However long you’ve been in the workforce, you’ve probably heard about trade unions. But you might not know exactly what one is, whether you should join, and how a union can help you.
Read on to learn all you need to know about unions!
What is a Trade Union?
A union is a collective of employees who join together to lobby their employer on issues that impact them. Technically, any organisation of employees from two upwards can be considered a “union,” but many trade unions now are large, national organisations that represent employees in a specific industry or sector.
A large, national union will have different chapters connected to regions, cities, or even specific workplaces. At all levels, unions are democratic organisations run by elected leaders, and all members are entitled to a vote in elections.
For example, in the UK, NASUWT represents teachers in all sectors from early years to further education, UCU represents university and college employees, and Equity represents those in entertainment and the arts. These are just three examples of the dozens of active unions. Whatever sector you’re in, there will be a union representing you.
What Do Trade Unions Do?
Unions typically fight for fairer working conditions, better pay and benefits, and so on. Unions can also help represent employees in disciplinary and grievance procedures, lobby the government for better and fairer employment laws, and support members in a myriad of different ways both inside and outside the workplace.
When disputes cannot be resolved to employees’ satisfaction, trade unions may also plan and carry out industrial action. The most well-known type of industrial action is a strike, where union members collectively refuse to work. Other types of industrial action are usually known as “action short of a strike,” and can include things like refusing to do overtime, not covering for colleagues who are absent, or not undertaking any voluntary activities.
In the UK, trade unions are the reason we have weekends, the 40 hour standard working week, child labour laws, health and safety standards, sick leave, and the mandatory minimum wage.
What Other Benefits Are There to Joining a Union?
The evidence is clear that unions benefit employees individually and as a whole. Here are just some of the ways union membership can benefit you:
- Statistically, union members enjoy higher pay and better benefits than non-members
- Unions strive to make the workplace more inclusive. Your union can help with issues related to discrimination and make work more friendly to women, LGBTQ+ people, people of colour, disabled people, and those who are pregnant or on maternity leave.
- Unions push for safer working practices, cutting the rates of work-related illnesses and injuries.
- If you are treated unfairly at work, your union will advise you.
- If you need representation in a legal dispute with your workplace, your union will help you secure free or affordable legal counsel.
- If you are ever in a disciplinary or grievance process, your union representatives can help you navigate it.
- You might enjoy better and more supportive relationships with your coworkers.
- Many unions offer education and training opportunities to their members that can help you boost your skills and grow your career.
- Unions give you a voice – you’ll be able to vote on issues such as the decision to take industrial action.
- If you get involved with your union, you have the opportunity to work on issues that matter to you and make a real difference.
- And lots more!
In short, union membership gives you access to a strong community of people who have each other’s best interests in the workplace at heart.
What Are My Legal Rights Around Union Membership?
You have the legal right to choose whether to join or not join a trade union, as well as whether to remain a member or leave at any time. You are allowed to join more than one union if you wish, and you can join any union you choose – even if it’s not the one your employer formally recognises or negotiates with.
Your employer is not allowed to forbid you to join a union, require you to join a union (in general or any union specifically,) penalise you at work for union membership or non-membership, offer you benefits in exchange for leaving a union, or discriminate based on union membership in hiring or redundancy decisions.
How Do I Join a Union?
Joining a union is easy, and you can do so at any point in your career.
First, you’ll need to find the most appropriate union for you to join. Your employer might recognise a specific union. You do not have to join this union, but it might give you greater benefits if you do, especially if there is already an active chapter connected to your workplace or region.
If there is an active union at your workplace, find out who your representatives are and speak to one of them. They will provide more information on the benefits of union membership and how to get involved.
If your workplace doesn’t recognise a specific union, you can use the Trade Union Congress website or a simple Google search to find the one for you. Most unions will allow you to join online. You’ll just need to fill in a form with your details and provide payment information to pay your union dues.
The costs of joining a union vary, but are designed to be affordable for as many people as possible. Many unions operate on a sliding scale, where you pay according to how much you earn. Some also offer special rates for apprentices, those on low incomes, part-time workers, and those reentering the workforce after time out.
