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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:
goodwinter · 12/10/2021 10:23

I'm private sector and in a union. Large company (30k employees globally) and Unite has a large visibility/presence in my company. :)

daisypond · 12/10/2021 10:24

@ShirleyPhallus

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
I’m in the private sector and am in a union.
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 12/10/2021 10:24

How does it work if you are employed by a tiny company in the private sector with a handful of employees?

Hen2018 · 12/10/2021 10:24

Of course.

Unison, as in local government.

goodwinter · 12/10/2021 10:26

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit

How does it work if you are employed by a tiny company in the private sector with a handful of employees?
You can join a trade union for your industry, and I think there might be non specific ones as well. Have a look here: www.tuc.org.uk/join-a-union
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 12/10/2021 10:29

Thankyou, I've only ever worked in the private sector and not high flying jobs. A couple of my employers have been terrible but I never thought joining a union was possible.
Presumably you've got no rights union or not until you've been there a while?

FindingMeno · 12/10/2021 10:30

I'm in the private sector and I've been in a union for about 20 years.
They have acted on my behalf twice - once through tribunal.

FindingMeno · 12/10/2021 10:31

You can join a relevant union independently.

daisypond · 12/10/2021 10:32

You have rights as soon as you join. However, if you have already been in dispute with your employer before you join the union, that may not be covered by the union’s legal help and general support.

SerendipitySunshine · 12/10/2021 10:37

I'm private sector and have always been in a union. I see it like insurance, because as well as the brilliant collective work they do (negotiating pay rises, getting better maternity rights, during covid helping negotiate support for working from home) I'd also have a rep with me individually if I had a grievance or if I was accused of doing something wrong. There's no way I'd want to go up against the company and HR without knowing my employment rights or having someone to speak on my behalf.

PaperMonster · 12/10/2021 10:37

Public sector. I was in a union, technically I still am for the next year as I’ve been made redundant. They’ve helped me with two lots of redundancy, a false accusation and a workplace injury. Going back into that type of environment again, I wouldn’t risk not being in a union. With one redundancy I was the only one of our team who actually received redundancy pay - and the only one in a union.

Firstbornunicorn · 12/10/2021 10:40

Private sector. Would never NOT be in a union. I’ve been in one since I was 16 and started my first part-time job.

purpleme12 · 12/10/2021 10:41

I'm not in a union although sometimes I wonder..
But I had to comment on the 'stop drop and roll'!
Have people stopped saying that?!
That's always stuck in my mind since I was little and learnt that and I've even taught it to my child in the unlikely event she'll need it!

hellswelshy · 12/10/2021 10:42

Yes I am a union member, public sector.

Classica · 12/10/2021 10:43

Yes I'm in BECTU. It's for anyone in the arts, media and entertainment industries. So if you're a TV camera person, sell tickets at a cinema or work as a makeup artist in the West End BECTU, is the one for you.

VienneseWhirligig · 12/10/2021 10:44

Yes, am also a union rep and member of the general executive committee.

Classica · 12/10/2021 10:44

@SerendipitySunshine

I'm private sector and have always been in a union. I see it like insurance, because as well as the brilliant collective work they do (negotiating pay rises, getting better maternity rights, during covid helping negotiate support for working from home) I'd also have a rep with me individually if I had a grievance or if I was accused of doing something wrong. There's no way I'd want to go up against the company and HR without knowing my employment rights or having someone to speak on my behalf.
This is how I look at it too.
Tee20x · 12/10/2021 10:49

Deffo essential to be part of a union in my eyes. I relate to the PP who said they look at it as a form of insurance.

I work in the public sector too and like others have said face public scrutiny should things go wrong & it's known for there to be a culture of throwing individual employees under the bus to make them look as though they are a bad egg/incompetent rather than recognising wider organisational failures.

Should you be accused of something it can be a slippery slope, so I have some peace of mind that I would be able to go to the union for support/advice in order to sort out any issues which may occur.

starfishmummy · 12/10/2021 10:51

Always in a union when I was working, and as an associate member when I took a career break.

ChangeMustCome · 12/10/2021 10:57

Another person who's in a union. I don't understand why any employed person wouldn't be!

NeverTheHootenanny · 12/10/2021 11:04

I’m not in a union because I have been working in HR for a long time, and so don’t feel like I particularly need the support of a union, I know my rights very well and could support myself through most work issues if needed. I also have a lot of friends who are employment solicitors who I could get advice from.

But I’m surprised at how few of our employees (and people generally) are union members, I’d guess probably 5% of our workforce (non-public sector). The union reps that I have worked with have all been very knowledgeable and professional and act as good advocates for their members. I guess people only really think about signing up when something goes wrong and they’re faced with a disciplinary, redundancy, grievance, etc.

SentDeliveredRead · 12/10/2021 11:04

whats an associate member @starfishmummy ?

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 12/10/2021 11:08

Yes. Agree with pp that it is like paying for insurance. I also feel like - particularly since Covid/remote working - information that gets circulated via the union is much better and more timely than the management communications.

starfishmummy · 12/10/2021 11:15

@SentDeliveredRead.

My career break was an official scheme run by my employer (public sector) so technically I was employed but just wasn't doing it (rather like extended unpaid mat leave). As I was unwaged I was able to stay in the union but didn't have to pay union subs - but was still able to access advice and help from them if I needed to.

SentDeliveredRead · 12/10/2021 11:19

ah thank you @starfishmummy , yes I did that too , I may have to cancel my membership now as not working at all