If it wasn’t my company on strike then I would attempt to cross it simply because it is nothing to do with me! I say attempt because sometimes there are those that would throw/hit/damage etc if I felt at risk for any reason I would simply ask for a turnaround spot and do one 
My company is small and would never strike as any gripes are taken up with the gaffer and sorted!!
Unionised workers are paid a lot more than non unionised and they have better terms and conditions. Just look at Asda warehouse compared to store. Store are kicking off saying it’s not fair… Stick together and get Unionised you selfish ■■■■■■■.
I would never cross a picket line. I know I’ll get suspended, the lads and lasses will walk out. Another driver will refuse to cross our picket line. He/She will get suspended and so on… Before you know it, it’s national. I don’t work god knows how many hours to get a decent wage. I earn a good basic, which is the most important thing. I have good terms and conditions … 6 weeks holidays, paid from day 1 if I’m sick and good Union reps to support me, if needed.
as has already been said unions are a body of member’s if the member’s don’t support the union then they are stuffed that’s why you have to work 60+hour’s for peanut’s get a backbone and join a union and stick up for yourself’s and let’s earn some decent money we keep this country alive if we were to stop for 3 day’s the country would be knackered no fuel no food literally nothing to buy in the shop’s but there are too many spinless drivers out there start sticking up for yourself
samsgrandad:
as has already been said unions are a body of member’s if the member’s don’t support the union then they are stuffed that’s why you have to work 60+hour’s for peanut’s get a backbone and join a union and stick up for yourself’s and let’s earn some decent money we keep this country alive if we were to stop for 3 day’s the country would be knackered no fuel no food literally nothing to buy in the shop’s but there are too many spinless drivers out there start sticking up for yourself
It will never happen, drivers would rather whinge than actually do something to help themselves.
Thanks for all the replies even though I’m embarrassed too admit I haven’t had time to read them( I will though.
Well the answer too my question is they didn’t know there was a picket line( my take on it) or a PEACEFULL protest ( according too them ) and if they had they wouldn’t of sent me as I’d made my feelings clear at the beginning of this dispute nearly 2 years ago.
They said they didn’t ( or bloke i saw said) think it was ethically correct to ask a driver too go through a picket/ protest line if they did not want too,and I’d now be put on alternative work in the future .
Sensible solution I.m.o.h.o
Unions have got no power now. it’s a waste of time going on strike unless you work for one of the services, fire or nhs.
It was proved in Grangemouth last year.
Greedy unions wanting more and more.
So the shareholders said they would close the plant.
Unions arses dropped out and they looked like a bunch of ■■■■.
as I said the union is only as strong as its members back them up and they will win for you its no good balloting members when they wont get off there ■■■ to vote same as the general election if you don’t vote you don’t get a say
Unions have got no power now. it’s a waste of time going on strike
tell that to the railworkers all on good hours payrates conditions of service cracking pension etc
why because they stick together and stand up for their rights
Yea I would cross a picket or protest line. I’m employed by my boss to do a job who is then paid by the customer to deliver the goods. Not my fight not my problem because they want a extra quid an hour or a longer break or other BS.
waddy640:
why have they never been united, other unions in their day had large membership numbers why were drivers the odd men out? Does anyone know?
I didn’t think they where the odd men out, as i recall BRS (British Road Services) was Unionised, as was its later spin off (or one of them) Excel Logistics. AFAIK. It appears to me that the smaller companies, or replacement companies who came along to service most of the same contracts where not Unionised, and this pattern has followed to where we are today.
Unless it was my works picket line then id cross it.i could not care less about anybodys t&cs are like,as long as i keep my good ones.
Is that you Jack?
Mike-C:
waddy640:
why have they never been united, other unions in their day had large membership numbers why were drivers the odd men out? Does anyone know?I didn’t think they where the odd men out, as i recall BRS (British Road Services) was Unionised, as was its later spin off (or one of them) Excel Logistics. AFAIK. It appears to me that the smaller companies, or replacement companies who came along to service most of the same contracts where not Unionised, and this pattern has followed to where we are today.
I think it was the nationalised companies such as BRS, Pickfords, and British Railways that had union strongholds. I believe, but I may be wrong, that unless you had a union card you couldn’t load at places with strong union influence. The places that spring to mind are the docks, newspaper print works, steel works, power stations and no doubt other places within that category.
Once these were either de-nationalised or sold then the power of the unions was diluted as you say.
waddy640:
Mike-C:
waddy640:
why have they never been united, other unions in their day had large membership numbers why were drivers the odd men out? Does anyone know?I didn’t think they where the odd men out, as i recall BRS (British Road Services) was Unionised, as was its later spin off (or one of them) Excel Logistics. AFAIK. It appears to me that the smaller companies, or replacement companies who came along to service most of the same contracts where not Unionised, and this pattern has followed to where we are today.
I think it was the nationalised companies such as BRS, Pickfords, and British Railways that had union strongholds. I believe, but I may be wrong, that unless you had a union card you couldn’t load at places with strong union influence. The places that spring to mind are the docks, newspaper print works, steel works, power stations and no doubt other places within that category.
Once these were either de-nationalised or sold then the power of the unions was diluted as you say.
Just thinking about this some more, Tescos was Unionised and a lot of it is now outsourced to Stobarts (amongst others), i assume this is how this thread has materialised, some others where BNF they outsourced to Bowkers , Tate&Lyles they outsourced to Hoyer…and it goes on and on.
A common theme from anyone working for the “outsourced” companys drivers is…“they where on a cushy number getting paid mega bucks for doing nothing”, then they complain about their own conditions or pay
No moaning from us MIKE,our time at the moment in time is taken up putting up temporary accommodation ( tents) on waste land in donny for when the ex tesco donny drivers are evicted from there 5 bed mansions ,any spare lads are trying too organise transport to get them from there 5 bed mansions to the tents seeing as there range rovers sports are due too be repossessed .
We may be doing 3x the work they did ,for a1/3 of the pay,but we won’t be loosing our 2 up/ down house and our 5 door kia picantoesany time soon,we’re not moaning about them,but laughing at them 
N.b think I’ll be keeping my head down for a while,some of them lads on the picket line looked a bit handy 
Imho i think some boys on here are jealous of the t&cs the unionised work places have.they could have them aswell if they had some back bone but it is easier for them to moan than do anything about it
nearly there:
Imho i think some boys on here are jealous of the t&cs the unionised work places have.they could have them aswell if they had some back bone but it is easier for them to moan than do anything about it
quite right grow a spine truck driver’s and lets earn what we should remember we work more hours than any other workers for a lot less pay per hour how many of your mate’s work less than 48 hour’s in there nice warm factories and laugh when you tell them you work 60+for peanut’s
samsgrandad:
nearly there:
how many of your mate’s work less than 48 hour’s in there nice warm factories and laugh when you tell them you work 60+for peanut’s
Erm, all of them?
Although not the peanuts bit. But no one can understand long hours really…
dozy:
No moaning from us MIKE,our time at the moment in time is taken up putting up temporary accommodation ( tents) on waste land in donny for when the ex tesco donny drivers are evicted from there 5 bed mansions ,any spare lads are trying too organise transport to get them from there 5 bed mansions to the tents seeing as there range rovers sports are due too be repossessed .
We may be doing 3x the work they did ,for a1/3 of the pay,but we won’t be loosing our 2 up/ down house and our 5 door kia picantoesany time soon,we’re not moaning about them,but laughing at them
N.b think I’ll be keeping my head down for a while,some of them lads on the picket line looked a bit handy
So these blokes had got jobs that they were entitled to think were secure and were paying very good money, and cut their cloth accordingly. Now for whatever reason they’ve no longer got such jobs and are possibly looking at a bit of financial strife. Yet idiots like you, working maximum hours for next to nothing for Stobart, think it’s funny? Nothing personal but you should be ashamed of having a view like that.
I think it’s funny as hell Olog. They took a very well paid job then moan when the company cuts costs as many companies have done in the last few years and many people have been put out of work for it. Welcome to the real world where you have to work for a living instead of standing round the RDC for 4 hrs drive for 2 unload and back home for bacon sarnies. They were offered new jobs but turned them down. Own fault there. And no I don’t work for stobarts