Unison Tv Advert

DTCwordfan | 19:06 Tue 04th Jun 2013 | News

18 Answers

As we don't have a politics section......this one could have gone under media or adverts at the very least, jobs even.

Should Unison be offering financial and legal advice services as an enticement to joining their union? - surely they are there for basic labour rights and not as a "capitalist" service provider....?

Alan Jinkinson, John Daly and Geoffrey Drain must be turning in their graves.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3BT_A_8A8I

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ABerrant

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Politics/

DTCwordfan

Question Author

well given that box is empty, the Ed can get a little more space for something more relevant, ABerrant. That's one of your more pedantic replies - lol.

ABerrant

That box remains empty because you haven't posted this thread into it.

lcg

err.....yes. as a mental health nurse, unison have saved my butt several times and it would be utterly stupid of me to practice without representation......the rcn are crap.

FredPuli43

Don't all unions provide legal services ? Over 30 years ago I used to act for members of the TGWU; usually bus and lorry drivers who'd been charged with dangerous or careless driving. The union retained one firm in SW1 (where else but a good address?) for this work.

DTCwordfan

Question Author

I am not saying that they should not provide the service......but to be advertising this a priori as the basis for joining the union - there's something discordant in that.

As to ABerrant - and to pass into AB vapour-space...no way, José

chrisgel

DTC - I'm a bit puzzled by your statement. A union is supposed to represent it's members. That's what you pay your dues for.
As part of that representation their will inevitably be cases where a member has to turn to law to pursue his/her case. Presumably, they will be working and therefore not qualify for legal aid so legal representation has long been on offer by unions. I used my unions legal services as far back as 1975 so it's not a new thing.
I can't see why you would think it was a problem to advertise this fact.

mushroom25

maybe they bid for work via the legal aid tendering process......

DTCwordfan

Question Author

But what is the primary function of a union as surely worker representation to (poorly-led) management is the main benefit, not legal advice or debt management................

Buenchico

Only a minority of unions (58 out of 166) are in the TUC, with its historic links to socialism. Many unions are pledged to remain apolitical, except on specific areas of interest directly affecting their members. (I was the regional secretary for a union which not only pledged to keep apart from party politics but also required members to sign an undertaking that they would never go on strike).

So there's nothing unusual in a trade union embracing capitalism. (Indeed, those representing workers in financial services have little choice but to do so if they're to seek the best deals for their members).

Admittedly UNISON is in the TUC (with its members making up the majority of TUC membership) but the TUC has moved away from always supporting a single party as a matter of faith. They now adopt a more realistic (and meaningful) approach of examining all political arguments, and aligning the movement with whichever seems best for their membership.

Anyway, what's wrong with offering financial and legal advice? To the best of my knowledge, ALL of the unions represented within the NHS offer discounted private health care to their members!