Unions - Worth joining?

saving_noobie

I was wondering if anyone would like to share their knowledge of workplace unions?

I really know very little about what they do and the benefits/costs.

I was wondering if it would be worthwhile joining one although I see that they can cost anywhere around £11 a month which obviously is a significant amount of money.

Would be greatly interested in the responses of previous experiences and thoughts.

:A

lucylucky

They can be good to support workers, however they can come across as industrial dinosaurs.

I personally like them.

Hammyman

If you work in the public sector or a backstabbing office environment, they're invaluable. If you work in a small company, transport or manufacturing, less so.

saving_noobie

Hammyman wrote: »

If you work in the public sector or a backstabbing office environment, they're invaluable. If you work in a small company, transport or manufacturing, less so.

What about in say, retailing or sales?

:j

safesound

Very useful for when managers get great (for them) ideas that arent so good for the employees. For instance, recently we changed store managers, the new manager decided the sick policy was being abused so stopped any sick pay for any reason regardless of cause. One employee (not me) had just come back from 2 weeks off with a frozen shoulder and was promptly told she wouldnt be paid for said fortnight (obviously she would get SSP but not full pay) our contracts say employees with over 5 years service get up to three months full pay *at managers discretion* so they were within their rights to do this. The union however disagreed, and after they spoke to the area manager she was paid in full.
I am a member of Unison but have never had to speak to them. I see it like an insurance policy, it seems a waste of money until you need them but when you do you are very happy you joined.

elsien

I have mixed opinions. I like the idea of a union in theory - collective bargaining power and all that. As my organisation does not recognise unions in the work place, I personally joined as an insurance policy in case I needed information/advice over unfair practices, disciplinary, redundancy etc. I do know people who've had good back up from them with regard to specific issues.
However my union is a public sector union, and I work for a small voluntary organisation. I very much feel like the poor relation - all the newletters and campaigns are to do with the public sector and I might as well not exist. And when I did need advise on being TUPE'd to another employer they were as much use as a chocolate teapot - they assumed that the public sector agreements apply to everyone and gave me the wrong information.
So I'd say yes go ahead and join, but make sure you choose one that actually acknowedges your existence.

bigbigmamamoo

another point to keep in mind is that once you are in dispute it is then too late to join and have the union represent you.

I am in a union and have found them very helpful with my personal situation with ill health and disability and needing support through the process of my line manager thinking I should be let go on ill-health grounds and me not agreeing. I have been able to work for 4 years since that point and am very happy with the support I was given by the union

saving_noobie

Some fantastic input guys, thank you all.

lucylucky

If you are fortunate you can have a decent dialogue between management and unions and both can work for the good of the company and employees - these things are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

You can have good well informed Union officials, and you can have some very poor ones. You also get people who see Union membership as a route to political glory (if that is the correct word).

Also you get management who would walk all over employees were it not for Unions.

I have had both good and bad experiences, from both sides of the fence, but ultimately I would recommend membership.

shikoku

saving_noobie wrote: »

What about in say, retailing or sales?

:j

USDAW has to be one if the weakest because so few people join, imho there is no substitute for finding out what your rights are for yourself rather than relying on a union - and I say this as a former union rep.

The law is the same regardless of who implements it and at the end of the day no one will help you like you can help yourself.

shikoku

lucylucky wrote: »

. You also get people who see Union membership as a route to political glory (if that is the correct word).
.

Which is why I resigned as a rep, too many people were just in it for self agrandesment and claiming as much in expenses as they could. It was very disillusioning.

I think if a problem presents itself go to the union by all means but also do you own research and do not rely on others to give you effective help.