Are you in a union?

[ShirleyPhallus]

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?

Yes. I work in the public sector but I’m in a generic union that has members in all sectors.

Yes. UNISON. Social worker, been with them for 25 years.

In union, and always have been, bar student holiday work.

The union is there to ensure the workers don't get fucked over, and as rep who goes in to bat directly with (or is it against?) the employer, and that means the person in charge on site, I can tell you they need a beady eye kept on them.

I'm in UNISON. have been a member and a rep for years. We negotiate the pay for all employees and have a healthy raft of benefits before you even need us to represent you. Free wills, access to free training, free legal advice and representation etc...

I'm in a union. I don't really get why anyone wouldn't be - you are so defenseless as an individual without a union behind you.

I work in healthcare and literally everyone is in a union.

@Stompythedinosaur

I'm in a union. I don't really get why anyone wouldn't be - you are so defenseless as an individual without a union behind you.

I work in healthcare and literally everyone is in a union.

I suppose because I have good friends who are employment lawyers, good friends in HR and I’ve only worked for big corporates who tend to do everything by the books. I’ve always had pay rises, bonuses etc, never been in trouble at work.

I suppose for some people it makes sense as they’ve always done it, but for many people they only look to it when something goes wrong

I was until it became clear that my union consistently throws women under the bus and has no respect for academic freedom, which is ironic since it's the union for university teachers.

@EishetChayil Oh, I hear you. My resignation has been in my draft folder for a long time now, but I have always been a union member and resent being forced out due to my unacceptable grip on reality.

I work for a charity and we have a union. I joined as soon as I started, 15 years ago. There are other charities in our sector who do exactly the same job as we do (in some cases more demanding jobs) and they all earn less than we do - significant money, like £10k p.a. less. This is not a coincidence

I am in a union, I am not in the public sector. 2/3 organisations I have worked for in the past 5 years had a formally recognised union with over 80% of staff members. Not uncommon.

@ShirleyPhallus sadly if people leave joining until something has gone wrong, then it's too late. You need to be a member before. They have been invaluable for workplace issues that I have experienced and witnessed of others.

..just to clarify, the other charities in our sector are not unionised, but I expect you understood that from my post.

I think being in a union is sort of like paying for house insurance - most of the time you don't need it and might be frustrated by the expense, but when you need it you really need it.

I’ve only worked for big corporates who tend to do everything by the books

Lol, is this satire?

Yes, RMT. I'm non-active, but it's nice to know I have somewhere to ask for advice and advocates on my behalf should the brown stuff hits the proverbial.

I joined a union about ten years ago when I had a micro-managing boss. It was too late for that particular job/dispute but I've remained a member ever since.

Everyone should be in a union.

I'm self-employed now, so not at the moment. I've always been in one when employed, though.

I'm a life member of the NUJ (retired journo) and our house Chapel was brilliant at negotiating annual pay rises across the board and supporting members in disputes with management, checking up on H&S etc.
To be fair, the company was shit hot on H&S issues -- it had to be really, what with sending correspondents abroad, often into war zones.
When i joined it was a post-entry closed shop but that ended and it became voluntary but why wouldn't you join?
For a few pounds a month the union had your back if and when you needed it, with advice, representation in meetings and legal expertise. As well as negotiating pay and conditions with management.
I was recently speaking to a young journalist who had worked for the prestige national daily , she didn't join the union. She said she never had a single pay increase for the whole five years or so that she worked there.

I'm in the private sector and in a union, recently joined the committee. You need to be in a union. Most of what we deal with is completely confidential and most of the staff will be unaware of it (as it should be) but you honestly don't know what can happen, and is happening, in your workplace. Despite being a union member, I genuinely had no idea. You need to have people who are trained and can help available. I'm sure most of our members think our work is mostly around pay negotiations but if really isn't.

Yes. I'm a teacher of course I am. If you're a teacher and you're not you're very silly indeed.

I have been in a union and professional bodies since I qualified. I am in the private sector. I agree it’s insurance, but also I agree with unionised work forces. Your friends who are in Employment law will be protecting themselves and their profession by belonging to a professional body, many will be members of a union as well.

I'm in a union, always have been. And I work full-time for a union, too. Without unions, we wouldn't have many of the employment rights we have today. Many people have mentioned the 'insurance' nature of it, I.e. having someone to help you, but it's also about joining together with your colleagues and collectively working towards making your workplace a better environment

Yes I'm in a union and have been my whole working life.

Yes and am a rep.

Yes.