Should I belong to a union?

[sherminator]

Forgive my ignorance but I really don't know that much about unions. im in my 20's and have the option to join and was wondering what people think about them. Would like older peoples opinions because they will have lived through alot of the upheaval that went on in the past regarding them.

Do people still see them as a good thing?

Cheers

[jno]

I sure do, but then I am an older person. Younger people tend to be more worshipful of (or more resigned to) companies' rights to cut people's pay or fire them at will. I say: in unity is strength.

[I.Don No]

my opinion is ...if you have the option, then join. they can help out in many ways, not just in protecting jobs.

[brionon]

If it weren't for the Unions you'd be working 7 days a week for a pittance, just look at the Countriies with ,America and Europe and those without Bangladesh etc .

[Old_Geezer]

It depends on your circumstances, the unions) on offer, your employer, arguably the position you have in the company, etc..

Worth realising that in a dispute with the company the one group that may take your side is a union, and avoids being forced to move on if unfairly treated. And that can be anything, industrial injury, unfair change of working arrangements, redundancy etc..

And there is a moral aspect since the union is (hopefully) looking after the interests of the workers (wait for the arguments to start below) so should you "piggy back" on their successes for free ?

Without a union your employer has a much freer hand at imposing what they wish, regardless of how it affects their staff resource. But you also need to look at how effective the union is or is likely to become. It's very much a personal choice, and there's no rush to sign up today.

[Gromit]

I would recommend you join if the Union is appropriate, but depends on what you do and what kind of employer you have.

After saying that, I have been working for 27 years and never been in a Union.

[R1Geezer]

Unions were needed 100 years ago to counter exploitation as brionon says. Unfortunaltely these days they are full of raving lefties who think the world owes them and their members a living. They belive that emplolyers are the enemy getting rich off their backs and that wealth is created out of thin air. Anyway should you join? Depends on the union the job the employer I guess, in any case remember if you join you will be funding the Labour party but I guess in your case that's ok.

[modeller]

My immediate response is JOIN . Every empoyee needs the protection of a union. Unions have caused a great deal of problems because they were badly led but you still need their backing. It not all about pay and conditions . If you have sickness, accident, or discrimination problems, they are personal to you and the union will supply you with all the help you may need.

[R1Geezer]

Eddie You can opt out of paying directly but the union can still donate its own funds, see the recent Unite fiasco. That's members subs whether they pay the levy or not.

[sherminator]

cheers for answers guy will do some more research.

[McMouse]

Never been in a Union and never felt the need to join one. Worked 25 years for a major US Corporation and was treated brilliantly when ill health kicked in. They continued to pay my salary for 10 years until retirement.

[R1Geezer]

you mean mine personally? Yes you are correct, I would never join a union, If you need to join a union then you've already failed. I've always done jobs I like, I can't understand why some would do a job they don't like and then whine about it. However anyone in a union funds Labour regardless of whether they pay the political levy.

[ladyalex]

I'd join.
When trouble comes, and it inevitably will at some time in your work career, they're the only people who will be interested in helping out.
You can opt out of any political levy.
It has also always seemed a bit wrong to me to accept union negotiated increases/benefits without paying union dues.

[rov1200]

Fred Goodwin, all the top bankers and those drawing multi-million pound bonuses don't belong to a union.

Cleaners and manual workers its a must.

Those in the middle who are treated reasonably there is no need unless you work for a rogue employer.

Put yourself on a sliding scale that encompasses all workers.

[andy-hughes]

It's highly adviseable in these litigious times - your Union will protect you from any chicanery by your bosses - which can occur in any organisation from the smallest to the largest.

I have worked for The Post Office / BT for thirty-six years, and have been extremely greatful to the CWU on a number of occasions - I would not be without their support, and happily pay my subcriptions.

[36TEAK36]

I was in a union for many years, and found them a complete waste of time. I can only speak from my own experience, but they seemed to really push for strike action at the smallest of things, they even tried to get us to strike once because our company took away the free coffee vending machines and replaced them with pay ones. I was on strike several times in the eighties, and never once did we gain anything from it, and in the end the company went bust.

Most companies nowadays are decent and fair and I see no need for someone joining a union if they feel this way about their employer.Most people seem to have a greater understanding of their legal rights these days, far more than we ever did in the eighties, and I think most employers respect these rights, but I am sure there are some really cr@p employers out there.

[ayrforce1]

You join the union and you may have to go on strike , it can happen. You don`t join the union and cross the picket line because you have a right to go to work. Who negotiates your terms and conditions , wages etc., within the workplace. Are your workmates union members and if so why not discuss it with them. I am not a union member , as I work for a small company who do not regognise union membership, but I will never cross a picket line.

[Old_Geezer]

Refusing to have pay machines when the established working conditions had free ones seem a reasonable stance to me. It is the slippery slope argument. Let what seems like a small thing go and gradual attrition erodes the working conditions you agreed when joining until you wonder why you are being treated so badly, why you are not considered important enough to be treated with respect but with disdain. Ideally changes to working conditions should be agreed not imposed.