Yikes-my union voted to strike!!!

[shortbun]

I voted FOR the contract ratification but the majority voted no. I sure hope we get invited back to the table, I do not want to strike. There is no doubt that we were disrespected in the long negotiations and the vote reflected that. I was trying to be the bigger person, wishing that I could stomach a no vote but not being able to get there. Guess my brothers and sisters were braver than I. I'll keep you posted. This will be a new life experience for me. I'm not walking the line, I'm too old, but I'm not crossing it either. That's what a union is all about.

 

[disneyjunkie]

 

[Lisa_M]

Sometimes just the threat of one via a strike authorization vote can get the other side moving a little more towards negotiating. I hope it works out for you guys

 

[dakcp2001]

Hang in there! I have been in your shoes, and it is scary! Our strike has never lasted more then a few days. I wish you luck!

 

[focusondisney]

Oh no. Been there, done that. The sinking, what's next feeling. Good luck. Hopefully the employer will realize this is not a good time to have their business affected by an employee action & you can agree to terms. Good Luck!

 

[KramBerries]

I hope it works out well. Striking with >10% unemployment is pretty gutsy. I hope that a settlement that is fair for everyone is reached. I shutter to think of the stress something like this must cause.

 

[MiniGirl]

I have voted "Yes" on strike votes many times, so has my dh. It is a posturing thing -- a show of strength and solidarity more than anything else. Only one time did it lead to a strike for each of us. My workgroup's strike lasted 5 days before then Pres. Clinton stepped in to stop it. The government stepped in to stop my dh's workgroup's strike before it even started.

Having been through this many times, we always have a strike fund in place. As negotiations start going south (and they always do in our comapny), we start saving as much as we can -- just in case. It makes the whole thing a little less stressful for us.

Goos luck to you, and I hope it doesn't come down to a strike.

 

[AprilShowers]

I can't imagine anyone voting to strike in this economy. In my county, unemployment hit 16% this year. Folks around here are just glad to have a job.
Hope this works out for you!

 

[Mickey's Minion]

I voted FOR the contract ratification but the majority voted no. I sure hope we get invited back to the table, I do not want to strike. There is no doubt that we were disrespected in the long negotiations and the vote reflected that. I was trying to be the bigger person, wishing that I could stomach a no vote but not being able to get there. Guess my brothers and sisters were braver than I. I'll keep you posted. This will be a new life experience for me. I'm not walking the line, I'm too old, but I'm not crossing it either. That's what a union is all about.

What industry do you work for?
What are the terms your union are negotiating for?

I really feel for all the people that vote against striking and then are forced to do it anyway. One reason I will never belong to a union; I want to be in control of my own destiny, not have some voting block decide whether I work next week or not.

Good luck with the strike and hopefully negotiations will go well.

 

[MickeySP]

I feel so bad for you, it must be scary.

I am in a union but we cannot by law strike, so at least yours can do a little posturing hopefully that is all it is.

 

[kydisneyfans]

A strike in this economy opens the doors for the company to bring in cheaper help which is readily available. That is a stupid idea.

 

[Hoodie]

I can understand why you're nervous. Long gone are the days when no one would cross a picket line and with unemployment over 10%, there will probably be even more people willing to cross. You may be in for a very long haul. Hopefully it works out.

 

[MiniGirl]

A vote to strike does not mean that a strike is going to happen or that it would be soon -- if it does. The OP didn't offer too many details, but in our industry, it is just part of the process. The company and the union offer openers. The company tells the union we can't give you all that this is what we can offer. The union says "nope, not good enough," and calls for a strike vote. The union membership votes overwhelming to strike and negotiations resume -- sometimes for years. Eventually, they settle, and then a few years later, the process starts all over again.

Again, w/o knowing more details, it is hard to say. For us, our comapny could not replace us easily. It would take weeks to get people trained and certified. For my dh's work group, it was even harder.

I was also someone who never fully understood the need for unions and swore I would never join one. It didn't take long though before I fully understood the need for a union with my former employer, and I was glad to have union backing.

Again though, I think a strike vote is just part of the process. OP, the best thing you can do is stay informed. Know what the issues are and what the company is asking for and what the union is demanding. Don't fully believe everything either side has to say because the truth almost always lies somewhere in the middle.

For example, one time the company said they were not cutting pay and the union said they were. Well, who was right? Both. The company was not cutting our hourly pay rate, but they wanted to recalculate the way the hours were figured out. That resulted in us having to work more days to get in the same amount of hours. So, yes, I'd get the same amount of pay but had to work 3 extra days a month to get it which could be seen as a pay cut.

You said you would not cross a picket line. If you mean that, start saving what you can now. If it comes down to a strike, you'll be okay. If it doesn't, you'll have a nice chuck of change to splurge on something nice for yourself or to just leave in savings.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I voted FOR the contract ratification but the majority voted no. I sure hope we get invited back to the table, I do not want to strike. There is no doubt that we were disrespected in the long negotiations and the vote reflected that. I was trying to be the bigger person, wishing that I could stomach a no vote but not being able to get there. Guess my brothers and sisters were braver than I. I'll keep you posted. This will be a new life experience for me. I'm not walking the line, I'm too old, but I'm not crossing it either. That's what a union is all about.

Good luck. Start saving now just in case you don't make it back to the table.

I wish DH had the ability to strike. Imagine how fast NYPD cops would get what they wanted if they went on strike? But since they can't, the mayor will just keep taking and taking from them.

 

[rcpae]

OP, are you employed by the Columbus City Schools District? I live locally and heard on the news about this. We live in the Southwestern City Schools district and had our fair share of "news" in the fall.

Good Luck to you!

 

[wdwfan16]

A strike in this economy opens the doors for the company to bring in cheaper help which is readily available. That is a stupid idea.

It is definitely a stupid idea at this time. The company could just decide to lock the doors and go to China with the jobs.

 

[dakcp2001]

It is definitely a stupid idea at this time. The company could just decide to lock the doors and go to China with the jobs.

Depends on the circumstances. No one wants to strike, but sometimes it is necessary. Even "in this economy" there are some industries that are making a profit. My company does. Sometimes it is not about money at all, but saftey of the employees (truck drivers, firemen,nurses) or healthcare which is important. If my company outsourced, it would kill their business.

 

[mumom95]

It is definitely a stupid idea at this time. The company could just decide to lock the doors and go to China with the jobs.

Might be a bit difficult if it's a school district.

 

[disney1990]

I voted FOR the contract ratification but the majority voted no. I sure hope we get invited back to the table, I do not want to strike. There is no doubt that we were disrespected in the long negotiations and the vote reflected that. I was trying to be the bigger person, wishing that I could stomach a no vote but not being able to get there. Guess my brothers and sisters were braver than I. I'll keep you posted. This will be a new life experience for me. I'm not walking the line, I'm too old, but I'm not crossing it either. That's what a union is all about.

I know my DH worked for Verizon (now retired). If you didn't picket, you didn't get your weekly strike allowance. I don't know how your union works, but you should check into this.

 

[tar heel]

It is definitely a stupid idea at this time. The company could just decide to lock the doors and go to China with the jobs.

I don't believe you can oursource shortbun's job to China! Isn't she a schoolbus driver?