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Original poster

If you are a civil servant are you in a union?

44 replies

sunnycloudymorning · 13/01/2022 21:19

If so, have you ever needed their support and how useful have they been?

I'm not (reasonably new to cs and G7) and would like to be I think but £ is very tight atm

OP posts:
CreamFirstThenJamOnTop · 13/01/2022 21:36

Not me, but DH has been a civil servant for 20+ years and has always been in a union. He’s used their support on several occasions.
He’s with PSC I think but there are several to look at.

TolkiensFallow · 13/01/2022 21:36

Unison - worth the money!

Aurorie11 · 13/01/2022 21:40

I took redundancy from civil service last year and was longtime union member. As a grade 7 you can join FDA, I found PCS general secretary thinking didnt chime with mine. I looked on union membership as insurance in the event of an issue.

LemonCake79 · 13/01/2022 21:44

Yes, I'm an FDA member.

They were great about ten years ago when I was on the receiving end of a very nasty grievance. I could have navigated it myself, I didn't need 'representation' but they were very supportive and I was very impressed by them.

I've heard a lot of appeals against dismissal / been the decision maker on grievances and I'm always impressed at the job the reps do for their members.

The FDA are expensive but they do a lot of work on behalf of all members particularly around pension protection.

SilverHairedCat · 13/01/2022 21:51

I've been civil service for 7 years. I'm a member of Prospect owing to a specific role and specific representation for that role.

ALWAYS be in the Union! I wouldn't trust any employer even though I've been public sector for nearly 20yrs. I've never really needed the help, but lord knows I've seen colleagues put through wringers and need barristers and all sorts paid for.

Auldspinster · 13/01/2022 21:52

Civil servant and PCS member, they've been great for me.

RollaCola84 · 13/01/2022 21:53

Another FDA member, never needed them and would rather save the subs but you don't get a vote on the pay deals otherwise.

Not that it's made much difference lately.

Oldmrswasherwoman · 13/01/2022 22:01

Yes, PCS. Never needed to call on them but I know I could if I needed them. Plus they do so much work to represent us collectively (campaigning against reductions to our pensions, for fairer pay, anti-privatisation, against redundancies and office closures, flexible working etc) as well as helping other individuals - very proud to be part of a union. It helps that my department have a really positive relationship with PCS and FDA - far less antagonist than it was say 10 years ago.

Nat6999 · 14/01/2022 00:17

I was a Civil Servant & was in the PCS, like you I thought it was a waste of money until I started being ill & was on extended sick leave & was going to lose my job. My manager only wanted to award me 50% compensation severance pay which amounted to losing 6 months pay, the PCS rep fought & got me 100% pay off. She also supported me to get my occupational pension ill health retirement, I had to go to stage 3 appeal which meant being assessed 3 times, the assessments were as bad if not worse than a DWP assessment, they investigated everything, alcohol intake, did I take recreational drugs, how did I manage to care for my ds? One of the reasons I was ill was I had PTSD due to being raped by my ex husband, one of the appeal board asked me if it really was so bad I couldn't work? He didn't understand that if a male colleague walked past me wearing the same aftershave as my ex I had a full on panic attack & couldn't understand that I had made 5 suicide attempts in a year. My union rep went ballistic with him, she also made a formal complaint on my behalf & I was compensated for it, the person on the board was dismissed & banned from working in occupational health until he had undergone retraining.

heelforheelandtoefortoe · 14/01/2022 20:21

I was in USDAW when I was a student in retail but never needed them.

Unison when I was in the public sector - needed them when I had a breakdown due to discrimination. Got escalated to a senior union official who I call my lifesaver as I was suicidal. Thanks to him I got a huge payout. He keeps saying it was just his job but I finally felt heard and believed and it sounds daft but he means a lot to me just for that.

Currently work in 3rd sector, no union recognition but still a unison member. You still get support for the serious stuff but no workplace rep to just talk things over with. I would never leave the union though, its important to have that support cause you just never know do you?

My only negative about unions is that the monthly fee is quite high but the membership did prove to be worth it for me.

PS anyone can join a union whether their organisation recognises one or not.

Goonergirl14 · 14/01/2022 20:29

I am a Civil Servant and also with PCS. They were a great help to me with getting my part year working pattern. Wouldn't consider leaving them to be honest.

TeenTraumaTrials · 14/01/2022 20:33

I've been is CS for nearly 20 years and am G6 equivalent. Have never been in a union. Unlike previous poster I've never seen a union rep make a substantive difference in a grievance/conduct case and I've dealt with a fair few.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 14/01/2022 20:39

Yes and Yes

gingerninja99 · 14/01/2022 20:45

@Goonergirl14

I am a Civil Servant and also with PCS. They were a great help to me with getting my part year working pattern. Wouldn't consider leaving them to be honest.
Same with me, civil servant for 12 years been in the union for around 6, not had anything horrific to have them involved but my rep was really great when negotiating my part time term time working pattern
NothingIsWrong · 14/01/2022 20:49

Unison here, I would always want to be a member but I've not had to use their support yet. Been LG/allied profession for 5 years

CurtainTroubles · 14/01/2022 20:53

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Luckygreenduck · 14/01/2022 20:54

Yes, even if you dont personally need them they protect the good terms and conditions we have.
Its an insurance incase you need support but wider than that strong unions are what makes it a good place to work. I think as a G7 you cant really claim not to be able to afford something which collectively will have hugely benefited you.

Dontgetyerknicksinatwist · 14/01/2022 20:57

Yes and I have had to use their support in the past.

SusieSusieSoo · 14/01/2022 22:21

Haven't needed to use it but am in FDA. In the public sector I think it's really important to have it - as others have said - they are there if you need help or support.

wheresmyshoe · 14/01/2022 22:25

Yes, if you manage people you need to be in. There are some seriously imaginative people who create something from nothing, imagine prejudice from nothing or are actually malicious to cover laziness or incompetence. It hasn't happened to me but I've seen other managers suffer, good decent kind people.

Unescorted · 14/01/2022 22:29

Pcs. Been great for job issues and other benefits.

DeltaAlphaDelta · 14/01/2022 22:34

I got properly shafted by a unison rep that gave me duff advice a few years ago, and it cost me around £10,000 in lost redundancy money. I have been in and out of the public sector since then, currently in, and I would never rejoin, even though my current role puts me at risk of spurious/vexatious allegations being made against me. I have free legal cover with my household insurance, that have been brilliant the few times I have used them, plus ACAS on the odd occasion.

Bells3032 · 14/01/2022 22:34

Also an fda member here (previously also keystone which is fda for seos and heos). I. Used to do fairly well with their discounts on days out and cinema and gyms etc but don't think they do as much anymore.

Wont use pcs etc as don't like how political they are (lots of strikes etc) or that they fund campaigns on international issues which I don't think is the place of a union

MissOrganisedMe · 14/01/2022 22:41

There's a massive difference in subs between FDA and PCS. I'm in PCS just because that's the only one I'd known about when I was looking when I joined. Previously UNISON in local government.

Are they that different?

Elieza · 14/01/2022 22:47

PCS is the largest union. Top subscription based on earnings is £14 a month I think. You can afford that!

Yes they do call strikes. Only as a last resort. They challenge things because if you don’t you don’t get anything. They are member led and members vote for or against such action.

I don’t know about funding international campaigns. Never heard that before.