Union for the NHS

jonny2510

I hope someone can advise me (or my wife).

My wife's just started a new job for the NHS, and a few people (outside of work) have said she should join a union.

With neither of us having ever been in a union, I really don't know where to start.

Are there a choice of unions for employees of the NHS, and if so, is one "better than the rest"?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

redz

As far as I'm aware COSHE is the main union for health service employees.

Oops. Seems I mis-informed you. Apparantly COSHE merged with NUPE and NALGO to form UNISON. Apologies.

Horace

The other main union for NHS employees is UNISON.

UNISON are ok, they are quite a big union and have lots of member benefits such as a holiday park in Croyde Bay, free courses and a whole raft of other things.

https://www.unison.org.uk

Take a look and then make your decision.

SomeBozo

UNISON is the union for staff in the NHS.

If she is clinical, she should join her trade union, eg NMC.

Bozo

nitnurse-not2

It sometimes can depend on what type of post you have. Some people have their own union eg midwives, health visitors etc.
Get your wife to ask around to other work colleagues. They are always happy to help and advise.
Very important if you have an accident at work or some person decides to sue her.
Most people never need their union so I don't mean to scare.
Hope the job goes well.

surreysaver

SomeBozo wrote: »

UNISON is the union for staff in the NHS.

If she is clinical, she should join her trade union, eg NMC.

Bozo

The NMC isn't a union. Try RCN. That's a union.

LondonDiva

Get her to ring the HR dept - they will send / email over the details of all the staff side contacts for that organisation. The union may have a page on the intranet and may be discussed at the staff induction.

Is your wife clinical or non clinical as that may have a bearing. If she is clinical, it is worth checking just how many members the main clinical union has in that organisation. If not much, she'd be better off with Unision or the main union there.

If your wife is in primary care, I'd strongly urge her to get into a union asap, as with all the changes due with APO status it's important to tick off all the protection she can get.

Burlesque_Babe

I was with UNISON (I was non-clinical). They were excellent when my new manager decided to treat me like dirt.