Can A Trade Union Help You In The Workplace?

Trade unions could consider that they've had a hard time over the past few decades; vilified in the media in the 1970s and then emasculated by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980's before being largely parked as anachronisms in the 1990's. But many commentators would argue that the main reason for the existence of unions, that of protecting workers' rights, has never been more in need than in today's workplace.

Can You Join a Union?

Two or three decades ago there were some jobs that you could not do unless you were a union member. This was known as the 'closed shop', but it was made illegal in the 1980's and now trade union membership is optional. Some unions manage to get recognition by employers, which means that the union will bargain on behalf of the staff on pay matters and other changes in terms and conditions of employment - the the things that pertain to workers' rights.

If there is no recognised union at a workplace, it is still likely that you will be able to join as an individual. By the same coin, even if there is union recognition in the workplace, you are not obliged to join if you don't want to.

Your employer is not allowed to discriminate against you because of your union membership, although, in practice, this is difficult to prove and difficult to police. Equally union members and representatives are not allowed to pressurise you to join a trade union either.

Wider Benefits Of Joining A Trade Union

Being a member of a trade union does have benefits. Many unions use the size of their membership to negotiate favourable deals with all sorts of companies and services such as insurance, travel firms and the like. They will also use their members' funds to support politicians and political parties who they feel may advance their case, and lobby for changes in government policy and the law that will benefit their members, both at national and European level.

Grievance Procedures And Union Members

One benefit that really helps, however, for many union members, is the support that can be given to employees when things go wrong in the workplace. Different unions have different levels of support, but many will help at the earliest signs of difficulty with an employer, arranging counselling or other support services, perhaps even before management are aware there is a problem.

If an employee has a problem with the company, or another staff member, that they believe is serious enough to initiate grievance procedures, a union member will be able to take a trained representative with them. A non-union member can be accompanied as well, but only by another member of staff who is unlikely to be trained and may know no more about workplace disputes than anyone else, so the union can certainly helps on that level with workers' rights.

How The Trade Union Helps At Disciplinary Proceedings

The same is true with a trade union if the boot is on the other foot, where an employer is going through workplace disciplinary procedures because they perceive that there is something wrong with an employee or their behaviour. The union member will have access to advice and support on their workers' rights to help them make the right decision at each stage, whereas a non-union member will have to look elsewhere for that advice, possibly having to pay for it.

In the case of an unfair dismissal, where the sacked worker decides to take the case against an employer to an employment tribunal, the trade union will provide legal advice and a solicitor to represent you in the tribunal, as long as, having investigated the case, they believe them to be in the right.

Finding a Union

If you decide that joining a trade union could be something that you can benefit from, ask around at your workplace to see if there's a union already active. If there doesn't seem to be, then you can find out which union suits your trade or job the best through the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the umbrella organisation for trade unions in the United Kingdom.