Social media lit up with debate Monday following the decision by members of Hudbay’s largest union, USW Local 7106, to accept the company’s final offer.
Emotions ran high as the union – or more specifically, the 72 per cent of members who approved the deal – faced backlash from those who felt they should have held out for something better.
“You should have been real men and voted no!” seemed to be the underlying theme among those disappointed by the decision.
And they have every right to think such thoughts, even though the striking IAM Local 1848 union made it clear on its website that its differences are with Hudbay, not other unions.
But to frame this decision through the “Be a man!” lens, as some have done against the wishes of IAM, is simplistic and unfair.
If there’s one factor that has been overlooked during these ongoing Hudbay-union negotiations, it’s this: not everyone can afford a strike.
In fact, I would say the vast majority of people would be up a certain creek without a paddle if they had to forego their paycheque for any meaningful period of time.
It’s not because they’re bad with money or spend like drunken sailors.
It’s because the cost of living is on the rise. It’s because families require money, unexpected bills pop up and good-paying jobs, at least in our region, are not overly abundant.
Some Flin Flonners have a spouse or family members who could help them pay their bills in the event of a strike, but many do not.
I spoke with one Local 7106 member who said a strike would see him risk missing his mortgage payments. He voted to accept the offer.
I asked him about the notion that people like him were unmanly to take Hudbay’s proposal. His response? “I’d feel a lot more unmanly without a roof over my head.”
None of this is to suggest that people who feel mistreated by their employer should avoid all confrontation for fear of losing their job.
And none of this is to suggest that IAM was wrong to go on strike to stand up for what its members believe in. Indeed, IAM has enjoyed strong support from residents and businesses alike.
But the reality of any job action is that strikers face an indeterminate amount of time without a steady paycheque in hopes of achieving gains that may or may not materialize.
The decision on whether to take that risk is a very personal one, and many, many people can’t even consider it for financial reasons.
So just as no one should be chastised for exercising their legal right to strike – a cherished freedom of our democracy – those who choose not to go on strike or endure a lockout should also have their choice respected.
