Strike FAQ for ASI and Beach Shops Staff
What is a strike?
A strike happens when workers withhold their labor and cause operational disruption to their employer in support of their demands. At ASI and Beach Shops these demands are wages we can live on.
Who calls for a strike?
We do, the workers, members who signed union membership cards have a say in whether we should strike or not.
What is a strike vote?
A strike vote happens when the Bargaining Team authorizes it as a necessary part of bargaining to win our demands. Every member will have the right to vote yes or no to strike. This vote will take place on campus.
If a majority of the members vote to strike, we will determine the strike date as a union.
How long would a strike last?
Members will determine strike duration. It could be a day or a week as long as it takes to force management to move on our wage demands.
Can I get fired if I go out on strike?
Legally, no. However, management could choose to ‘lock us out’ to prevent us from coming back to work and/or hire outsiders to replace us. They are still required to keep strikers on the roster, but if the replacements are permanent replacements, there may be no work for strikers who return to work. This is extremely rare.
A couple of points: Hiring people is a long process, so employing permanent replacements is very uncommon. Furthermore, most strikes end before they even happen because the threat of a strike moves negotiations forward.
Our power is in our numbers. When we go on strike together, we all have more protection from being fired because it's much harder for management to replace all of us.
What if management only lets go of a few people? Can they do that?
Unfortunately, management will try to do a lot of things to try to stop staff from using their most powerful tool–striking. However, should management single out some employees, this could be deemed retaliation and our union would file an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.
Can management let us go by hiring temporary/ agency employees?
Temporary workers can be used to temporarily replace striking workers during the strike. Because these workers are temporary they do not have permanent positions. Generally these types of employees are only there for the period needed to get work done (during a strike). Afterwards, permanent employees return to their jobs once the strike is over.
What would a strike look like at ASI and Beach Shops?
On the strike date, we will show our unity and strength and gather with our supporters at the beginning of our usual shifts to form a unity line with a raucous, joyous show of our unity by withholding our labor.
Should a strike happen, it would disrupt day to day operations like the Isabel Patterson Childcare Center, and the Resident Dining Halls. Most likely students and families will be affected. They rely on our essential services and support us. We will invite members of other unions, students, families who access our services, and electeds to support our wage demands.
Can Student workers join the picket line?
Yes, it is legal for student workers to demonstrate their solidarity by not reporting to work by refusing to cross the picket line. All of the student workers at ASI and Beach Shops are represented by our union, CSUEU. We will make sure everyone is up to date as developments happen.
Are managers allowed to ask me if I am going on strike?
It is illegal for our managers to poll or ask us if we are going to participate in a strike.
Will I get paid if I go on strike?
No, however it is a financial sacrifice that is an investment. It is better to fight for more now, than incrementally move our wages forward. In the long run, our strike is designed to benefit us and leverage negotiations with ASI and Beach Shops management.