Whether non-union members cross picket lines will depend on their views about collective action and the legitimacy of the particular strike. By Wally Zimolong on June 5, 2018.
Although the Teamsters and Carpenters union bosses claim they didn’t get to see the contract in time, the four other unions—in breaking union solidarity—don’t seem to care, as IBEW union boss John Dougherty crosses the Teamsters’ picket line. Occasionally however, employees may be willing to cross picket lines but are reluctant to do so for fear of their safety. If we demand that unions exercise … If you wish to avoid consequences like that, you cannot remain a member of the union and cross the picket line. You should talk to anyone, a UCU member, work colleague, or member of the public who approaches the picket line. Where a union in action establishes an official picket line, refusal to cross it would render a teacher liable to be disciplined, including the deduction of salary as it would be considered as participating in unballoted industrial action. Billy Bragg - Never Cross A Picket Line (With Images Of The UK Miners Strike 1984/85) - Duration: 3:39. By crossing the picket line of strikers marching and holding signs for better working conditions, the scab hurts the cause of the workers. Crossing a picket line has been frowned upon for hundreds of years; since the very beginning of the union movement itself, in fact. Anyone who decides to cross a picket line must be allowed to do so. Those workers who wish to cross the picket line should be asked not to undertake any duties or responsibilities other than their own ie not to cover for us. The union cannot discipline you for failure to honor another union’s picket line if your own union’s contract has a “no strike” clause barring sympathy strikes. This discipline can include imposing a significant fine upon and then suing you to enforce the payment of the fine. Would you cross a picket line? Give them a leaflet and explain the reason for the strike and ask them to support the campaign. How to Deal with a Union Picket Line. accepted the route knowing it would require him to cross a picket line and later refused to cross the line. Any merit shop contractor or project owner with a project where merit shop or mixed merit shop / union shop crews are working will eventually deal with some form of union “picketing.” If you have more than one union, but covering the same job, I think you are ok if you don't cross the picket line, but if you have different unions for different jobs, then they can discipline you if you don't cross the picket line if it's not your section that's on strike. I found out that the union can penalize you financially if you cross the picket line while still a member. In such circumstances, the authority should try and ensure that the employee is given every protection in crossing the picket line, or where practicable, is given the opportunity to work at another … Food and Commercial Workers Local 1439, 275 NLRB 30 (1985).
Many courts have held that unions have the power to discipline their members. When they returned to work, another union in the same factory would go on strike due to their "differentials being eroded" - i.e. It used to be nearly sacrilegious to cross a picket line, with strikebreakers labeled “scabs” and shunned by their peers. Flying pickets are groups of striking workers that move from one workplace to another to picket them.