is it worth joining a union?
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Cant think why anyone wouldnt want to join a Union. Would put it on a par with someone being a conscientious objecter. Not wanting to fight for your country but expecting others to do so, so your country can be free.
Simply put have never been in an experience where I felt I needed to be in a union. Plus not every company in the land has a union in it.0 -
Not being a pacifist myself, but... This is not what conscientious objectors do or believe. They believe that violence - all violence, from any perspective - is wrong and not the way to settle disputes. They do not expect others to fight their battles, or to defend their freedom. And a great many concientious objectors, around the world, refuse to fight or otherwise take part in oppression and violence at great cost to themselves. As did those who objected to WW1 and WW2 in the UK. What, you didn't really think that conscientious objectors were just cowards from the UK who refused to fight, did you? There were objectors in Germany too, in the world wars. There are still objectors today, who refuse to participate in the oppression of or violence against people in their own and other countries. Whether you agree with them or not, your comments demonstrates an ignorance of the bravery it takes to oppose the "order", and to face the consequences of that refusal. If there had been more conscientious objectors in Germany in the 1930s we may not have faced another war.
BTW refusing to fight is not the same thing as not opposing - many conscientious objectors are, and have been, are the forefront of peaceful protest, often in the face of a state that does not operate peacefully.
A great deal more bravery than it takes to go on strike in the UK in 2017.0 -
shortcrust wrote: »A great deal more bravery that it takes to go on strike in the UK in 2017.
hmmmmm......................I have great respect for the previous Union members where I am employed who have worked hard to get me some envious T&C. I then watch non members enjoying all the benefits while seeing no need to contribute, improve or struggle to maintain.........all the while saving themselves £15 a month.
A few years back the Union negotiated a supplement for any extra roles we could undertake. Of course the non members got this too. Not a thank you or see a need too join. Of course they could have asked not to receive the extra money but not one individual did.0 -
hmmmmm......................I have great respect for the previous Union members where I am employed who have worked hard to get me some envious T&C. I then watch non members enjoying all the benefits while seeing no need to contribute, improve or struggle to maintain.........all the while saving themselves £15 a month.
A few years back the Union negotiated a supplement for on any extra roles we could undertake. Of course the non members got this to. Not a thank you or see a need to join. Of course they could have asked not to receive the extra money but not one individual did.
I've corrected my post for a small typo but I don't think it changes the substance.
People who consciously object do so in the full knowledge that they might lose their lives (elsewhere) or face a lifetime of stigma and disadvantage (here). I don't disagree with your post but it doesn't make the original comparison any less daft/borderline offensive.0 -
I think it makes sense to join a union if the option is available.
They have been responsible for a lot of the social change we have enjoyed in Britain over the last 150 years or so and continue to be change agents (e.g. Unison recently successfully challenged Government's changes on Employment Tribunals).
There are examples where members enjoy massive benefits e.g. tube driver anyone?
There are examples where they have been their own worst enemy e.g. Arthur Scargill.
I've met good and bad union officials, one's that will go out of their way to help and others that are purely in it for themselves.
Where I work now, we have had hundreds of people from overseas (particularly Australia) join us on 2 and 3 year contracts. They rarely join the union until after something goes awry (e.g. losing out on bonus payments because they didn't understand the rules). It serves to reinforce in me the ongoing benefit of being in a union.
Probably the biggest example I would offer of union benefits is the unending stream of employment issues seen on this very board, which would nearly always be able to handled by a local union rep.Originally Posted by shortcrust
"Contact the Ministry of Fairness....If sufficient evidence of unfairness is discovered you’ll get an apology, a permanent contract with backdated benefits, a ‘Let’s Make it Fair!’ tshirt and mug, and those guilty of unfairness will be sent on a Fairness Awareness course."0 -
shortcrust wrote: »I've corrected my post for a small typo but I don't think it changes the substance.
People who consciously object do so in the full knowledge that they might lose their lives (elsewhere) or face a lifetime of stigma and disadvantage (here). I don't disagree with your post but it doesn't make the original comparison any less daft/borderline offensive.
I respect both but going on strike also takes a measure of bravery in my view. That was my point.
I have never seen the need to go on strike and hope that time never comes. I work for a decent company.0 -
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Union membership is not dependant in any way on whether an employer rcognises a union or not. Almost everyone (apart from those working in a few specialised areas) has an absolute right to join a union.
I didn't say you can't have a union I said not all company's has a union in it.0 -
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Manxman_in_exile wrote: »Personally, I think that is in itself a very good reason to join a union...
Well I can't change history and I wouldn't want to as I was very happy with the 17 years of work that I got from the 2 companies.0
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