Roles of Unions

Question A

Under what circumstances, if any, would you cross a picket line? Answer if you were an employer of the company, and if you were an outside worker.

Question B

Because of the duty of fair representation, unions have an obligation to represent all workers fairly and thus unions are sometimes put in the awkward role of advocating on behalf of a poor performing worker—but this is their legal obligation. Do you think this is right? How do you think this makes exemplary workers feel? Do you think exceptions should be made if, for example, an employer has only met five of the seven tests of just cause?