’m not going to put my family and our home at risk for any job. It’s such a horrible situation cos I don’t agree with ANYTHING Royal Mail are trying to do, but I simply can’t afford to take the two day financial hit.
Especially when Union top brass aren’t missing a penny.

[datasaint]

I think you’re missing the point, getting zero pay for two days strike is too much for some people to afford, myself included, as I’ve barely scraped by after taking every strike so far. I’m not going to put my family and our home at risk for any job. It’s such a horrible situation cos I don’t agree with ANYTHING Royal Mail are trying to do, but I simply can’t afford to take the two day financial hit.
Especially when Union top brass aren’t missing a penny.

You state your personal circumstance as the reason, then fall back on some made up claim about the Union? It's been stated time and time again when there's a strike on they don't take any pay.

Sounds as though you are just trying to justify your actions in your mind.

There's plenty agency work out there if you are struggling you don't have to go to work at Royal Mail.

[SpacePhoenix]

Sorry all, I completely disagree- this needs to be an individuals decision, at the end of the day, it’s their livelihood that’s at steak, if you are unable to afford to strike and its having an impact financially that’s causing you to struggle to either pay your mortgage, rent provide for your family,pay bills,then what should really stop you from coming into work? If that’s the best decision for you, everyone needs to ease up, no one else is going to give you a days wages because you have stood at the picket line… by all means show your support, strike if & when you can, I’m not against it, but if you need to cross the picket line, that’s a individuals decision and they should be respected regardless of what they choose to do- especially in these tough time, just put yourselves in their shoes for a little…

Given all the stuff that RM are trying to get through I wouldn't put it past RM to have everyone on minimum wage and axe ALL allowances (at least the axing of all allowances), could they survive on minimum wage?

I think you’re missing the point, getting zero pay for two days strike is too much for some people to afford, myself included, as I’ve barely scraped by after taking every strike so far. I’m not going to put my family and our home at risk for any job. It’s such a horrible situation cos I don’t agree with ANYTHING Royal Mail are trying to do, but I simply can’t afford to take the two day financial hit.
Especially when Union top brass aren’t missing a penny.

With the talk of "owner drivers", that's the slippery slope to a gig economy, if RM ever brought that in, would you be able to manage, when you'd never know what hours you'd be doing in a week and so how much your wages would be for a week?

[POSTPERSON50]

Agree with you that we should continue to strike to get some sort of compromise even if it's a small compromise on RM's part but if you think nothing will be resolved from the negotiations, what's your motive for striking? & Did you say that to the colleagues you persuaded? lol

I have no 'motive' for striking. I'm following the path that my union has chosen to follow.

I have already said that I'm vehemently opposed to striking on odd days over months and months, in these circumstances it was completely the wrong thing to do. We had to take strong action earlier to attempt to get rid of Thompson, because Thompson was never going to backtrack on what he had already decided was going to happen. Now he's still in the hot seat and thousands of our members are obviously at the end of their financial tether, to the point that many feel they have no option but to cross the picket lines this week.

The longer this went on, the weaker our position was.
For me, the CWU have read this whole situation wrong. Listing a load of upcoming strike days at this late stage may look bold and aggressive, but the fact is that staff will start going back this week because they obviously feel broken by this whole process.

[thebigone]

We have got too keep striking or there is no future in the job
It means they are winning,

[LaggyBand]

I think you’re missing the point, getting zero pay for two days strike is too much for some people to afford, myself included, as I’ve barely scraped by after taking every strike so far. I’m not going to put my family and our home at risk for any job. It’s such a horrible situation cos I don’t agree with ANYTHING Royal Mail are trying to do, but I simply can’t afford to take the two day financial hit.
Especially when Union top brass aren’t missing a penny.

You state your personal circumstance as the reason, then fall back on some made up claim about the Union? It's been stated time and time again when there's a strike on they don't take any pay.

Sounds as though you are just trying to justify your actions in your mind.

There's plenty agency work out there if you are struggling you don't have to go to work at Royal Mail.

Basically he’s saying I need to mess up all your jobs so I don’t have to find a new one.

[macthejaffa]

I think you’re missing the point, getting zero pay for two days strike is too much for some people to afford, myself included, as I’ve barely scraped by after taking every strike so far. I’m not going to put my family and our home at risk for any job. It’s such a horrible situation cos I don’t agree with ANYTHING Royal Mail are trying to do, but I simply can’t afford to take the two day financial hit.
Especially when Union top brass aren’t missing a penny.

You state your personal circumstance as the reason, then fall back on some made up claim about the Union? It's been stated time and time again when there's a strike on they don't take any pay.

Sounds as though you are just trying to justify your actions in your mind.

There's plenty agency work out there if you are struggling you don't have to go to work at Royal Mail.

Basically he’s saying I need to mess up all your jobs so I don’t have to find a new one.

Far from it. I’ve taken every single strike day because I don’t believe in anything that RM are trying to do. Unfortunately I’m now in a position, as the only income in my household, that I simply can’t afford to do it any more. Yes I know that the future looks bleak and we’re all going to have to make big changes and I hate the thought of it, but at this moment in time, as my mortgage has now tripled I’m simply going to have to work these next days.
I feel so torn it’s affecting my state of mind and my home life, my wife is worried sick about me and what the future holds but she’s housebound sick so it’s the last thing I want to put her through.
My home and my family comes before anything so I have to do what’s best for me & them, and I always will. No offence to any colleague, all of which in my DO I call friends.
Thankfully they understand my situation.

[redheadedwoman]

We have got too keep striking or there is no future in the job
It means they are winning,

If we don’t strike then we are as good as saying to Thompson that we accept his attacks on our terms and conditions and he can and will change this job for the worse
Next will be paid meal reliefs/annual leave entitlements etc etc
I understand people saying that they are skint and can’t afford to loose more money but you have to look at the bigger picture and say to yourself short term pain long term gain
We have to fight until we get an acceptable agreement

[rambo1]

Sorry all, I completely disagree- this needs to be an individuals decision, at the end of the day, it’s their livelihood that’s at steak, if you are unable to afford to strike and its having an impact financially that’s causing you to struggle to either pay your mortgage, rent provide for your family,pay bills,then what should really stop you from coming into work? If that’s the best decision for you, everyone needs to ease up, no one else is going to give you a days wages because you have stood at the picket line… by all means show your support, strike if & when you can, I’m not against it, but if you need to cross the picket line, that’s a individuals decision and they should be respected regardless of what they choose to do- especially in these tough time, just put yourselves in their shoes for a little…

Well said. How does the OP feel about working your days off and overtime to clear after a strike? If not the same, they are hypocritical.