Pro's & Cons of union membership?

Middle_Sister

I had been a member of GMB for over 20 years when I cancelled my direct debit. They contacted me and for a one off payment I could become a lifetime member. This is what I did.
Really, I haven't had to contact them for anything but feel as though they are a "safety blanket" just in case I have an accident at work or need their help in any kind of dispute. I also opted out of the money going to the labour party.

Nice_Username

Dippychick wrote: »

Yeah join a Union.. go on.. lots of public services locally have been closed down thanks to Union strikes so it seems you will have lots of paid days off, be able to negotiate pay rises and get them..

.. go for it :rolleyes:

I wish my husband could sit on his @ss all day doing zip then demand more money - oh, and actually get it.

:mad:

I nominate this for "most ignorant, conceited post of the month".

Where do I submit the nomination?

xmen2

mcspanna wrote: »

I originally joined unison due to a bullying issue at work and stayed with them throughout our pay negotiations (I work in HE) but have now come out to save on the subs! Certainly in our place it is very quick aqnd easy to sign up once you think you have a problem and are going to need them, so I would save on the subs at the moment but keep their details handy in case you need to join in a rush! (that's what I'm doing from now on)

Hi there have read your thread with interest. I thought i'd provide you with a word of caution regarding coming out of the union and trying to rejoin in a hurry. I understand with most unions that you need even if you've paid subscriptions before to have 1 months subscription before being represented, and if you have an experience like myself where you need the unions assistance quickly in less than a month you won't be covered. My advice is keep paying as you don't know when you need it.

xmen2

I'll put you right on this issue you don't get paid if you're on strike you lose the numbers of days pay you haven't worked. I've been on strike recently as a public service worker and have lost 2 days pay for the 2 days strike action i took recently.

xmen2

amandada wrote: »

I've been a union member for 17 years, and have always looked on it as an "insurance policy". In my previous employment I didn't need to call on their services, to the point that I didn't know who my union rep was (although I know I could have found out easily enough)
My current (public service) emplyer is a totally different matter-I've had to call on the union's support many many times, over many different issues, as have many of my colleagues, so I've been really glad of my insurance policy

Hi there ive read your post with interest im a public service worker and joined the union recently and within 1 month i had to seek their support on a ridiculous issue regarding going off a designated patrol to use a toilet, as soon as the union became involved they forgot all about it. I'm afraid in large public sector organisations they seem to constantly try to dump on you from a great height and im very glad of my union membership. The problem i have in my workplace is the management is crap, and they are constantly looking for a scapegoat to have a go at. My insurance policy is the best thing ive ever done, and since my membership ive been left well alone.

floss2

xmen2 wrote: »

I'll put you right on this issue you don't get paid if you're on strike you lose the numbers of days pay you haven't worked. I've been on strike recently as a public service worker and have lost 2 days pay for the 2 days strike action i took recently.

You will also have lost 2 days of pension contributions.

Fleago

floss2 wrote: »

You will also have lost 2 days of pension contributions.

That's true, but the employee can elect to pay the missing contributions themselves.

surreysaver

floss2 wrote: »

You will also have lost 2 days of pension contributions.

But in a final salary pension scheme, it doesn't really matter, does it?

lynzpower

xmen2 wrote: »

I'll put you right on this issue you don't get paid if you're on strike you lose the numbers of days pay you haven't worked. I've been on strike recently as a public service worker and have lost 2 days pay for the 2 days strike action i took recently.

Speak to your Union about this.

When I was with Unison, and I could prove some level of "hardship" from losing pay from striking ( using my overdraft was said to be sufficient) you can claim back the lost pay from the Union hardship fund. That was certainly the case in unison about 3 years ago.

I often wondered whether it was worth being a member, I paid about 14 quid a month for a few years, then I became very ill and had a number of hospitalisations & mobility problems ( constantly fainting) and my LG employer was trying to sack me, My union were brilliant, they proved that my illness was a disability ( which Id never thought of before) and that they were discriminating and they were acting totally illegally.

The problem is, like most charitable organisations/ NFPs, Unison was woefully understaffed and my steward was frantic -swamped with employment rights stuff, as the local authority I worked for was basically trying to sack people for all kinds ( illness, pregnancy, you name it)

How overworked my steward was is testament to how bad some employers are, and shows this is why we need the union.

Additionally, for moneysavers,, there is also a hardship fund which I accessed when I went onto nil pay ( illegally!) and they gave me 500 quid towards my mortgage and bills for one month. Worth investigating.

littleknownme

I have always believed in unions but within them you get good and bad as in all walks of life. Personally I feel it is now a pathway for political activist to get to the top and they get there using all bullying tactics they can regardless of they political persuasion. How times have changed. I was bullied by a union secretary who is now an mp ha