Third Sector and Trade Unions

[nuttymomma]

Sorry, not sure if this is the best place, although it has traffic

I've worked in the public sector all my life and I've been a Unison TU member all that time. Unison have been great - helping me with grievances and in one instance helping me go through the tribunal process and getting a large payout. I obviously left that job and got a FTC in another public sector role, which is now coming to an end.

So I'm looking for all kinds of jobs - public, private, charity - cause obviously I need a job!

My preference would be for something that has a good salary, around what I was earning before, and more opportunity to work from home/remotely. The third sector seems to offer that.

I'm a bit worried though, as none of the charities I have applied for seem to be unionised. I can't find any information online. I did find a Unison document that said they have just over 200 members at a particular charity I work for, but it doesn't seem to be actually recognised or have a branch. The charity has over 5000 employees globally, mostly in the UK. They don't seem to recognise any other unions either.

All the charities seem to have poor sick pay and pension schemes.

DH says this is the reality of life outside the public sector. He is a senior manager in the private sector and says staff are 'not allowed' to join a union - which I know is not true, although they can choose not to recognise one. DH says I don't need to be in a union if there is an emloyee voice / employee network - but I worry that won't be independent of the employer and not really make much of a difference to the employees?

Its sounding as though I should stay in the public sector doesn't it? But I have had some bad experiences there - I'm disabled, hence the wish for more flexibility. I just worry that if I leave the public sector for somewhere that isn't unionised, I won't get the right support.

Is it worth being in a union if it is not recognised by the employer? What support am I entitled to if there is no recognition? Does it mean nothing can be done if the sick pay and pension are shit? Obviously as a disabled person I worry about the sick pay aspect.

Hopefully someone with a knowledge of charities and/or trade unions can come along to advise!

YABU - look for something unionised e.g. public sector
YANBU - it will all be fine and you need a job!

edit - that should read "a particular charity I applied for', I don't work there yet.

Sorry for the essay

It is an employee's legal right to be in a trade union. It is illegal, as an employer, to treat someone differently, who belongs to a union. Even if they are not recognised in their workplace.

You can be in a union if your workplace does not recognise them but, but they can't negotiate on your behalf regarding your terms and conditions (no bargaining unit), but they can still advise you on working practices and represent you in grievances, disciplinaries etc.

I work for a TU. It is always worth being in one.

The amount of people we can't help because they join, only when something has already happened, is crazy.

It's always worth being in a union IMO. I am a combination of self employed and employed third sector, and I am a member of Unite. I’ve never had to use their services yet but it's great knowing they’re there. When I worked in retail I joined USDAW even though my employer wasn’t unionised. DH is a priest and is in Unite too.

There are still benefits to joining a union in the third sector, but don't expect them to do anything about the sick pay or pension contributions. Charities will never be able to compete with the public sector on that.

If those things are priorities for you, you'd be better off staying in the public sector or a big corporate.

I’ve worked in the charity sector for 20 years and have never heard of anyone being in a union. Issues are dealt with (usually pretty effectively in my experience) through HR. Pensions etc will be poorer, it’s not good use of charity money to generally offer more than the minimum.

All the charities seem to have poor sick pay and pension schemes.

Because there is the attitude from the general public that people working in charity should accept poor terms and low salaries because it's charity. Pigs with their snouts in the trough. Fat Cats. Grabby people who should be doing it for free, because it's charity.

I am a volunteer for a major charity and hear it all the time. I know our shop manager is on barely more than minimum wage. I know that our district manager is on about £20k and she;s been working in charity retail her entire career. But people on here (and in the public in general) will tell you that all charity workers are on high salaries.

There is no unionisation in the charity I volunteer with either.

pensions & sick pAy in the private sector doesn't compare to the public sector

@rottd

pensions & sick pAy in the private sector doesn't compare to the public sector

It depends a bit. Some big multinationals offer comparable terms and conditions to public sector.

The Unison Branch finder has revealed some charities that are unionised but other trade union websites don't give any information about branches, so how can I find out for sure which are unionised and which aren't?

I can't seem to find any public sector jobs that offer the flexibility I'm looking for unfortunately. I know I could ask once I got it, but I'd rather know beforehand.

Because there is the attitude from the general public that people working in charity should accept poor terms and low salaries because it's charity.

And yes, this is absolutely true. Many people seem surprised that people get paid to work in charities at all... they think everyone should be a volunteer. Which is ridiculous but there you go....

OP, you might have to compromise a bit. There won't be that many jobs that offer everything you want, though you might strike lucky if you can afford to be out of work for a while. Time to establish what your priorities are?

@AlexaShutUp i was talking statistically. Yes some firms offer very good packages but they are not the norm.

I bet the people at the top of this charity have great terms and conditions and a fabulous pension.

Yes - join a union. Even if you are not recognised, if eg redundancies come you can get elected as a staff rep and get some support from your union from behind the scenes. Also v important if you eg need help negotiating adjustments to manage your disability and/or to fend off performance improvement plans etc . Charities can be terrible employers.

Give UNISON a call on their general number - they’ll be happy to give you advice on what they can/can’t help you with in your new (🤞🏻) job

I worked very happily in the Third sector for 15 years for a non unionised company and was a member of Unison throughout. I took several days unpaid to join national unionised action. I was also an employee support officer for the company.

@ilovesooty What did you get from your membership if the union wasn't recognised? and how does employee support networks differ?

All the charities seem to have poor sick pay and pension schemes.

Why do you actively look to move roles to work for a sector like that?

@Howshouldibehave

If you read my OP fully, you'll see that I am coming to the end of my contract and I'm applying everywhere.

[quote nuttymomma]@ilovesooty What did you get from your membership if the union wasn't recognised? and how does employee support networks differ?[/quote]
I would have been able to access support if I'd needed it. I've always been in a union - it's idealogically important to me. I'm now self employed and I am still a union member.

Employee support networks helped informally with information and signposting. People often wanted simply to chat about their opinions. I also represented people at meetings re reasonable adjustments, absence monitoring and disciplinaries (which were few and far between). We didn't have the power to be involved in collective bargaining, conditions of service or redundancy processes.

The sick pay in my company wasn't bad but the pension provision wasn't brilliant.

The company did care about its employees and treated them well, particularly with regard to disability adjustments. I've actually dealt with many public service employees in my current role who are far less well treated than I was in the third sector.

I have worked in public sector and for a large charity for last 7 years. This charity does recognise a union, but it’s not as effective and powerful as one like unison. The terms and conditions are poorer, we’ll have been made poorer for new starts in the time I have been there - mine are not so bad. Pay is almost comparable, not quite. And work life balance, happiness levels are incomparable!! So I think moving to charity sector is trading in some stability and security for quality of life. Broadly. Depends on your priorities.

those that work in charities with TU recognition, which charity and which TU is it?

Unite have a lot of members who work for charities and I think have recognition in some. Even if your employer isn't recognised you'll still be entitled to advice should you need it and other benefits such as free will/ legal advice.

I've worked in the 3rd sector for 21 years (previously public sector). The pay is shite because all our services are funded by health or social care, and austerity has meant it hasn't kept pace with inflation.

Annual leave and sick pay are nowhere near as good as the public sector, although I'm on an old contract so mine are better than a new starter would get.

What is invaluable though is the ethos. I have never worked in such a supportive environment or felt as valued as I do now. Staff are really appreciated and given opportunities to try a management role even if they don't have management experience. Life experience is valued as much as professional experience. They take staff wellbeing really seriously and managers are quick to recognise if staff are under pressure and to support them. I got the most amazing support when I lost my partner last year, and I know I wouldn't have got that anywhere else I've worked (it was the same 10 years ago when my DM died). They are hugely supportive of people with caring responsibilities and families, sexism is unheard of, staff with disabilities are very well supported and it's a really flexible, compassionate environment.

I love it and wouldn't go back to the public or private sector for 3 times the money.

LakieLady that resonates very much with me.