Worth joining a Union ?

mountainofdebt

Junior has a part-time job (been there less than a year so I know he doesn't have much employment rights at the mo) although with the summer hols hopefully he will work more hours.

Anyway his manager has made a couple of comments to him, which on the face of it are nothing more than scarasm, but there was an incident today which makes me think Junior should have the protection of a union.....after all if there was a problem which resulted in any sort of formal disciplinary process then he can hardy take in his mum can he ? :rotfl:

Anyway the company works for does recognise a union and looking at the internet it would only be about £1.50 a week so if it were your son would you recommend he joined?

MadDogWoman_2

I would never have got through my employment traumas without the support of my Union. It's definitely worth it.

If he does happen to move on from where he is now it is possible to pay the membership fees directly.

It doesn't matter if an employer recognises a union or not you still have the right to use them.

Uncertain

On the whole I would say yes. It doesn't matter for this purpose whether the firm recognises the union or not. Should a formal meeting happen he has an absolute right to take a union rep with him. The firm cannot dictate which union.

kingfisherblue

I would recommend joining a union. My daughter had a few problems at work and I helped her to research which union would suit her needs for the best. She hasn't needed to use them - and I hope she never will - but they are there if she does need their support. Unions will not usually take on an existing problem, so you can't just join and say 'last week this happened...I need your help with sorting it out'. that's why joining before anything becomes an issue is so important.

My daughter pays directly to Unison via direct debit.

martinthebandit

Yes, every time but take an active part in it as well, dont just join for what it can do for you, also join for what you can do for it as well.

But unions would be a lot better if every member was an active member in them, it would certainly go a long way to reducing the number of moronic left wing union leaders about at the very least.

Jarndyce

Googlewhacker wrote: »

Unions for advice for single people are good

Unions for the benefit of the country are bad

Just my opinion though and if I was him for £6 a month whats the harm.

What a stupid comment.

If 99% of the people who seek advice on here had been in a union then this forum wouldn't need to exist. Yes unions protect individuals but their wider campaigning influence to make employers treat their staff more fairly and is obviously to the benefit of the country as a whole.

A bit less "I'm alright Jack" and a bit more recognition of our individual responsibility to society as a whole and the world would be a better place.

jazzyman01

Jarndyce - whilst not disagreeing with the fact that Googlewhacker has made a rather sweeping statement, you are being rather naiive if you believe that belonging to a union would negate the need for forums like this. As in most things there are good and bad in all including unions. I have worked with excellent shop stewards and with some real numpties whose ideas go back to the dark ages and whose advice is poor to say the least.

I successfully prepared a case for my sister regarding a flawed redundancy selection process. Her union official had advised she had no case.

Jarndyce

jazzyman01 wrote: »

Jarndyce - whilst not disagreeing with the fact that Googlewhacker has made a rather sweeping statement, you are being rather naiive if you believe that belonging to a union would negate the need for forums like this. As in most things there are good and bad in all including unions. I have worked with excellent shop stewards and with some real numpties whose ideas go back to the dark ages and whose advice is poor to say the least.

I successfully prepared a case for my sister regarding a flawed redundancy selection process. Her union official had advised she had no case.

Yes fair enough I am probably guilty of making an equally sweeping statement there! I agree Unions are only as good as the local rep to a lot of members.
That doesn't detract from my main point though that in protecting individuals unions are benefitting the country.:)

londoner1998

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Junior has a part-time job (been there less than a year so I know he doesn't have much employment rights at the mo) although with the summer hols hopefully he will work more hours.

Anyway his manager has made a couple of comments to him, which on the face of it are nothing more than scarasm, but there was an incident today which makes me think Junior should have the protection of a union.....after all if there was a problem which resulted in any sort of formal disciplinary process then he can hardy take in his mum can he ? :rotfl:

Anyway the company works for does recognise a union and looking at the internet it would only be about £1.50 a week so if it were your son would you recommend he joined?

Worth every penny in my opinion... I am going through redundancy and have presented my appeal for unfair dismissal and my rep has been a star, in every sense of the word. It helps that mine is one of the two recognised unions by my comapny and the industry, but as a reap, I have had fenomenal training on negotiating and the basics fof employment law- the knowledge I have gained is priceless and it is allowing me to advise others.

Again, it depends who you deal with, but if you are not happy with your rep, there are others... I have been helped by them twice before (in bullying situations) and very quickly the situation was resolved... this is the third time and where I am, it is very interesting to see how people are not interested in the union until they are the ones with the letter of dismissal or the disciplinary in their hands.

I woudl say he will be much better off joining...

smileylondongal

jazzyman01 wrote: »

Jarndyce - whilst not disagreeing with the fact that Googlewhacker has made a rather sweeping statement, you are being rather naiive if you believe that belonging to a union would negate the need for forums like this. As in most things there are good and bad in all including unions. I have worked with excellent shop stewards and with some real numpties whose ideas go back to the dark ages and whose advice is poor to say the least.

I successfully prepared a case for my sister regarding a flawed redundancy selection process. Her union official had advised she had no case.

I agree in the sense that sometimes Union reps have their own agenda when agreeing to take a case on or even sizing one up. When they are there, they sometimes do less good than help. I say sometimes, as I do believe equally there are good union reps out there - I guess it's just something to bear in mind if your son ever does have someone wishing to take their case forward.

Oldernotwiser

Absolutely, yes.

Can be worth every penny and definitely part of learning about the world of work.