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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu to think My dh work can’t do this..

21 replies

Justaregularmum · 03/05/2019 20:51

So my dh has informed me today that his work will only deal with pay negotiations through his trade union, if you don’t pay into the union, the company aren’t allowed to discuss anything to do with pay /rises etc, not even if it’s to do with just your particular job role and not affecting anyone else.. they announced a rise % a while ago but because the few union members (who are the only ones allowed to vote on whether they take the rise) voted against it. They declined the rise and want more negotiations (it would have benefited the union leaders less as different role/level of pay) ... aibu to think that the few members shouldn’t be able to have that much influence.. (prepared to be told if his not happy he should join the union but has his reasons for not wanting to be involved)

OP posts:

DareDevil223 · 03/05/2019 22:26

If the employer has recognised the union then they will negotiate issues to do with pay, benefits, working conditions with the union. It's called collective bargaining and it's pretty common. I work in the public sector and it's pretty standard.

IsYourGoogleBroken · 03/05/2019 22:27

Work can do this. The union is the recognised negotiating body.

Original poster

Justaregularmum · 03/05/2019 22:30

Thank you. I’ve been getting myself worked up about it as seems so unfair- it’s just the union leaders are out for themselves and it will probably end in a no deal but they’ll end up better off like last year 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:

DareDevil223 · 03/05/2019 22:35

If the union leaders are truly 'out for themselves' then the way to deal with that is for people to join the union and get rid of them and/or put themselves forward for union positions rather than moan about it from the sidelines.

Unions aren't perfect but without them employers would have carried on crapping all over their employees, there would be no paid leave, no sick pay, no health and safety, no workers' rights at all.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 03/05/2019 22:39

I've always joined my workplace union, even when they're obviously useless, because if we don't stick together the management will screw us. A union keeps them wary.

Brefugee · 03/05/2019 22:39

Your DH should be in the union. Imagine if they negotiate a better package - will he turn it down?

ChessieFL · 03/05/2019 22:41

This is how it works in the public sector - all pay negotiations are done with the unions.

Original poster

Justaregularmum · 03/05/2019 22:47

Yes i agree I have always been in a union myself when applicable, I guess you never actually know what happens in the sidelines which you don’t realise has been because of the union! I will have a chat with dh and see if I can sway him! It’s hard for me to comment on ins and outs as obviously I only know second hand info from him - which is bound to be biased from his point of view! He says he very much doubts they will negotiate a better deal for everyone - just themselves- last year they earned a promotion out of it.. but as mentioned if he wants to moan he could always become a leader himself!

OP posts:

PickAChew · 03/05/2019 22:49

Why isn't your DH in the union?

Honeyroar · 03/05/2019 22:50

It's the same at my workplace.

Original poster

Justaregularmum · 03/05/2019 22:54

pickachew I’m not entirely sure the exact reasons.. his gone to bed but I’ll ask him in the morning. Think he's just being stubborn about it!

OP posts:

SciFiRules · 03/05/2019 22:59

I have refused to join a union on four occasions. I've only met two types of union reps, firstly the rabid dog who wants to strike for a list of unrealistic demand, secondly those who after demanding union fees then try to sell me insurance or telecoms under the guise of "benefits"!
Today's unions are shambolic, unions did fight for their memberships once, now they are archaic self serving entities looking to profit from all angles.

ICouldBeSomebodyYouKnow · 03/05/2019 23:04

He says he very much doubts they will negotiate a better deal for everyone - just themselves

I didn't think that's how collective bargaining works though? Never been involved in them myself though.

Polarbearflavour · 03/05/2019 23:05

We have very few employment rights. As long as employers don’t act illegally - such as discrimination, they can do what they like!

ChicCroissant · 03/05/2019 23:08

It seems unlikely that Union members would be in the minority if collective bargaining takes place tbh OP, although Union membership has declined overall.

Yes, if a Union is recognised for collective bargaining then the pay negotiations are done through them. So your DH is happy to accept any pay increases they negotiate, but not pay union fees join and vote in favour but claims a 'few' people vote down the deal to improve their own lot? That also seems unlikely!

He's not happy because he's got no say in the process and the only way he can get that is by joining the Union. If he doesn't want to - and that's absolutely his right - then he's not able to contribute to the process.

I used to work in HR and I was a member of the Union.

Yinderling · 03/05/2019 23:09

He should join the union. Not joining a union is like not voting then moaning when the party you hate is in Power.
The demise of workers rights is because people have forgotten (or been brainwashed by the press) about how important unions are and what they have achieved. If you find the rep as pain in the arse get involved and do it yourself. I was rep for a few years and saved a few people from being treated like shit by management.

Original poster

Justaregularmum · 03/05/2019 23:13

scifirules sorry you’ve had some bad experiences.. I think that may be some of dh reasons.
I completely get where they started and what they stood for but I agree it seems times have changed when it comes to unions. I don’t pretend to know a lot about them though.

Icouldbe -I know. Supposed to be for everyone but somehow they always end up better off. I always believed It should be an overal thing but who knows- he just said after last year the ‘shop floor’ workers so to speak didn’t get a great deal but they did. They are on different tiers/ different jobs etc

Apologies for lack of bold/replying on phone with 4% battery so trying to reply quickly

OP posts:

LL83 · 03/05/2019 23:13

The union reps will negotiate then the members vote. If the reps are only out for themselves and it doesn't benefit others then the members will not vote for it.

If he joins the union he will get a vote, but wont be involved in discussions or negotiations.

Original poster

Justaregularmum · 03/05/2019 23:16

Hes not moaning as such. He doesn’t ask for much bless him. Just wants to go to work and get on with it, but you’ve hit the nail on the head chic he can’t moan if he doesn’t want to contribute. His at work early morning or I would go and wake him and show him this so he knows he is BU :-)

OP posts:

Original poster

Justaregularmum · 03/05/2019 23:18

I’ll add - he was more than happy with the % offered. Think he is more annoyed that others weren’t. It wasn’t a lot, but at the moment anything is better than nothing!

OP posts:

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 03/05/2019 23:39

I am a union member currently participating in industrial action re pay. I would have happily accepted the offer - we’ve not even had cost of living in years - but am hopeful a better deal will come eventually, and bound by the majority. The flip-side to not being a union member in a unionised workplace is you pay no fees, (usually) benefit from negotiations, and don’t lose money if a dispute escalates to strike action.

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