I've agreed to go to a school next Tuesday to give some training on a WordPress website I've built for them, after it went live a few days ago. However, I've just found out that next Tuesday is a NASUWT strike day.
If I go to the school, would I be breaking the picket line and risk being a 'scab'? Or, if I rearrange, will that look like I am siding with the strikers and risk antagonising the higher-ups who are, in effect, my client? Or, are things more sedate now compared to my memories of the miner's strike, and compared to what's depicted in many of the films of Ken Loach?
Or, as an external supplier can I sleep easy and not worry about these moral conundrums...?
We get strikes at College and while I was always reluctant to cross picket lines they shouldn't exist when the College is open to students. At the end of the day, for me as a worker in said College, since its not a strike I'm officially involved in I'm obliged to go in and do so willingly, regardless of any belief I have in the issues being fought for, as the students must always come first and need support on that day. Striking colleagues are always very understanding of this and do not raise issues.
The other concern for you as an outside contractor, I would imagine, is ensuring that the people you need to train are there. If not of course you will all be wasting your time.
Like a lot of people I was brought up never to cross a picket line, irrespective of my views on the issue at the hand, but I suspect that in this specific case it doesn't necessarily apply.
Essentially, the service you are supplying is entirely distinct from the one that is being withdrawn by the union.
If you were to be teaching a classroom of kids website management, or performing admin that teachers would otherwise be doing themselves, then you would be undermining the strike action, and should not cross the picket. As it is, what you would be doing is no different to the hosting site keeping the website up, or their internet provider keeping the bits flowing: are they scabs? It's also different from customers or clients still using a business under a picket, as you are not endorsing any objectionable company practice by fulfilling your existing contract as a contractor.
The strikers have a legal right to strike, as long as they follow the law, and you have a legal right to go to work, if you want to. Do you want to upset a client, it's hard enough out there without upsetting your customers? If you're self-employed presumably the strike has got nothing to do with you. I know what I would do.
Thanks for all the input, fellas. I think I'll go ahead and honour the meeting. If there is a picket line or demonstration outside the school, I'll have a chat and explain my situation, and hopefully it will all be okay...
Cheers!
Quote from: TordelBack on 24 September, 2013, 09:50:27 AM
Like a lot of people I was brought up never to cross a picket line, irrespective of my views on the issue at the hand,
^ this. I used to do deliveries for my dad's printing firm in the uni holidays and got a right bollocking once when I brought a package back because there was a picket line outside the factory - "bloody lefty students" etc.
it's up to you - you're not obliged to stay away, but I would at least attempt to reschedule.