Standing on a picket-line

captainbrass

I'm on strike today with a couple of million or so other British public sector workers. For non-Brits, it's all about proposals to reduce our pension rights, increase our contributions towards them and effectively impose a pay cut on us. Being an idiot, I volunteered to help man the picket line outside our office this morning, and here is the knowledge I have gained as a result.

1. England in November can get really cold, especially with a strong wind and before the sun's got high in the sky. Standing in the shadow of several tall buildings didn't help.

2. I should have bought some new gloves before, not after, manning the picket line.

3. Brandishing union flags in a good breeze looks cool (pun intended). Unfortunately, my union could only come up with small ones of the kind you put on the top of sandcastles. The other union, who are much bigger and more militant, had full-on "let's storm those barricades" banners to hold up. I was jealous.

4. It's amazing how much attention you can get by standing on a street holding up some banners. We had at least one reporter, several people taking photos, and a lot of hoots from passing traffic. A couple of cops wandered over and had a look at one point, but they soon wandered off to stand around the building opposite, where the pickets were being marginally more confrontational.

5. At least 3 of the men on our grade who crossed the picket line had facial hair, confirming my distrust of facial hair. One's an Orthodox Jew, the other two were I think doing it for Movember. I took a childish pleasure in congratulating one of them, who I know and is basically a nice guy, on the success of his 'tache. This seemed to embarrass him a lot more than strike-breaking.  

TheConductor

Solidarity! 

MadassAlex

confirming my distrust of facial hair

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Don't make me derail this bitch.

captainbrass

^ Yeah, that's something I usually keep to myself, especially here where everyone seems to have or want a moustache. If it helps, I wouldn't claim it's anything other than an irrational preference.

MillerCross

^^ do bitches have rails?

MadassAlex

i dunno, but one could certainly rail a bitch

Bastion

Will you be picketing again, now that you know how to prepare? Either way, best of luck with the strike.

 do bitches have rails?

Bitches love rails.

MadassAlex

On topic, though, I've done the whole picket line thing. Was cold. Not sure if it accomplished much.

IanExMachina

During my driving lesson I saw a few strikers dotted about, although they were chatting to the police so I couldn't see their sign which might have rendered it a bit pointless.

Although I'm glad that they are protesting.

captainbrass

Protega - I would do it again if someone were needed. Going on strike is as much a part of democracy as voting or going on demonstrations is. It's a way of making your point to the people with the power (the employer in this case).

Ian - That's a bit half-arsed of them, but just being bothered to turn-up is something. Also, making a point to the public is only half of the reason for picketing. You're also trying to make your point to the people who didn't join the strike, hopefully so that next time they change their mind.