Is it worth being in a Union these days?

FIRSTTIMER

I pay around £300 a year to be in a teaching union and I’m thinking of not bothering.

I have legal insurance on both my car and home policies and in addition to something like ACAS conciliation, I’m thinking £300 is a waste.

ariba10

FIRSTTIMER wrote: »

I pay around £300 a year to be in a teaching union and I’m thinking of not bothering.

I have legal insurance on both my car and home policies and in addition to something like ACAS conciliation, I’m thinking £300 is a waste.

All insurance is a waste until you need it!

nicechap

FIRSTTIMER wrote: »

I pay around £300 a year to be in a teaching union and I’m thinking of not bothering.

I have legal insurance on both my car and home policies and in addition to something like ACAS conciliation, I’m thinking £300 is a waste.

If you’re not going to listen to people’s replies why bother asking?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5933333/is-it-worth-being-in-a-union-these-days-with-legal-cover-on-my-home-insurance-covering-employment

happyc84

hence the response - what have the Romans I mean the Unions ever done for us......................


- holidays
-sick pay
-collective bargaining
-individual support at performance management cases.
- Equal pay

-- Please add to list

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FIRSTTIMER

Sometime you want a fresh approach to the question. But clearly negativity ensues as ever

FIRSTTIMER

because peoples replies are not gospel and the question still remains unanswered.

elsien

FIRSTTIMER wrote: »

because peoples replies are not gospel and the question still remains unanswered.

The question was answered with people pointing out what a union may offer that other sources of information and advice do not.
There cannot be a definitive answer to your question because it depends on your individual circumstances, political viewpoint, the quality of your local union rep, amongst other factors.

In other words, take the views offered then decide for yourself.

What else do you want to know on top of the answers already given?

TELLIT01

Perfectly valid question. The question wasn't about what the unions have done in the past it's what value they have to the OP now.


However, the list of what the unions have done was somewhat selective too. No mention of bringing the country to its knees with the 3 day week in the 70s. No mention of restrictive practices which made so many industries uncompetitive and destroyed much of the motor industry and other heavy engineering.


Unions have much less strength now than they had a decade or so back. Pay increases are more often than not imposed by the employer, with lip service being paid to what the union demands. Certainly when I worked for the Civil Service, the use of "We have discussed this with the union..." was commonplace in documents rather than "We have been in negotiation...." two very different situations.


The OP can't be sacked for not joining a union, as was the case in the past, so it's a choice purely for them to make.

LilElvis

FIRSTTIMER wrote: »

I pay around £300 a year to be in a teaching union and I’m thinking of not bothering.

I have legal insurance on both my car and home policies and in addition to something like ACAS conciliation, I’m thinking £300 is a waste.

My mother was accused by a parent of assaulting a pupil and was interviewed under caution by the police. The union supplied a solicitor with a single phone call and supported her throughout the several, stressful, weeks it took before the police confirmed that no action was to be taken. When you're accused of something which could lead to a conviction and the end of your career do you want to have specialists or generalists fighting for you?

BTW - the accusations were groundless, the incident in question was witnessed by several adults who corroborated by mother's story. The parent had made similar allegations at a previous school and actually attempted to do so at the next one their child moved to.

scalextric

Our union in work are more like a plague, they just want people to sign up to give them money. They keep promising things and never deliver, then when you pull them on it they bring out all of the excuses of the day. The only good thing about the union is when the local union rep is off sick and we dont have to listen to her or get given loads of leaflets that just get dumped in the bin. Total waste of paper.

Masomnia

LilElvis wrote: »

My mother was accused by a parent of assaulting a pupil and was interviewed under caution by the police. The union supplied a solicitor with a single phone call and supported her throughout the several, stressful, weeks it took before the police confirmed that no action was to be taken. When you're accused of something which could lead to a conviction and the end of your career do you want to have specialists or generalists fighting for you?

BTW - the accusations were groundless, the incident in question was witnessed by several adults who corroborated by mother's story. The parent had made similar allegations at a previous school and actually attempted to do so at the next one their child moved to.

I think this is why if I were teacher I probably would join the union, as an accusation could easily be made (especially these days) that could easily ruin your career, and indeed your life. I wouldn't bother myself in my job but in some professions I think it's worth it.

More broadly if you get invited into a formal meeting or whatever and you have a union rep with you it will put you on a stronger footing, and just being a member often makes managers ensure they're doing things correctly.