If you decide you want to exercise your legally protected right to NOT cross a picket line, simply inform your supervisor that you are honoring the picket line and not coming to work. Generally, choosing to honor a strike on some days but not on other days is not legally protected. For this reason, once you have decided to return to work and end your sympathy strike, you should not honor the picket line again, unless the striking union strikes over a new issue. You are only protected in honoring another union’s picket line if:
- If the workers are on strike at your workplace.
- The striking union provided the legally required 10-day notice.
- You are clear that you are doing so as an individual and not representing SEIU-UHW.
- You are not engaging in off and on (intermittent) striking.
You also have the right to join another union’s picket lines as an individual on your breaks or before and after work. Again, you should not carry SEIU-UHW signs unless SEIU-UHW has provided a 10-day notice of our intent to picket. If you have any questions about these individual rights or if you believe your rights are being violated by Kaiser management, please reach out to your steward or contract specialist.
