Is it worth being in a Union these days?

[Deleted User]

happyc84 wrote: »

-- Please add to the list

Reduced training courses where I worked once, that had a Union presence, I noted when flyers were given out.

Why go into a meeting room alone with your employer, when you don't have to.

A_Nice_Englishman

Remember you can join a Trade Union for the services and benefits they offer even if you disagree with their political stance.

Opting out of the Political Levy will mean none of your subs go to the Labour Party or the Union's political activities.

ali-t

Do you have legal cover and representation with your teaching registration? If you don’t agree with unions then you could get the cover you require without the political slant from your teaching registration body.

Silvertabby

I haven't been in a union since I was expelled from the TGWU (and thus lost my job) back in the 1970s days of the closed shop. (Long story, but I refused to be bullied by a jumped-up little twerp of a shop steward who believed he was a cross between God Almighty and Ghengis Khan).

Not an issue during my 22 years in the Armed Forces, and didn't bother joining during my 20 years in Local Government. Didn't miss anything.

TELLIT01

Silvertabby, we are of the generation who really did see the worst period for abuse of power by unions, and that does tend to stick with us. As somebody else in this topic suggested, a union is really no better or worse than your local rep in most situations.
There are a couple of fairly high profile disputes going on at the moment with binmen in Birmingham and various groups of railworkers. People will have different views on the validity of their apparent grievances, but what I do notice is that the unions always seem to run out of patience with the company at the time it will cause the greatest inconvenience to the public. They then manage to go on TV and, with a straight face, claim that they have no wish to inconvenience the public when the opposite is clearly obvious.

ohreally

scalextric wrote: »

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.

The reason for recruiting members is to maintain/ increase membership density thus improving prospects at a local level.

If local reps are failing then deselect them, give a more appropriate person your mandate or stand yourself, don't moan about others if you're not prepared to do the role yourself.


Op, you're working in an organised workplace where your terms and conditions of service are negotiated and agreed, should someone else pay for this while you reap the rewards?

TELLIT01

[QUOTE=ohreally;75475593

If local reps are failing then deselect them, give a more appropriate person your mandate or stand yourself, don't moan about others if you're not prepared to do the role yourself.


[/QUOTE]


There are plenty of jobs in the world which I wouldn't want to be able to do, or possibly would be incapable of doing. That doesn't mean I have no right to complain if I see a job being done badly. I see it more the other way round, if you don't want to do a job e.g. union rep, don't take it on. There is little excuse for taking on a job and then doing it badly.

gwynlas

As I have retired I am no longer in a union but have been whilst working in local government and NHS. I appreciated their value in both negociating pay rises and in advising during redundancy, I would advise the same as a previous poster insurance isn't of value until you need it and when you do you are grateful for cover provided. A union cannot cover you retrospectively only advise ie if you rejoin whilst in the midst of an issue. I would say both to you and anyone else reading this thread that if you have a problem with local union representative then contact the union directly in my last post I had the services of full time union officer negotiating on my behalf due to my senior role.

lulu650

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........

But of course anyone is entitled to a duty solicitor FOC which would also take one phone call that the police arrange.

nicechap

ohreally wrote: »

The reason for recruiting members is to maintain/ increase membership density thus improving prospects at a local level.

If local reps are failing then deselect them, give a more appropriate person your mandate or stand yourself, don't moan about others if you're not prepared to do the role yourself.


Op, you're working in an organised workplace where your terms and conditions of service are negotiated and agreed, should someone else pay for this while you reap the rewards?

Private schools generally don’t use nationally agreed T&Cs, and many academies are following that path.

The OP doesn’t state they are a teacher, and seem unable to absorb previously given advice and weigh it up. So I’d leave them to their own devices rather than encourage them to be a burden on the local union.