Industrial action - Non union member

[SBQuattro]

It is looking increasingly likely that there will be a pay dispute / Industrial action at my company in the near future.

I am not a union member, and for various reasons would like to stay that way.

But in this particular case I agree with the unions pay claim, which I don't believe to be unreasonable considering the company's position. ie. A massive order book, and Directors taking out literally tens of millions this year, whilst offering us scraps.

For this reason I would like to support my colleagues & would not be prepared to work / cross a picket line, if there is a strike or any other type of Industrial action. Especially as I would also benefit from any pay deal that they won.

But I feel I may be a little more exposed by not being a union member.

I believe the union has to give six weeks notice of any action, so would I have to do the same as an individual, or could I just not turn up on the days of any strikes ??

Does anybody have any knowledge or experience of similar situations.

[MentalSarcasm]

Worked in the public sector until a few months ago, and wasn't in the Union. Your workplace will have specific rules about this kind of situation. At my place it was "If you are not in the Union, you must come in to work, unless you have pre-booked annual leave for that day", and generally once the strike was announced you couldn't book leave for that day as they needed everyone they could get. If you were sick on that day you had to provide a Doctor's certificate to prove it. Not sure what happened if you didn't come in and didn't provide a sick note but I assume you would then have a disciplinary hearing.

Whether or not your place will let you take a day of unpaid leave, or let you book the day off, is something you'll need to discuss with your manager, but I'd read your staff handbook VERY carefully before any such discussion.

[TankRizzo]

Will probably go against you as an unauthorised absence. I would strongly suggest you join the union or not do this.

[valiant]

By taking industrial action and going on strike you will be technically in breach of your employment contract. However, if the strike was lawfully held then the employee is covered by something called protected action which means the company basically cannot fire you for taking strike action. ( there is a lot more to this but in essence this is what it means).

Even non union members are covered by this so your company cannot dismiss you for joining in. ( had to look this up as I thought it was the opposite).

Edited by valiant on Wednesday 7th October 22:58