Just a gripe...

[pistol]

Right,,my apologies to the mods if this is in the wrong place but i'm gonna have a word about a certain person from my D.O whom i know reads these posts....I have NEVER crossed a picket line...I'd support my family by Wiping Arses and shovelling Shite before i turned my back on the union! or my colleagues for that matter!..in 2007 i was on the line every week although i live 20 miles from my office....sadly however this time round my car has changed..fuel costs more and money is tighter than ever for all of us...therefore i havn't as yet been able to attend the line.( shame on me!) I DO NOT however appreciate being called a S**B! and the such because of my non attendance..being told i am 'no better than them' is offensive to me (especially as in 2007 you didn't attend once!)..is staying out not enough anymore??? And in 2007 i was dragged in to the dom's office for sending them to coventry..a mistake i won't make again, so i talk to them (begrudgingly)..because it's one more cloud i really don't need hanging over me! so by all means get annoyed with THEM! but make sure you channel your'e feelings in the right direction. If however the good men and women of RMC feel i'm being Unreasonable...please feel free to comment. Thank you.

[stokes11eg]

how terrible your mates cannot tell a good 'un from those who cross! In our area, we are only allowed a maximum of 6 people on the picket line---any more and the police move us on. could you not do one 'shift'?

[rhino49]

Pistol, I would just like to freely comment that you have posted in the right place - you have posted an honest statement from the heart, and I for one am glad to be associated with people like you who know what it takes even if it is not always physically possible to give it. I hope your critic reads this and is duly ashamed. The fact that we are in a fight together does not demand that all do everything - each doing a little amounts to a lot, and the fact that against us are a force that survives only on blame, ridicule and passing the buck means that we will prevail.

[chewi]

do what you can and damn the rest

[Edward Hunter]

You`re supporting the IA anything else is a bonus.
Personally i dont bother with going on the line ,(i dont think the line will stop anybody who has made their mind up to work) though i do keep threatening to go once, just to try it,and the bacon rolls, but the fact i dont certainly doesnt cause any animosity amongst the people i work with who do form the picket. to them too.

[dvbuk55]

Our reps put a notice up after last week and have published an e mail this week thanking everyone who supported the strike and especially those who are not members of the union - out of an office of 150 we had at most 30 members on the picket line at any one time and this week it was less but nevertheless we appreciate the fact that people do not cross the line even if they feel unable to man the picket line.

No surrender.

[Exrep]

how terrible your mates cannot tell a good 'un from those who cross! In our area, we are only allowed a maximum of 6 people on the picket line---any more and the police move us on. could you not do one 'shift'?

6 on a picket line is NOT LAW it is only a guideline remember this if the police attend your picket line and try and tell you its law cos its not

There is no legal restriction on the number of people who may picket a workplace entrance or exit except that the number should not be so great that
it might cause fear or distress among those seeking to cross. The DTI code of practice suggests that organisers should ensure that, in general, the
numbers should not exceed six pickets at each entrance or exit, though this is guidance only and not the law.

[robmacca]

Pistol - like many on here, we salute you in the sacrifices you have made and the continuing sacrifices you are making during the IA (lesser men would have crumbled).

It's sad that you had a comment directed against you, I'm guessing feelings are just running high and had the people known the facts they would have been congratulating you instead of condemning you wrongly.

Keep strong and even though you can't get on the picket line this time, we all know you are there in spirit.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I am in an office of over 200 and we have a picket of usually 20 -30 (Although in 2007 it was as low as 6 and as high as 50) the amount or who is on the picket line does not matter one jot those on the picket line are not sacrificing any more than any other striker, in fact they may be better off because they are with their colleagues making a stand and enjoying the camaraderie that comes on all picket lines.

But everyone who strikes is making a stand, everyone who strikes is making a sacrifice and everyone who strikes has my admiration and respect. It does not matter where you spend your time on strike as long as you strike. Your colleague is a misguided patronising prat and I hope he has the courage to do the right thing and apologise face to face.

[cookie]

Thats reassuring as this is the first time I have ever had to strike - but I haven't attended the picket yet.

[chunk]

I didn't attend the line today but will make a point of attending the next one .
Our office is quit strong and the few that go in are the same few that went in last time.
Our picket is more of a declaration than anything else and i don't really think pickets stop many strike breakers
they decide before they leave home!
RM have made it easy for them not to have to cross pickets now.

[fishtank]

I didn't attend the line today but will make a point of attending the next one .
Our office is quit strong and the few that go in are the same few that went in last time.
Our picket is more of a declaration than anything else and i don't really think pickets stop many strike breakers
they decide before they leave home!
RM have made it easy for them not to have to cross pickets now.

Picket lines are a show of solidarity.
Thanks to Thatcher and her lovechild Blair it is a legal minefield trying to stop strike breakers.
But if it p*sses the managers off looking out the window and seeing us it's worthwhile.

[chunk]

i get that and totally agree!
but we cant intimidate them much nowadays only shame them by our
standing together.
in 2007 i did a picket stint and got in trouble with the strife because i stayed most the day and had forgot to mention
it!
everybody should try and take a turn .
i think picketing also says that your not just striking for a day off work!
or to get your gardening done or sit in the pub
but for a principle.

[pony]

Only the union man turns up at our office.
70% of the office have been going in and that leaves around 5 of us who just have a lie in.
I support the strike but i don't think i'd achieve anything by turning up and standing on the picket line.All that can be said has been said in our office.
Plus like the op i live 25 miles away from work so at least i can save a bit of fuel money while i'm losing a days pay.

[greynut]

Again, its quite amazing where people get their ideas from.

I'll tell who f**ks me off more. Its the people who don t turn up on the picket line and then work their day off or do docket. Thats as close as not striking as I can see.

The previous poster is right, by striking you have already made a sacrifice, f**k your colleague. :cfo :mfo