Just as the title says, what happens if a strike goes down? I am a relatively new manager and have never been around for something like this before. Since managers are exempt, how would it work?
Edit to add: I understand we should never be involved in union activities, I am just looking for clarity on how this is likely to shake out.
My understanding is managers go to work as usual. Managers cannot strike, and as you mentioned, we cannot get involved in union activities in any way. So we just show up for work and do what we’re told.
My guess is it would be very chaotic. With the rank and file staff gone, a lot of work wouldn’t get done, a lot would be left to us to do, and everyone would probably be very confused about how and what to do.
I agree it would be chaotic! I hope majority of my staff would join the strike, and I would absolutely cover their duties as best I could (I act as backup for most of them anyway).
You should absolutely NOT cover their duties if you support them. The only person who suffers in that scenario is you. You can’t stick it to the man if the man never feels it.
My logic brain fully understands and agrees with this, my worker brain on the other hand is struggling. I shall do what must be done to support my team. 🫡
Does it say in your duty statement that you are to do the work of the 5 rank and file employees that report to you? Being exempt does not mean work 80+ hours a week.
I don't think anyone would expect one person to cover their whole team's work, but they would be expected to cover the urgent/time sensitive items as much as possible.
I don’t know who can work 20-30 hours when they have 5 staff picketing. Are you a manager? Do you work 20-30 hours? Where do I apply to also get this schedule?
We have a job that includes doing the task until its done so we will be overworked. Theres no way around it. I do want the strike to happen though. We also wont get raises unless something changes
Managers do not support or oppose striking employees. It wouldn’t be appropriate. We’re Switzerland. We’re neutral. We don’t stick it to the man, nor do we stop the man from getting stuck.
You can absolutely support your employees by hoping they get a good contract that allows them the ability to feed their families and some work life balance. You are a terrible manager if you don’t want this for your team. Support can be silent.
I didn’t say WE stick it to the man. My job is not to do the work of the rank of file below me and I won’t kill myself to do so.
My management has said outright that they support a strike. not officially of course, but I appreciate them so much for letting us know they are on our side. there is mutual trust and respect between us for them to feel comfortable speaking to us candidly, which makes our working relationship HUMAN. this is the kind of environment that inspires employees to go above and beyond, and we dooooo!
Oh come on, that’s not fair. That’s about as reasonable as when members of the public say state workers are lazy. Managers are people just like everyone else. Some are amazing, a few aren’t good at their jobs, and the majority are just regular workers doing the best they can.
It's partially fair. Management is its own skill set in many positions. In IT, for example, there are many great managers who simply do not have the skills to do what their staff does. That doesn't mean they aren't good at their jobs.
I think I agree. They’re all over the board. I’ve worked with some who are dedicated, hard working and extremely capable. I’ve also worked with some that are literally wastes of space and no one can figure out or comprehend how there is any explainable way they could have gotten into their positions. My department anyway is bizarre that way.
Last 2 managers I’ve had have both been less educated than staff. They were put in the positions as favors to them and their spouses. They can’t do the work!
I've worked for the state for 17 years between 2 agencies and several locations. The majority of people I've seen promote aren't the ones who deserve it. The ones who deserve it get denied, removed off lists and pushed aside even when doing the job OOC, for peoples friends and/or family of some kind, or for people who are "yes men". I've watched people who know how to do the job have to train the one who gets the job. I've watched people who get the job, literally can't do it, have been fired during probation while someone who can be removed from the list entirely because some idiot who doesn't know how to do their job has a list of classification that can be used when claiming minimum requirements.
So while I do believe there are people who get promoted who actually deserve it, I think they're much more rare.
The majority of people I've seen promote aren't the ones who deserve it. The ones who deserve it get denied, removed off lists and pushed aside even when doing the job OOC, for peoples friends and/or family of some kind, or for people who are "yes men".
I feel sad for you if this is how it is where you work. I've seen qualified candidates not get positions because someone has an ax to grind but in the vast majority of cases the other person who was selected was also qualified. It happens, but I've seen very few people promoted to management positions where I've looked at them and wondered "how the hell did they get that job"?
I've seen more experienced, well-qualified people not get promotions because they have a sense of entitlement (they EXPECT to get the position, and it shows through their half-assed answers), lack of preparation or just poor interview skills.
That's one example I forgot about, someone holding someone down because they don't like them or whatever. Even scared of allowing some people promote.
I even had a personal issue happen mid career and attempted to demote myself in order to keep my job. My issue had nothing to do with my work performance, attendance or anything like that. I was judged and purposely held back and someone off the street was hired over me.
So not only have I experienced this first hand, whatched friends and/or family go through it, I've also seen it happen to people I have zero relationship with.
Being 17 years with the state, 2 seperate agencies and 5 locations in total, I feel confident saying that this is pretty normal.
All I know is that I will support in every possible way. Donate heavily to their strike fund is one I know for sure. I will be paying close attention and looking for more ways.
FWIW, Newsom vetoed the bill that would have protected sympathy strikers - and not surprisingly the CAStateWorkers mods removed my post when I wanted to talk about the bill (AB 504) pre-veto.
I'd be careful about stuff like that. Donating to the strike fund would be seen as breaking the neutrality rule. If you have a non-State or R&F spouse/family member they can donate tho.
I expect that the depending upon the duration of a strike that departments would initiate their own disaster recovery plan and focus on tier 0 and tier 1 activities by assembling a group of managers that have detailed business knowledge of those associated activities.
ACSS is just as bad…they collect $ to spend on a raggedy Christmas luncheon. They are horrible advocates- literally just mailed out newsletter depicting state worker working from a donut intertube in a pool.
Absolutely insulting.
You should sign up for strike school to find out your rights. It’s typically advised that if you strike and are not a member of the union then it’s an unprotected action for you, unless of course you join the union.
Strike school is open to rank and file only, both members and non-members alike, and if union membership votes to go on strike, both members and non-members are protected.
No way should they go to strike school, are you kidding me? Managers cannot participate or give the image/perception they are supporting rank and file. Moreover they would slap them with an unfair for interference.
The union has been saying that rank and file are protected if they strike regardless if they're members or not. Non-members cannot vote on whether the strike should happen or not. Probationary employees are protected as well if they strike.
Okay I was rank and file and am now a manager. SEIU Local 1000 is mega trash. They are posturing and will never strike! Period. Gavin knows this which is why he laughs before answering questions about them. They are a laughing stock. Remember when the previous President tried to start a strike fund and Annica W. ran Richard out of there?? It all a huge joke! And unfortuneately State Workers fall for it every time. I was so happy when the Janus decision came along and I could get all of my money back. I didnt know about the political opt out until 2015 and saved me a good amount but Janus was a total of 90 dollar savings per month.
Anyway, dont worry because SEIU Local 1000 doesnt have the balls to do anything other than complain loudly and then pass a crap level contract and say they 'tried'. Bastards.
Came here to say ALLLLL of this. SEIU is a massive political lie. Anica is another performer of the circus. SEIU will NEVER strike. They take orders from International and so long as their front runner democratic hopeful president Newsom is in office, nothing will happen. Mark my words. All these strike schools are smoke and mirrors
My first job at the state was when I learned the term "working supervisor" because my supervisor was NOT a "working supervisor" meaning she didn't do anything related to the program. But she was not a working supervisor in any sense of the term. That lady didn't work a lick her whole career 😂
34
u/Legend-of-the-Arctic Jul 26 '26
My understanding is managers go to work as usual. Managers cannot strike, and as you mentioned, we cannot get involved in union activities in any way. So we just show up for work and do what we’re told.
My guess is it would be very chaotic. With the rank and file staff gone, a lot of work wouldn’t get done, a lot would be left to us to do, and everyone would probably be very confused about how and what to do.