Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Are you in a union?

80 replies

ShirleyPhallus · 12/10/2021 09:04

I see this all the time on here:
Op: I have this work issue
Posters: Are you in a union?

Except I don’t know anyone IRL who is in a union and I don’t think I’ve ever seen / sought the opportunity to join one. Somehow it feels like the kind of thing my mum used to talk about in the 90s that people don’t talk about anymore. (Like quicksand and stop, drop, roll).

Are you in one? What happens?

OP posts:
NecklessMumster · 12/10/2021 09:08

Yes, I work for local govt in social care and have been in a union all my working life. My union has campaigned for general issues such as being paid for using our own cars for work and for individuals e.g. accompanying you if you're in trouble at work. At the moment we've been asked to vote on whether we are happy to accept a pay rise of 1.75%

SerendipitySunshine · 12/10/2021 09:10

Definitely. Why wouldn't you join something that gives individual and collective protection. If you run into trouble at work, no-one else can or will help you.

Winterfellismyhome · 12/10/2021 09:12

Yes. Have been for 7 years. Railway union

KingsleyShacklebolt · 12/10/2021 09:12

No, I'm self-employed. I have had lots of other jobs though before being self-employed and have never joined a union. DH isn't in a union.

Parents were both in unions but they were teachers and it's practically compulsory for the professional indemnity.

daisypond · 12/10/2021 09:12

Yes, I’m in a union. It protects workers’ rights. Helps in disputes with work. Campaigns against the gig economy. Fought to get us a pay rise of 1%.

backinthebox · 12/10/2021 09:13

I am in a union. It is essential in my profession to be in one. They defend us as individuals and as a whole group. We are in a profession open to considerable public scrutiny, and where - in the worst case scenario - we can be responsible for multiple deaths and millions of pounds worth of damage. I am on first name terms with many of our reps, they are my work colleagues. Issues I was in contact with them over before Covid included pay, maternity rights, working time limits, and access to training. Since Covid, I have had direct contact with my union on one occasion when I lost out on a piece of work I needed to maintain my right to continue to work. Other than that, since I have been in a better work situation than many of my colleagues, I have not had any interaction with them but have watched with admiration as they have fought to negotiate the best of a bad situation for thousands of people in my profession who have lost their jobs or clung to them with the most fragile grip. They have negotiated on my behalf with my employer to find ways to allow us to continue to work, in spite of many obstacles to doing so. I would not be without my union (even though they can also be exasperating at times too!)

PinkFootstool · 12/10/2021 09:16

Yes, and I have been since I was a student and a member of NUS and saw what competent support could do to help people (we called the reps Sabbs - sabbaticals).

I've been member of the Police Federation (closest thing they are allowed to a TU) and was a Fed Rep for years. When I moved to the Civil Service I joined the Prospect TU.

drinkingwineoutofamug · 12/10/2021 09:18

RCN. Were useless during my work force review as my rep was best mates with my now old boss.
Was in unison but could never get hold of my rep.

backinthebox · 12/10/2021 09:19

Also, weirdly, I was taking part in a forum the other day that was discussing what to do when you encounter quicksand, as one of the members had encountered it in Finland recently! 😄 It was in a chat room for long distance horse riders, on how to avoid your horse sinking into something it shouldn’t. As with many things, I think it depends on what circles you move in. If your job is not in a unionised profession you would never come across it, and nor would your colleagues. DH has never had a job where anyone he worked with was a union member. I have been in unions or professional working bodies all my working life.

Burnerphone21 · 12/10/2021 09:22

Yes I am in a union and I'm a union rep. I was in a union in my previous profession and in my current one.

namechange202086 · 12/10/2021 09:24

I'm a teacher and have been in a union since qualifying.

southcarolina · 12/10/2021 09:24

I'm not sure the BMA deserve the title of a union, but yes I do pay for their 'support'.

Burgerqueenbee · 12/10/2021 09:25

Yes I joined one just before the lockdowns started. Turns out that the company I worked for decided to make almost all support staff redundant as they did not want to pay a percentage of the furlough when that was going to be coming in. I was the only one who was in a union and HR were not expecting it. I am very glad I had a union rep on the conference calls with me as it meant I had someone who knew the correct procedures and was able to speak for me when I was finding it hard to not be emotional.

weebarra · 12/10/2021 09:32

Yes, I have been since I started my career. They fought for equal pay for us which was great. Now I'm management, if some team members are unhappy they will threaten to 'go to the union' but generally the union are great and don't entertain spurious claims!

Iggly · 12/10/2021 09:35

Yep. It’s a shame we don’t have more unions because how else will we get higher wages and better terms and conditions?

TheUnbearable · 12/10/2021 09:40

I was in a Union for 27 years. They helped me with my retirement through ill health deal. DH is also in a Union.

Kitkat151 · 12/10/2021 09:40

Almost everyone I know is in a union....I’m NHS...my partner is local authority...we both been in unions all our working lives

dreamingbohemian · 12/10/2021 09:41

No. I'm an academic and I really disagree with all the strikes, and the lack of support for precarious workers. If they had a more clever strategy I would join.

My DH is in food retail where the unions seem to be doing fuck all.

Original poster
ShirleyPhallus · 12/10/2021 09:43

@backinthebox

Also, weirdly, I was taking part in a forum the other day that was discussing what to do when you encounter quicksand, as one of the members had encountered it in Finland recently! 😄 It was in a chat room for long distance horse riders, on how to avoid your horse sinking into something it shouldn’t. As with many things, I think it depends on what circles you move in. If your job is not in a unionised profession you would never come across it, and nor would your colleagues. DH has never had a job where anyone he worked with was a union member. I have been in unions or professional working bodies all my working life.
Grin love this
OP posts:
Original poster
ShirleyPhallus · 12/10/2021 09:43

It looks like everyone who has commented so for to be in a union is public sector, I suppose that’s why I’m not familiar with it - I’m private sector as are most people I know

OP posts:
CathyorClaire · 12/10/2021 09:49

Yes. DH too.

Burnerphone21 · 12/10/2021 09:57

I was in a union when I was private sector. It was usdaw they were brilliant.

I'm public sector now and the unions are active.

Seeingadistance · 12/10/2021 10:07

Yes, I’ve always been in a union. Was public sector, then had career change and now work in charity sector.

SentDeliveredRead · 12/10/2021 10:21

I'm in a union, I have been for over 30 years. Taking a career break at the moment but I will continue to support them

ProudMaiasaura · 12/10/2021 10:23

Private sector. I was in the union for over 15 years and every time they've pushed back at the company doing something unfair they've failed...I was paying over £20 a month for a pen once a year basically.

After the union failed to stop our contracts being changed for less favourable terms I left the union. There's nothing in my contract worth protecting anymore and on a personal level I can't afford to keep paying subs just in case I suddenly inherit an awful management team.