A chain is only as stong as its weakest link, or so the cliche goes. A union is not only as strong as its weakest member, but the action of every single member is crucial, especially during industrial action.Every PCS member, all of us, will have something to thank the union for. It may not be direct help you have received, but that doesn't mean that you aren't in a better position because of the union. Without PCS and its predecessor unions, we would not have the conditions that many of us take for granted, such as flexi time, term time working, generous maternity and paternity leave and the right to retire at sixty (or later) and receive a final salary pension.
Other members have received more direct help from reps both locally and nationally. Some of you reading this may not even still be employed without the hardwork and dedication of those within the PCS.
But PCS can only support members if the membership supports PCS. Managers don't consult with reps because of who they are as individuals. We haven't saved jobs or gained help for members because a manager liked our aftershave or perfume. We have won victories, big and small, because we are part of large, active and committed union.
Taking two days strike action next week will be difficult. Not one of us will not feel the impact of the loss of pay. But every member that crosses a picket line weakens the union.
Personally, you may have done okay out of the imposed pay offer, although it is estimated that many staff will suffer a 9% pay cut in real terms over the next three years. But if you break the strike you are saying that the pay cut for many staff is acceptable. You are saying that the job losses, increased stress and more work are acceptable.
Ask yourself a simple question. Will I need the union in the future? Be honest with yourself, if you didn't think you needed the union you wouldn't be in it. With privatisation, the increased use of the Third Sector and more job losses on the way we will all need the union. So why weaken it now?
4 comments:
I sit next to TU Rep. So I am able to see how hard he works for the stream of members that queue at his desk for advice and representation. How hard? Very, very hard indeed! I am sure that some of them wouldn't have a job without his intervention. Next Thursday and Friday it will be sickening to watch any of those members walk sheepishly by that rep into the office mumbling excuses about not being able to afford to strike. They should avoid the pangs of guilt by staying at home. None of us can afford not to strike.
Here here, I overhear more and more comments of members not wanting to strike, but where will they go when then need support or help - The Union.
Come on everyone show your support to those members who have dedicated years of service and will see virtually no increase to their pay
Easier said than done - especially if you are a lone parent with a mortgage to pay. I would dearly love to support the union more than I have done in the past, but come the end of December I still have to pay the same bills. I will be coming out on strike for one day because that IS all I can afford. I won't walk sheepishly past anyone - if some people are sickened by that then so be it.
None of us can easily afford to give up two days pay, but in most cases it is something that with difficulty, we can cope with. There are some staff whose circumstances are such that they feel it is almost impossible to to take strike action. While I would always encourage members to take strike action on every day that the members vote for it, if you can genuinely only afford to take one days action then I personally would not be critical of you.
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