To think it was a tactful way of saying ‘working class?’

[BoothsDelivery]

I went to a school in the middle of 2 deprived council estates.

In one of our classes, we were taught a bit about trade unions. Teacher asked us if we had a parent who was in a trade union. When we all looked blank as if he’d just asked had we been to the moon - he asked in a louder voice :

Well, come on, this is a part of the city where people have working jobs. Is anyone’s parent in a trade union?

looking back, do you think he used the phrase ‘working jobs’ because it sounds more tactful than saying “this is a working class area?”

He was teaching in a school in the middle of two deprived council estates. He wasn’t expecting anyone to say that their mum was a surgeon and their dad was a headteacher 😂

I still don't know what a trade union is tbh and I'm a full grown adult. Working jobs? This teacher sounds full of nonsense.

Mine would both know. They're 20 & 18 & both at university, and would absolutely know what trades unions are. Perhaps it's area dependent- I grew up during the miner's strikes & local industry closures affected many of my friends. I'm also quite politically minded & we've always discussed politics with them.

Not sure about the phrase working jobs as I've never heard that and maybe it's a colloquialism.

However certain areas do tend to have main employers, when I lived in Crewe a lot of people worked for jaguar land rover and bombardier for example. So those would likely be unionised and all live near each other

Whereas certain inner city areas I've lived would be much more mixed with lots of care workers, deliveroo etc which wouldn't be unionised. (Although no deliveroo in 1992 but other hospitality type jobs for example, cleaners, porters etc). So I don't think it can be meant to just mean working class.

Professions can of course be unionised too as can lots of other roles such as royal mail but they wouldn't be in a high concentration in a particular area...

How can you not know what a trade union is? Didn't you go to school?

All you need to do is find out. Read about it.

I don't think it's the teacher who sounds full of nonsense.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a non-working job, I’d like to have one of those!

From what you describe it was an accurate summary of the area demographic. Probably is what he meant.

Meh. A teacher in 1992 would likely have been unionised too (as most of us still are), and ideologically aligned with general working class sentiments. I am guessing his "Come on..." was perhaps an expression of frustration that young people in a working class area were not aware of the benefits of the trade union movement. Nothing offensive.

I'm classic 'working class' from a complete 'manual labour' background and I'm honestly not sure if my parents had any form of union at any point.

I know they supported labour and unions and where out spoken on the right to strike (being that I'm from a pit area and was born in the thatcher era unrest its kind of a big thing of my childhood) but I don't think MY parents had any kind of union themselves.

Most of my family are in construction or mechanics and I would describe them all as 'self employed'. Even the ones who work for others are more freelance getting hired by bigger companies temporarily on site by site work then move on to the next project with whoever thats with.

Only people I have known in real life be in unions are teachers and medical professionals which I don't think is what people mean when they say 'working class manual labor'.

Could have been indirectly complimenting the class - not assuming that everybody was on benefits and therefore wouldn't have any need to know about unions.

And 32 years later you’re still stuck on this 🤣

Relentlessly middle class and union stalwart here.

The professions have very successful trade unions, they just don't necessarily call them that.

Why do you still think about this 32 years later?

Im always surprised when people suggest talking to union on here. I’ve generally only worked in private sector, in many businesses small-large private and public and I’ve never come across a union. I thought unions only really covered public sector? Are unions widespread than that? Also my perception of the situation now is that the lowest paid jobs are even less likely to provide anything like this - gig economy, 0 hour contracts etc

Lol my Dad worked for the post office and she was a shop steward so I was certainly very aware of unions from a young age

Am I the only one who thinks that this was a weird question for a teacher to be asking, and that mind your own business would be the most appropriate response?

That's actually terrifying. And the fact that you admit it rather than just quickly Google is of even more concern. I take it you have no interest in anything outside your own life experience?

Terrifying? Well for one I am concerned about you, being terrified of that, and you are outside of my own life.

Obviously I get the gist of a union (I am in one), don’t know what a trade union is specifically compared to a non-trade union. My personal specific union-related ignorance hasn’t negatively affected mine or anyone else’s life though, so hopefully that calms your terror slightly.

You have no need to be concerned for me though, I am a fully functioning member of society despite your assumption ☺️

Maaaaybe you should (just a suggestion) spend less time on Mumsnet, if a little offhand comment terrifies you so?

Ok - to be fair Trade Unions are hardly if at all in the news anymore like they once were.

i mean, let’s be honest it’s no longer the days of Jimmy Knapp

(one for the teenagers)

And maaaaybe you should try and educate yourself more on what's going on in the world, and how and why certain things (such as trade unions) have contributed to chains of events throughout the history of the UK with some interesting outcomes (e.g. the revolting Angela Rayner now being Deputy Prime Minister.) I'm good, thanks, no need for calming of any sort. Just amazes me when (I assume) grown adults would purposely make themselves look daft, but hey, we're all different!

Trade unions are collectives of people in broadly the same jobs or sector. They arose from the Trade Guilds of lace makers, tanners, etc etc.

Professions included in 1992 would include doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, train drivers, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, the judiciary, civil servants, post office workers, local government officials, utility company workers, scientists, journalists, actors, musicians and sea farers.

I can’t understand what you think their point was, other than surely your parents work, and you understand what a trade union is.

I don’t think so. Working jobs just means jobs where you work. Unions aren’t just a working class, manual blue collar thing.

Many middle class jobs had and have trade unions…many of these will be on 6 figure salaries to multi-million £ salaries:

• Nurses/Doctors in the British Medical and Hospital Consultant Unions
• Civil service FDA for managers and professionals
• Airline pilots
• Educational unions for university professors
• The union for journalists (BBC presenters)
• Writers Guild - famous authors
• STEM professionals- prospect union

We are 🙂 I’m delighted I’m not somebody who takes Mumsnet threads so very seriously 🤣