unions worth the money?

skivenov

It depends on three things:

How effective the union are in your workplace.
How good you are at sticking up for yourself.
How aware you are of the relevant legalities to your case.

DVardysShadow

markwilkinson wrote: »

Unions shouldnt strike about anything, particularly pay and conditions on a just over 50% vote in favour on a 30% turnout.

Your interest is noted, but as a self declared non member, why should you have any say in this?

markwilkinson

DVardysShadow wrote: »

If you commit a non sacking offence, you might be sacked if you are not in the union but retain your job if you are in it.

There's a huge amount of employment law out there to cover anything a Union might do, without a monthly subscriptions.

markwilkinson

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Your interest is noted, but as a self declared non member, why should you have any say in this?

The OP was asking a question. A question that relied upon opinions. I gave mine and will continue to do so.

DVardysShadow

DKLS wrote: »

To me it would be poor value, but I was brought up with a healthy dislike for unions and how they ruined this country.

Indeed. By the time the bankers got their turn at the trough there was nothing left for them due to the unions ruining the country.

markwilkinson

Lol, and Labour did their best to de regulate the banks and then borrowed very :money:

antonic

As someone who has been a PCS member for 24 years and have needed Union help three times

1) A bullying manager who sent me off sick for 6 months with stress over my sick leave (possible dismissal
2) A false Sexual Harrassment charge (possble dismissal ) and
3) An admitted Breach Of Confidentiality Charge (12 month written warning)

I think every single penny I have paid to them has been worth it, especially as the first 2 Charges, if found guilty, could have led to my dismissal.

I dont agree with the political leanings of Mark Serwotka, but he does fight for his members.

marybelle01

smithers1981 wrote: »

Some strong views here thanks, the whole us (the union) vs them (the employer) is what really gets up my goat, it is communism vs capitalism.

i don't see my employer as the enemy, after all its my employer that pays my rent NOT the union.

Who on earth mentioned communism? Only you. If you think that unions are communism then you really need to go back and read Das Kapital again (or probably for the first time). Unions are collectives, and no more communist than your local Co-operative.

Your employer does not pay your rent. You pay your rent.

But as I said before, you have clearly already made up your mind, so by all means resign. Nobody is making you stay in the union. Just remember that when and if you discover that your employer may not be the enemy, but they certainly aren't your friend or doing you any favours, it was your choice to dispense with the only "friend" you had.

hueknight1969

Does anyone know of some kind of alternative "insurance" policy to Union membership.

As for negotiating pay, I and 6 other men in our office have just had a pay cut of between 5000 & 8000 pounds due to a single status agreement. Apparently it is legal for them to do this, can anyone elaborate on if this is true or not?

ILW

DVardysShadow wrote: »

If you have been in the job 10 years, the negotiations the union have done for your pay are probably paying your sub many times over. If you think that it is OK to not pay your sub and ride on the coat tails of the paying members, remember that once union membership falls too low, you lose negotiating power.

I would say your take on it is shortsighted.

Unite are only really interested in their public sector members. If you are a care worker working for a private company or smaller charity they could not give a damn,