What have the unions ever done for us?

It’s a question we hear all the time when we’re talking to people about joining the union. What they should be asking is ‘What have my bosses ever done for me?’ and ‘Can I afford NOT to join a union?’

We take so much for granted now that we tend to forget the basic rights that were fought for and won by the unions. Without unions, there would be no minimum wage, no weekend, no limit to the hours you could be demanded to work, no health and safety, no sick pay, no annual leave, no maternity pay… you get the idea. If you imagine that those rights would be given to you without the union members fighting tooth and nail for them over the years, you’re very mistaken. Bosses are there to make money and to make the company successful. They don’t go to meetings every day to discuss how they can be kind to their employees!

Once you allow the unions to be marginalised, you may as well put up a white flag and tell your bosses to do whatever they feel like. You will no longer be able to say no to working extra hours, or at weekends, or to expect your safety to be a consideration. Slave labour, much?

And never forget that a union is only as strong as its members. Don’t leave it up to others to do all the work and expect to keep reaping the benefits of that work, such as wage rises and staff facilities. People need to take responsibility for themselves and stand up to be counted.

Can’t afford union membership? Do you insure your car, your home, your fridge, cooker, washing machine? Then why on earth wouldn’t you insure the job that pays for all of those other insurances? If something happens at work, if you’re falsely accused and dismissed as a result of something that isn’t your fault, what will you do? Could you afford to take them to a tribunal for unfair dismissal? You’d have to put thousands of pounds up front to even get that far, never mind the solicitor’s fees involved. Why wouldn’t you get yourself joined up to a union so that the back up, representation, advice and legal help is there, ready for you to call on at any time?

Don’t wait until you’re already in trouble!