To urge everyone who can to join a union.

[JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam]

Okay, I know I’m not. But at my husbands insistence I joined a union 9 months ago after being in NHS service for 5 years. I had no real reason to join, he just told me if I ever needed them I’d be glad.

Fast forward 9 months and here I am in the thick of a full on wrangle with HR, management and my job - which it turns out isn’t the job I’m supposed to be doing, processes have not been followed properly for a long time and I suspect there are a few higher ups in a fair bit of trouble. My union rep has been stellar not only with his support but with his advice and his ability to get things taken care of. Hes talked me through every eventuality, what it means and what action he will help me take if it comes to that.

He has been worth every Penny of my union dues a thousand times over.

Absolutely and also don't rely on your union member colleagues to dig you out of difficult work situations. My colleague told me she'd left the union because we all got pay rises, regardless of whether you were a union member or not.

Yanbu. There is a reason millionaire press barons and their pet politicians have been telling us all to hate unions for the last 40 years. And it is not because they care about "ordinary hardworking families".

Joined a union in the past the did fuck all when redundancies came and did not lift a single finger to support a large group of us. Most unions are run by leftie loudmouth rabble rousers. Rather not thanks.

I confess I don't really understand unions. Can someone explain? I work in the private sector, a large tech company. We don't have 'a union' though presumably anyone can join one of the big national unions. But since of I do, I'm likely the only employee in that union, the whole 'collective bargaining' thing is out the window.

😀

There is a real need for a good union rep, however when I was paying my fees they submitted my application to the tribunal a day late potentially compromising my case. They had 3 years to do this and was one day too late.

I represented two clients. One through a tribunal who was raoed at work by another colleague. I managed to "win" her a poxy £8,k settlement.

The other has not worked for her organisation for 2 years. Serious horrific threats to her and her children, by a service user. No union, managed to agree a termination to her work "on health grounds" treated her abysmally.

My curent role I have to cover my back with a fucking cast iron duvet my colleagues and I deequently have complaints and the organisation states they support us, but you are completely on your own.

Our working rights are SHIT for most people. My own position and that of my two clients in summary ? Though not applying to each of us are.

Left with significant mental health issues
Including PTSD
RetraumTised and serious issues minimised.
Allowed support of a colleague who then "had to attend a short notice meeting"
Ubable to work and on long term benefits
Potential reputation damage
Having g to a complete career change

Feeling so angry writing this ACAS is very much for the employer. Though the law is very much on the side of companies.

It stinks

I joined one over the covid vax debacle and have now decided I'm staying in as they were very helpful. It's happened once so who knows what's round the corner

I was in the NHS and in Unison. I was properly shafted over a redundancy, given some very poor advice about submitting a grievance against my former employer and lost my redundancy pay because of it.

I have never trusted a Union again and will use ACAS if I need anything.

My union rep is a rockstar. However some of what he does is manage the dickhead brothers and sisters rather than management.

Companies do not have to recognise a union and if they don't the union cannot attend meetings. You are 100 per cent in your own. Its a fucking outrage

Unfortunately the union rep in my office is a sex pest.

I take it the union wouldn’t take a complaint about that seriously without any evidence?

I joined in case I was ever subject to a complaint by a client- sounds dodgy but I worked with very vulnerable people.
I was named in a grievance against another colleague and as part of the process couldn’t talk to colleagues or family so having a listening ear and helpline was invaluable.

It's really dependent on your rep, I'd trust mine with my first born. It's been invaluable to me

NUJ. Absolutely stellar union.

It absolutely depends on the union rep.
Unfortunately the ones I had were all shit.

Unison were completely useless over a contract change - first advising no one to sign the contracts, then at the last minute telling us all to, when some were on holiday and ended up nearly losing their jobs. Another big union were useless for my partner in a works disciplinary meeting, the rep only seemed interested in bigging himself up and the outcome was no better than if he hadn't been involved at all.
I have continued paying my fees, as they could come in useful in the event of an accident at work or similar.

Unions cant really stop redundancies etc, thats a management decision but, they can make sure you are treated in accordance with the law and policy

22 years in NHS. My union membership is my insurance for back up should I need it. You're absolutely right OP. Good luck with your case x

I'm in the GMB have been the only one in every job so no collective bargaining. I used them just yesterday as a past employee owes me 12k commission and they have drafted me a letter to send tomorrow. This will be the third time I have used them and I have had over 20k for breach of contract wrongful termination and unlawful deduction of wages in a decade. My industry is rife with corruption!

Employer nor employee

As a retired senior manager, I would also recommend that people join a union, and that their managers encourage them to do so.

Twice in my career I've had staff who were subjected to major (or potentially major) disciplinary action. In both cases, I found the union reps helpful in pointing out areas I'd not considered and ways that I could use to alleviate situations.

One case resulted in the individuals dismissal, and one in a solution that was acceptable to everyone.

Each time, I was grateful for the union reps input.

As a HR professional I’m totally in favour of the idea of unions but the reality is they are usually ill informed and toothless. Employees often think if they say “I’ve got my union involved” we will crap ourselves but it’s usually more an eye roll as we might need to delay a couple of meetings to let them attend and be useless. Which is a shame as I’m all for the employee voice just IME they are pretty useless. Lots of table banging and no substance and woeful knowledge of employment law as it is rather than how they would I like it to be.

I'm a member of my union, and they helped me once with an issue I was having with my employer. I wasn't really getting anywhere by myself, and they just knew the people / knew who to phone to get it sorted out.

I feel a lot better knowing that I've got access to help and support if I need it. And I really believe in staff having a meaningful voice through unions.

@Doggymummar, apologies if this is a stupid question - is there a benefit to being in a union if your workplace doesn't recognise unions?

they're totally useless in my Industry. not really recognised / have very little influence. I wouldn't recommend anyone waste their fees. just read up and know your rights.