Is it worth having a trade union membership?

Gentoo365

The main issue I have with unions is that I don't wish to make a donation to any political parties.

There is a gap in the market in my opinion for an 'apolitical' union. i.e. one that provides advice and support with employment issues and disputes, but is not aligned to any specific political viewpoint.

Errata

If there was a gap in the market for an apolitical union it would have been filled a long time ago.

Gentoo365

DKLS wrote: »

A resounding no from me, had to laugh when a union had announced a hard won payrise of 2%, I kept quiet as I had managed to negotiate a 7% rise for me and a 5% raise for my team.

Sod collective bargaining I will look after myself and my own.

There are examples were union negotiated agreements can have unexpected negative consequences.

As an example, a union negotiates a minimum salary for each 'salary band'. This is great for the people already in that position. However it causes a problem for people who want to be promoted.

Whereas previously the employer would be willing to internally promote someone, they now find it difficult as the mandated minimum salary cannot be justified for someone with little or no experience at that grade. The company then recruits externally to find someone who has the experience that justifies the salary specified by the union.

ohreally

Gentoo365 wrote: »

There is a gap in the market in my opinion for an 'apolitical' union. i.e. one that provides advice and support with employment issues and disputes, but is not aligned to any specific political viewpoint.

TUC affiliation may be an issue at this point.

ohreally

Gentoo365 wrote: »

As an example, a union negotiates a minimum salary for each 'salary band'. This is great for the people already in that position. However it causes a problem for people who want to be promoted.

Bands have overlaps, on promotion the employee would simply join into the new scale a point above their current salary (or whatever the agreement provides for).

Southend1

Gentoo365 wrote: »

The main issue I have with unions is that I don't wish to make a donation to any political parties.

There is a gap in the market in my opinion for an 'apolitical' union. i.e. one that provides advice and support with employment issues and disputes, but is not aligned to any specific political viewpoint.

You don't have to pay into an affiliated political fund.

Naf

Southend1 wrote: »

How about the safety aspect? You are much less likely to suffer an accident in a unionised workplace.

I find ionisation to be a huge problem at work :rotfl:

falko89 wrote: »

Never been in a union, anywhere I have worked doesn't recognise them.

Still lots of benefits to be had; plus they can still stand up for you; support, advise & represent you with experience & expertise even if your employer doesn't officially recognise them.

I recently joined USDAW, although it'll only be for about 6 weeks. In future I've decided to ensure I always join a union as soon as I start work. You can never tell if you might need them when you start a new job, and even if things are going well; you never know when something might change (company gets taken over, management changes etc.). For the few pounds it costs, it's well worth the protection you get, with benefits on top.

Denning.

Yes, in some industries even if you don't use them directly, the indirect benefits are still worth it, so you should support them.

de_g.

Gentoo365 wrote: »

The main issue I have with unions is that I don't wish to make a donation to any political parties.

There are 54 trade unions affiliated to the TUC, of which just 15 are affiliated to the Labour Party. And as I pointed out before, even if you're a member of an affiliated union, they are obliged to let you opt out of paying the political levy which is where party donations come from.

Gentoo365 wrote: »

There is a gap in the market in my opinion for an 'apolitical' union. i.e. one that provides advice and support with employment issues and disputes, but is not aligned to any specific political viewpoint.

All unions are such. Unions are only ever the sum of their members, and among the members of all, including the big three, there are people of all political persuasions and none. The reason unions get involved in political discourse is that it is the most effective way of representing their members' interests - if they don't do that, then the become little more than glorified discount clubs.

makeyourdaddyproud

Brassedoff wrote: »

...IMHO the unions destroyed this country in the 1960 & 70's. I grew up in a city that had, Jaguar, Daimler, Rover, Talbot, Humber, Alvis, Herbert's, Morris, Churchills, Massey Ferguson, Triumph, Rolls Royce, Hawker Sidderly, Land Rover and many more. From 1975 and 1982 the fifteen largest firms in the city shed a total of around 55000 jobs. I am not blaming the unions solely, but my Dad and Grandad were on strike in that period more times than not.

It's definately no secret the Unions destroyed the car industry with excessive strike action during that time. I also believe if this was tempered (or even outlawed), we would be exporting some of the worlds best cars by now. I think we missed an expensive trick.

Now due to the legacy of frivolous 60s-70s strike action, we are mired in unemployment, debt and a huge tranche of apprentise opportunities that would have soaked up a lot of the countries school leavers and graduates.

I dearly hope you succeed, it's initiates like this that will get the economy on track fast. I also hope you can prove it without unionisation.