Unison - joining unions?

oh_really

Teapot55 said:

What @Savvy_Sue said. 

If you’re short of money, do your best to afford house and/or contents insurance. After that, union subscriptions. 

And that helps with representation - how?

And that give you a vote on collective bargaining outcomes - how?

If you're in a unionised workplace, are you content to sit back and enjoy union fought terms of service paid for by your union member colleages, I've worked in places that would see you in a majority of 1.

bartelbe

Like most things it depends on your circumstances. Unions tend to be more effective in the public sector than the private. If you're in the private sector, it depends on how many other staff are a member of the union and your employer's attitude to the union.

I have been a member of a union in the past but in my current workplace the union rep is about as useful as a chocolate kettle, so I haven't bothered.

[Deleted User]

oh_really said:

Teapot55 said:

What @Savvy_Sue said. 

If you’re short of money, do your best to afford house and/or contents insurance. After that, union subscriptions. 

And that helps with representation - how?

And that give you a vote on collective bargaining outcomes - how?

If you're in a unionised workplace, are you content to sit back and enjoy union fought terms of service paid for by your union member colleages, I've worked in places that would see you in a majority of 1.

Are you trying to say its wrong for people who are not in the union to get any of the benefits of what the union won for its members? 

elsien

I've never been in a unionised workplace, so the pay negotiations etc. never happen and there's no union reps in my organisation.
A lot of it depends on the quality of the people you end up getting help from. 
I was given some poor and inaccurate advice with regards to TUPE because the person I was speaking to was used to public sector and couldn't get their head round smaller voluntary sector employers not working in the same way.
But I also had a colleague who the organisation was (quite rightly) trying to performance managed out who had a rottweiler of a rep, and I can remember thinking if I'm ever in strife, I want that person in my corner.
Horses for courses. I still pay as a precaution, and because generally speaking I do believe that workers sticking together to uphold their rights is a good thing. 
Even if with the unions open to me I spend most of the time feeling like a poor relation.

oh_really

Deleted_User said:

oh_really said:

Teapot55 said:

What @Savvy_Sue said. 

If you’re short of money, do your best to afford house and/or contents insurance. After that, union subscriptions. 

And that helps with representation - how?

And that give you a vote on collective bargaining outcomes - how?

If you're in a unionised workplace, are you content to sit back and enjoy union fought terms of service paid for by your union member colleages, I've worked in places that would see you in a majority of 1.

Are you trying to say its wrong for people who are not in the union to get any of the benefits of what the union won for its members? 

These individuals have, at best,  a highly polished brass neck.

[Deleted User]

oh_really said:

Deleted_User said:

oh_really said:

Teapot55 said:

What @Savvy_Sue said. 

If you’re short of money, do your best to afford house and/or contents insurance. After that, union subscriptions. 

And that helps with representation - how?

And that give you a vote on collective bargaining outcomes - how?

If you're in a unionised workplace, are you content to sit back and enjoy union fought terms of service paid for by your union member colleages, I've worked in places that would see you in a majority of 1.

Are you trying to say its wrong for people who are not in the union to get any of the benefits of what the union won for its members? 

These individuals have, at best,  a highly polished brass neck.

Let me tell you a dirty little secret we all at times in our life benefit from other peoples efforts that we did not contribute directly too. Also sometimes we have to sacrifice something for the benefit of others. 

So please get off your intorlent soap box.

oh_really

Deleted_User said:

Let me tell you a dirty little secret we all at times in our life benefit from other peoples efforts that we did not contribute directly too. Also sometimes we have to sacrifice something for the benefit of others. 

So please get off your intorlent soap box.

Feel better for that?  Perhaps thet was the sound of a nerve being struck.

Soapbox, how so, you asked a question.

Go get your brasso and a cloth.

[Deleted User]

oh_really said:

Deleted_User said:

Let me tell you a dirty little secret we all at times in our life benefit from other peoples efforts that we did not contribute directly too. Also sometimes we have to sacrifice something for the benefit of others. 

So please get off your intorlent soap box.

Feel better for that?  Perhaps thet was the sound of a nerve being struck.

Soapbox, how so, you asked a question.

Go get your brasso and a cloth.

Yes struck a nerve as I have no time for individuals who try to somehow morally shame or think less of others for making choices in life that they are free to do so. 

Manxman_in_exile

oh_really said:

Teapot55 said:

What @Savvy_Sue said. 

If you’re short of money, do your best to afford house and/or contents insurance. After that, union subscriptions. 

And that helps with representation - how?

And that give you a vote on collective bargaining outcomes - how?

If you're in a unionised workplace, are you content to sit back and enjoy union fought terms of service paid for by your union member colleages, I've worked in places that would see you in a majority of 1.

Erm....

I think if you check... you may find you have quoted the wrong post?

(Or are you arguing that insurance premiums and union subs should NOT be a priority?)

SonOfPearl

Mickey666 said:

I'd have been more inclined to join a union if it wasn't for their political affiliations.

That's not to say I'm anti-Labour or pro-Conservative, indeed I rarely vote in GEs and have never done so for either of the main parties, but I don't see why 'looking after their members' requires unions to donate a portion of their members' hard-earned subscriptions to a political party. 

I haven't worked for a number of years but when I did I was a member of Unison (and later the GMB). If I recall correctly, they had a non-political membership option which didn't contribute to any political party. It might be worth the OP asking about this if it is something that would bother them.