Trade unions

[Guineveretoo]

Despite what some people appear to think, trade unions still play a valuable role in supporting individuals with employment related problems. They can provide advice and support when employment issues arise, and can provide legal advice as necessary, including representation in employment tribunal, should it get that far.

They also still have a collective role, and workers in unionised workplaces tend to have better pay and conditions, such as holiday pay and sick pay. Unions also have an important role at a governmental/national level, particularly through the TUC.

Any worker/employee can join a trade union, even if there is not an official one in the workplace. Although not being officially recognised by your employer limits what they can do for you collectively in the workplace, they can still support, advise and represent you with any difficulties, and the more people who join trade unions, the more there will be a voice for workers to fight the constant attacks on our rights.

Also, many trade unions make use of their collective membership to negotiate various membership advantages such as cheaper car insurance and discounts on a variety of goods.

But you can only use a trade union for advice if you are a member, so join as soon as you can, before you run into any difficulties!

The TUC has an online tool to help people find a trade union, and, although it is not brilliant, it at least gives ideas of which trade unions to approach, and provides links to their own websites.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/join-union

[wales01man]

Re: Trade unions

Nice Advert

[Guineveretoo]

Re: Trade unions

Nice Advert

is it an advert?

That makes it sound like I am selling something, which I am not. At least, nothing which will benefit me financially. It will benefit me because the more people who join trade unions, the stronger voice the unions have got. It will also benefit me because, the more people who join trade unions, the more they can get advice from their trade union, and not rely on the good will of people like me. But I am not selling trade union membership as a product, nor for personal gain

[wales01man]

Re: Trade unions

I was not saying you were gaining anything as someone who was self employed all my working life I never needed a Union but I fully respect everyones right to join .
Problem I always have is they are so political without asking ALL their members to support them and the High salaries those at the top take

[Kati]

Re: Trade unions

GovUK has a good section on Trade Unions - https://www.gov.uk/join-trade-union/...-a-trade-union
and AdviceNow does too - http://www.advicenow.org.uk/infoset....ion+membership

GovUK also has the official list and schedule of trade unions from the Certification Officer - https://www.gov.uk/government/public...t-and-schedule

[Guineveretoo]

Re: Trade unions

Actually, self employed people can, and do, join trade unions. I know several who have been helped by their trade union, including in negotiating contracts, and ensuring that they are protected.

Some trade unions are party political, that is true, but those which are, do have to ask their members to support them. There are laws to ensure this, in fact. We mustn't forget that the Labour Party was set up by the trade union movement to defend and protect workers rights, and that is all that even the most political trade unions do.

And, as for the high salaries, it is all comparative, and they don't earn that much compared to other people in similar positions of authority.

Besides, the strength of trade unions is in its local representatives and the union staff who support them, and they are certainly not highly paid.

[Guineveretoo]

Re: Trade unions

GovUK has a good section on Trade Unions - https://www.gov.uk/join-trade-union/...-a-trade-union
and AdviceNow does too - http://www.advicenow.org.uk/infoset....ion+membership

GovUK also has the official list and schedule of trade unions from the Certification Officer - https://www.gov.uk/government/public...t-and-schedule

Ah yes, I meant to include that link as well - thanks.

It is true that not all trade unions are members of the TUC, including some, like the Police Federation, which cannot join the TUC, and I should have included that link, although the TUC online union finder does try to include all unions, not just those which are members of the TUC.

[wales01man]

Re: Trade unions

Everyone has a Choice but we have read bad press about unions and their actions for years remember when some unions go on strike against the Government its the kids and parents that suffer not one single Government minister ,

[Guineveretoo]

Re: Trade unions

This was meant to be an information thread, because this is the "employment" forum, and it is clear that a lot of people who post on here would benefit from a union to provide them with advice and support.

I am prepared to argue the pros and cons of union membership and existence but a) I don't think this is the forum for that and b) I am just heading out for a few hours so can't do it now

[Kati]

Re: Trade unions

This was meant to be an information thread, because this is the "employment" forum, and it is clear that a lot of people who post on here would benefit from a union to provide them with advice and support.

I am prepared to argue the pros and cons of union membership and existence but a) I don't think this is the forum for that and b) I am just heading out for a few hours so can't do it now

I don't think we need any arguments over trade unions (or membership of one) it is more important (IMO) to ensure everyone has the best information available to make an informed decision based on their personal situation!

[wales01man]

Re: Trade unions

Nice one kati good and bad with everything no need for an online spat

[sean5302]

Re: Trade unions

A company tends to get the union it deserves.
Treat people fairly and they'll have absolutely no need of a union.
Most private sector companies have very small union memberships. The public sector is awash with unions because it is largely unmanaged.
We have London Transport with the union threatening strikes for a driver who failed 2 drunk breath tests. They were also fighting to support 700 unused or under-used ticket stations. Luddites rule.
We have the Police, altering Hillsboro witness statements, watching while London rioters burn buildings down, shooting innocent people in the head at tube stations, smearing the Stephen Laurence family, taking NewsCorp bungs, even fitting up a cabinet minister at Plebgate. Remember the thug in uniform who killed the innocent news vendor by pushing him over?
What did they do for 1400 girls in Rotherham or 360 similar in Oxford?
We have the Firemen asleep all night on full pay.
The NHS costing £2Bn per week for the worst health outcomes in Europe.
Teachers. We deliver 26th grade in the PISA tables.
Councils. Look at the fuss to get your bin emptied, let alone the cost.
Remember Arthur Scargill. 40% annual pay rise demands. No pit will ever close regardless of economics.
British Leyland cars. International disgrace.

Unions, eh?

[Guineveretoo]

Re: Trade unions

I don't think we need any arguments over trade unions (or membership of one) it is more important (IMO) to ensure everyone has the best information available to make an informed decision based on their personal situation!

I agree.

I only intended this as an information thread - that was what I was trying to say

[Guineveretoo]

Re: Trade unions

A company tends to get the union it deserves.
Treat people fairly and they'll have absolutely no need of a union.
Most private sector companies have very small union memberships. The public sector is awash with unions because it is largely unmanaged.
We have London Transport with the union threatening strikes for a driver who failed 2 drunk breath tests. They were also fighting to support 700 unused or under-used ticket stations. Luddites rule.
We have the Police, altering Hillsboro witness statements, watching while London rioters burn buildings down, shooting innocent people in the head at tube stations, smearing the Stephen Laurence family, taking NewsCorp bungs, even fitting up a cabinet minister at Plebgate. Remember the thug in uniform who killed the innocent news vendor by pushing him over?
What did they do for 1400 girls in Rotherham or 360 similar in Oxford?
We have the Firemen asleep all night on full pay.
The NHS costing £2Bn per week for the worst health outcomes in Europe.
Teachers. We deliver 26th grade in the PISA tables.
Councils. Look at the fuss to get your bin emptied, let alone the cost.
Remember Arthur Scargill. 40% annual pay rise demands. No pit will ever close regardless of economics.
British Leyland cars. International disgrace.

Unions, eh?

But it looks like an online spat is demanded, somewhat disappointingly, but I can't let those statements go unchallenged.

A decent employer will work with a trade union because they recognise the value of them to the employer as well. For example, it is much easier to negotiate with a collective body than with everyone individually, and it is good to know that your workforce will be properly and fairly supported if something does go wrong.

I find it bizarre that anyone can blame trade unions for police brutality, or for the sex and paedophile scandals in Rotherham and Oxford, so I am not even going to try and address it.

Are you suggesting that the nurses, who work crazy hours for not very much pay, are to blame for the underfunding of the NHS? As for the notion that the NHS costs £28bn a week, this is irrelevant to trade unions, but also wrong. The NHS annual budget is only about £110bn. But even if it was right, how is that the fault of the unions?

Teachers are overworked, and the government is really struggling to recruit and retain them, because they are unsupported and poorly paid, and work silly hours trying to educate our children whilst their, largely private, employers try to make money from the schools! That is certainly not something which can be blamed on the unions.

The same with councils - it is political decisions to lower the council tax we pay in some areas, and cutting the bin collection, whilst privatising the service so that the company emptying the bin is trying to make money, so pays the people who work there less.

Arthur Scargill was fighting, with the full support of his membership, at least at the beginning, against politicians such as Thatcher, whose stated aim was to destroy the unions. She wasn't interested in whether the coal mines were economical, nor was she concerned as to what employment was available to the miners who were being displaced by the battle. The point at which Scargill was demanding 40% pay rise was actually in the 1970s, against Ted Heath, and after several years when the miners pay had fallen, and inflation was massive.

Anyway, so much for this being an information thread. Perhaps I was wrong about this being a place for information and advice.

[Kati]

Re: Trade unions

so much for this being an information thread. Perhaps I was wrong about this being a place for information and advice.

not necesarily ... I think it's good that people get to see differing views and get to make up their own minds