Crossing picket lines

[Brampton_Boy]

The TAs at the university I am a professor at have gone on strike for the fourth time in 12 years (I was a student for the 2008 strike that lasted for two months, which resulted in an entire semester being scrapped).

While I suppose I support the TAs right to strike, I chose to continue my class and cross the picket lines. In my decision to the departmental dean, I explained that my first obligation is to the students, and I don't want to disrupt the class schedule. Many students expressed that they had summer jobs/plans lined up, and I thought it would be unfair to delay the course until the labor dispute was resolved (I teach a small class of 20 and don't have a TA, so I am unaffected by the strike directly).

Administration has been really supportive, while our departments union reps have been rustled. Nobody has confronted me directly on the issue, but I can tell I have rankled a few feathers.

Anybody else ever go against a union before? I wonder if I'm going to get the Jimmy Hoffa treatment....

 

[therealdope]

Anybody else ever go against a union before? I wonder if I'm going to get the Jimmy Hoffa treatment....

Since you're jacked, you should just go across the picket line wearing a sleeveless shirt. If anyone even tries mean mugging you, just fill the room with uppercuts.

 

[luv24nic8]

Yell at the picketers and tell them to get a job- tell them that they are lazy wankers!

 

[Rjay]

Good for you TS. I would do the same, ultimately your highest responsibility is to the students and this sort of selfish behavior by the union demonstrates their lack of regard for student welfare. That said, many will be pissed, for a long, long time. Union types have a "you're either with us, or against us" worldview which doesn't lend itself well to nuanced argument.

 

[therealdope]

Yell at the picketers and tell them to get a job- tell them that they are lazy wankers!

You know that TAs are grad students, right? Oh wait --- good call. Never mind my previous comment.

 

[herra]

I'm not a SCAB, and never crossed the picket line. Once you become labeled as a SCAB, you're pretty much seen as a traitor. Also, stand behind your union even though it doesn't directly impact you because your union will stand behind you should when the time come and you need your union support.

 

[Vergilius]

I would never break a strike. Decent conditions for normal people in my country were achieved on the back of the union movement, and in this age when employers and the government are colluding to strip us of hard-earned rights, the movement is as relevant as ever. Right now in my country, the government are trying to strip people in the public sector of the right to a lunch break. At the same time, they've approved a law giving anyone who has been a member of parliament a montly allowance of 8000 dollars on top of any salary they might earn FOR LIFE. It makes my blood boil. We'll be going on strike in a month in no solution is found. If any of my colleagues went scabbing, they'll wake up next to the severed head of a pig (well, not really, but I'll definitely be giving them the Robbie Lawler stare).

 

[luv24nic8]

I would never break a strike. Decent conditions for normal people in my country were achieved on the back of the union movement, and in this age when employers and the government are colluding to strip us of hard-earned rights, the movement is as relevant as ever. Right now in my country, the government are trying to strip people in the public sector of the right to a lunch break. At the same time, they've approved a law giving anyone who has been a member of parliament a montly allowance of 8000 dollars on top of any salary they might earn FOR LIFE. It makes my blood boil. We'll be going on strike in a month in no solution is found. If any of my colleagues went scabbing, they'll wake up next to the severed head of a pig (well, not really, but I'll definitely be giving them the Robbie Lawler stare).

View attachment 351385

Hey friend,
Parliament deserves the raise- do u have any idea what its like governing the lower class? Your lucky u get any lunch at all- get off the interweb machine and get back to work!

 

[PolishHeadlock]

I didn't realize TAs unionized

 

[ICHEERTHEBULL]

Some would call you a scab. I would too, sorry.

 

[Scerpi]

I'm not a SCAB, and never crossed the picket line. Once you become labeled as a SCAB, you're pretty much seen as a traitor. Also, stand behind your union even though it doesn't directly impact you because your union will stand behind you should when the time come and you need your union support.

Unions stand behind you....

as they take your money from your back pocket

 

[VivaRevolution]

The TAs at the university I am a professor at have gone on strike for the fourth time in 12 years (I was a student for the 2008 strike that lasted for two months, which resulted in an entire semester being scrapped).

While I suppose I support the TAs right to strike, I chose to continue my class and cross the picket lines. In my decision to the departmental dean, I explained that my first obligation is to the students, and I don't want to disrupt the class schedule. Many students expressed that they had summer jobs/plans lined up, and I thought it would be unfair to delay the course until the labor dispute was resolved (I teach a small class of 20 and don't have a TA, so I am unaffected by the strike directly).

Administration has been really supportive, while our departments union reps have been rustled. Nobody has confronted me directly on the issue, but I can tell I have rankled a few feathers.

Anybody else ever go against a union before? I wonder if I'm going to get the Jimmy Hoffa treatment....

Scab.

In the old days you might want to keep a hose running in the yard.

 

[Spoken]

The TAs at the university I am a professor at have gone on strike for the fourth time in 12 years (I was a student for the 2008 strike that lasted for two months, which resulted in an entire semester being scrapped).

While I suppose I support the TAs right to strike, I chose to continue my class and cross the picket lines. In my decision to the departmental dean, I explained that my first obligation is to the students, and I don't want to disrupt the class schedule. Many students expressed that they had summer jobs/plans lined up, and I thought it would be unfair to delay the course until the labor dispute was resolved (I teach a small class of 20 and don't have a TA, so I am unaffected by the strike directly).

Administration has been really supportive, while our departments union reps have been rustled. Nobody has confronted me directly on the issue, but I can tell I have rankled a few feathers.

Anybody else ever go against a union before? I wonder if I'm going to get the Jimmy Hoffa treatment....

Big strike in the UK too. I'm a tutor and I'm not striking... in fact, no faculty have been striking, and tutors were told to do what we wanted.

Awkward bit is they strike in front of the main entrance, and it's another 300 yards to go the back way, so I'm a dick and walk straight through, ha.

But generally, I think you're fine as long as you've spoken with a few folks in your department (and of course the dean, as you've gone). I doubt any mafia shit coming down the way from the chemistry department (?)

 

[herra]

Unions stand behind you....

as they take your money from your back pocket

Not all unions are treated equal. Some are crooked. I'm lucky that I'm part of one of the largest unions in the U.S.

 

[Johnson]

If you're in Canada you may be good. The coal miners here were no joke when it came to scabs. Tires were shot out, people were beaten, it’s serious business in some parts.

 

[JSN]

I didn't realize TAs unionized

OP is from the Union of Soviet Socialist Provinces

 

[Tycho- Taylor's Version]

What school are you at now? York?

 

[Ikuza]

I didn't know TA's were paid. I thought it was a forced internship and they took out loans like normal students.

But fuck 'em. They seem to strike every time their contracts are up. While this is their right, it also means they sign shit contracts and should probably look for better leadership.

I side with the students.

 

[Halge]

Anybody else ever go against a union before? I wonder if I'm going to get the Jimmy Hoffa treatment....

Never gone against one, but then again I've never been a member. Makes for some awkward moments when you work in an organisation where I'd estimate at least 80-90 percent are members (like how I have to leave the room everytime my four closest coworkers have one of their departmental union meetings or whatever they're called). And I'm obviously giving up some influence over my workplace because of collective bargaining.

But this is Sweden, not the US, so I guess we're comparing apples and pears.

 

[Brampton_Boy]

Ha, just received an email from one of the union reps complaining that I am continuing my class.